THE CRITICALS, THE THING WITH FEATHERS, AND BIRD & BYRON PLAY HOUSE OF BLUES CLEVELAND
BY SARA WELDEN
The Cambridge Room at House of Blues Cleveland was full of energy on the night of Friday, April 14th as Nashville-based rock band The Criticals packed a punch with their hard-hitting set. Parker Forbes (lead vocals) and Cole Shugart (lead guitar/vocals) are the heart of The Criticals. They are accompanied on stage by immensely talented band members Michael Meadows (bass/vocals), Tyelen Gibbs (drums/vocals), and J. Rudolfo Rosas (guitar/vocals).
Warming up the crowd was Nashville-based duo Bird and Byron, instantly winning over the hearts of everyone in attendance and proving from the first song that they are a force to be reckoned with. Having seen these guys perform once before, Blake (Bird) and Nick (Byron) bring absolutely everything they have to the stage every single time, and they truly never miss. The absolute magnetism between the two is amazing to witness. Those attending the show were lucky enough to hear a new song “Set You Free,” which is the first single off the guys’ highly anticipated debut album. Bird and Byron concluded their set with their rendition of “Gold Digger,” which had absolutely everybody in the crowd moving.
Next to the stage was yet another Nashville-based gem of a band, The Thing With Feathers. David Welcsh (vocals), Alex Hendricks (lead guitar), Kyle Briskin (bass), and Chris Roussell (drums) were full of energy and good vibes, dancing around the stage like some pals who were just having the time of their lives. Having just put out a fresh new EP, it was a very cool experience to hear some of the new songs played live for the first time, especially with the absolute kinetic energy that the guys put into them.
Now that the crowd is buzzing with excitement, it’s finally time for The Criticals to take the stage. At their core, The Criticals are absolute rock stars, and it’s very clear to see from the moment they walk onto the stage with their purely eccentric energy. Their set takes off running with the song “Good Lookin,” ultimately setting the tone for what’s in store for the rest of the night. It wasn’t long before the guys turned the show into a full blown sing along, covering CAKE’s “Short Skirt / Long Jacket,” which they absolutely nailed. Forbes has a seamlessly cool style which he channels through the band’s vintage, yet timeless, sound and brings nothing but pure swagger to the stage. With talent and a sound reminiscent of their golden age rock and roll predecessors like The Rolling Stones and The Doors, attending a Criticals concert will be like transporting back in time to the pinnacle of 70s rock and roll music. Concluding their set with “Under Your Nose,” the crowd roared for an encore, and the band listened. The band returned to the stage and Forbes joined the crowd on the floor to cover The Strokes’ “Last Nite,” channeling his inner Julian Casablancas.
It was a night filled with amazing music and amazing people. With an entirely Nashville-based lineup, all three bands were pure magic on stage, and I definitely won’t be forgetting this night any time soon.
