art and article by Linnea Anderson
venue: Kilby Block Party in Salt Lake City, Utah
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the wind didn’t want this, it brought the pollen and rain with it. we tried to save our space by sitting near the barricade. we played dots and boxes to pass the time before the raindrops started to warp our pocketbooks.
on stage, they assembled in this awkward arrangement. like they were attempting to fill a space too big for them.
despite standing there like a humble college encore, they began with force. shrieks from the audience only followed.
a raindrop fell in my eye and i wondered if it came was a warning. a warning for what this concert might feel like.
at one point i attempted to pass my beer to a friend, but she was too far gone. sentimental, eyes closed. i realized i wasn’t crying. and maybe i should be.
the rain let up but the wind continued. each instrument and lyric came as a forcefully beautiful blow. it was painful and perfect. how could they be so good at everything?
one instrument to the next: accordion, silver recorder, fingerpicking, a slide, where did they pick this all up?
they said they couldn’t believe they were here, and they weren’t so sure they deserved it either. i just couldn’t understand that. were they unassuming? maybe. but impressive? absolutely.
they looked so young they could lead a summer camp. any one of them could be that person you meet at random. a humble person who makes you feel unaccomplished.
it was a concert i wish i could bring my parents to. not because they might become fans, but because it could validate my taste in music among other things.
my taste in people. who and how i wish i could be.
a set of good role models.
there is something dreadfully heavy and ambitious about the way Black Country, New Road creates and performs. i could be a snob about them and not feel bad about it for a second. but if you asked me why i love what they do, I wouldn’t be able to answer.
maybe i can’t place their peculiarities into a box.
but i wish i could. because i would keep that box stowed somewhere. study it. even if it was completely incomprehensible and indecipherable. i just to have it with me for forever howlong.