Joseph w/ Duncan Fellows
Neumos, Seattle, WA
09.08.16
Better known as the band Joseph, the sisters Natalie, Allison, and Meegan Closner wield a powerful brand of anthemic, folk rock. So powerful that they descended upon a sold out Neumos crowd full of fellow Pacific Northwesterners eager to revel in their sound.
Opening for Joseph was Duncan Fellows, a merry band of men from Austin, TX. Lead singer Colin Harman wore a Joseph t-shirt as they treated the crowd to a dose of indie pop-rock a la Vampire Weekend/Ben Howard. Their vibe was very upbeat and energetic, with peppy off-beats and slick guitar riffs, as demonstrated on their song about breakfast, aptly named “Fresh Squeezed,” and their spirited cover of the Faces’ classic “Ooh La La.” However, they did switch gears and get real with “Sway.” The simple song compared love to war with a simple request, “I lose my head when you lose your head…don’t lose your head.” They were very grateful with a quick “Thank You” or “Cheers” at the close of each song. Most certainly a solid set from a band you should keep your eye on.
At 10PM, the crowd moved closer to the stage and the ladies from Oregon appeared to booming applause. Joseph have really crafted their niche in the musical landscape by having both pretty and gritty voices, to combine with their off-the-chart powerful harmonies and emotionally accessible songwriting.
This shift from tender to edgy was demonstrated from the start, from opener “Hundred Ways,” a tender song about indecision, to “Canyon,” a throwback to thunderous 1970’s arena rock. There was no shortage of energy on stage and during “Planets,” a classic example that their voices are their most powerful instrument, they showed how each of them “rock out” differently. With Natalie’s hair flowing wildly, Allison having moments of cathartic release, and Meegan enjoying the moment with intense refinement.
In the middle of the set, Natalie takes the time to talk to the crowd about the prevailing negativity in the world, “Hate seems to be loud and us lovers are quiet, and that is our flaw.” She expressed gratitude to her friends and professors from Seattle Pacific University and encouraged the crowd to love loudly before going into self-admitted sad song, “Tell Me There’s A Garden.”
The set was a seamless string of songs from their past, like crowd favorite, “Cloudline,” to their poignant declaration of connection “I’m Alone, No You’re Not.” The show-stealing tune of the night had to have been “White Flag,” a hard driving anthem encouraging the listener to “Burn The White Flag!” and never give up. As the night ended, their memorable encore brought Duncan Fellows back to the stage for an a capella version of “Eyes to the Sky,” which featured Colin Harman singing lead on a verse and doing it beautiful justice.
The harmonies were precise, the spirit soared through the room, and the crowd was left with an undeniable feeling that the artists left it all on the stage. Otherwise known as a typical Joseph show.
Review and photos by Phillip Johnson
Joseph
Duncan Fellows
