Sherwood: Live Review
Californian Indie Band Sherwood's Toronto Gig Reviewed
Currently on a North American tour to promote new album 'A Different Light', Sherwood recently played The Opera House in Toronto. Suite101 went along to check them out.
- Genre: indie / indie pop / indie rock
- Joe Greenetz (drums), Nate Henry (vocals / bass), Dan Koch (guitar / vocals), Mike Leibovich (keyboards / percussion)
- Venue: The Opera House, Toronto, Canada
- Date: Wednesday March 14, 2007
- Set list: The Only Song / The Best In Me / Town That You Live In / Never Ready To Leave / Song In My Head / Learn To Sing / Middle Of The Night
- Sherwood
Opening New Doors
Being an opening band is never easy. You know that the crowd has possibly no interest in you whatsoever, and that even if they do politely listen to your songs, they're only killing time until the main act arrives. However, it's also a great opportunity to confound any doubters in that very audience – since there are no expectations to begin with, you can play your music safe in the knowledge it's also a win-win situation. If you're not liked, it was to be expected; if you do win the crowd over, it's justification of your songs.
With Sherwood currently touring North America with Relient K and Mae, the chance was always there for them to fall flat – after all, their upbeat indie pop is slightly different from what fans of the two other bands are used to. However, the sheer strength of Sherwood's songs and tight musicianship not only won the Opera House crowd over, but also saw them genuinely cheered by the Toronto audience.
Opening with The Only Song, Sherwood launched into their thirty-minute slot with enthusiasm in abundance. A perfectly pitched introduction to their sound, the vocals of Nate and Dan were clear and strong, and defied the sound usually afforded to an opening act. With a tight rhythm section provided by Joe on the drums and bassist Nate, the tone was set, and more than ably complemented by Dan on guitar and keyboardist Mike.
Winning The Crowd Over
Indeed, in Mike, Sherwood has a veritable livewire of a performer. Whereas many keyboardists are often seen as the quiet one in any band, on the Toronto stage Mike was a picture of unchecked energy. Grabbing a tambourine for second track The Best In Me, a fine showcase for the tightness of Sherwood live, he led the crowd along in a combination of handclaps and arm waving. Constantly moving around the stage and jumping from drum kits and amplifiers, a new star has definitely been born in Mike.
The third song of the night, Town That You Live In, was from their 2005 debut album Sing But Keep Going and showed how far Sherwood has come as a band. Although in no way weak, it seemed a little at odds with the current polished sound that the band possess, yet was still warmly received.
One of the reasons Sherwood is such an enjoyable experience live is that not only are the band tight, they never seem like they're losing any of their studio sound; if anything, they're improving on it, since they have three vocalists sharing the stage within their ranks. This is proven to impressive effect on the anthemic Never Ready To Leave, where both Nate and Dan trade lines in a vocal duet that harks to the band Something Corporate, although the marriage here of Dan and Nate's vocals are far more cohesive.
Mission Accomplished
Current single Song In My Head leads into another older track, Learn To Sing from Sherwood's debut. Again it sits a little at odds with how they sound now, but it's still an impressive example of how songs can improve in a live setting. With the Opera House faithful now fully in their pocket, Sherwood finished their set with the rollicking Middle Of The Night, another song that allows the strong vocals and harmonies of the band to shine through, all the while backed by a tune rich in melody yet with an edge about it that elevates it above many of Sherwood's peers.
For a band who are receiving a lot of attention at the moment due to their tag as the lead band on the new MySpace Records label, Sherwood perhaps have more resting on their shoulders than many similar bands at this point in their careers would usually have. However, with a solid album behind them with A Different Light, and a live show that's winning them new fans everywhere they go, it's a weight that Sherwood are showing they're more than capable of shouldering.
