Kind Hearted Strangers | 2021-07-29 | Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO [SBD/AUD Matrix]

Smiling bright on a Friday night with a new recording of Kind Hearted Strangers at Larimer Lounge in my hand!

There are bands that you love because they make you dance, or you are inspired by their improvisation, or maybe even just the company that you find yourself with; but the bands that tend to transcend those other factors and manage to find real estate in our mind and soul are the bands that write the songs you love. Obviously, whether or not you love a song is subjective, but there does seem to be some common thread that speaks to a large group of people who all tend to agree when something sounds right to them. If you’re a fan of Rootsy Americana-Rock – Kind Hearted Strangers are the band for you.

The band was one of the last I saw prior to the global pandemic that has overtaken us all, so it was great to be able to finally once again catch Kind Hearted Strangers doing what they do best. The first solid half of the set was a testament to the band’s infectiously accessible songwriting, playing several tracks from their most recent album “East // West”, which coincidentally was the subject of the event I found myself last seeing the Strangers at (their album release party, here at the Larimer Lounge, back in 2019). As all great bands do, the band seems to have since evolved quite a bit. The songs from the album sound as polished as ever, with singles like “The California Zephyr” and “Red & Blue” that tracked well with an excited Thursday night crowd happy to be able to go out and experience live music again. In addition to the polish came a new element to the sound: a duo of electric-based tunes. The first, which the band stated was quite new, was titled “Cerberus” and felt like a 90’s indie-grunge psychedelia tune with a signature catchy groove that laid in on the hypnotic number. The second, which came during the encore, was a tune called “Illusions”; it had a more aggressive attack but wrapped itself in the similar tonality before ending with a quick prog-like composition section. It’s great to see the band pushing what they believe the Kind Hearted Strangers’ sound can be, and after this show, it definitely seems there are plenty of avenues left to go down.

Legendary American songwriter Irving Berlin was famously quoted as saying, “The song is ended, but the melody lingers on”. He, like so many before and after him, understood that the soul of a song is the melody. Kind Hearted Strangers continue to carry that torch with songs that touch your soul and linger on the sides of your mind for days after the music is over. They’re tales with boisterous choruses woven together by steadfast melodies that you would sing to your friends in a bar or on a battlefield. Kind Hearted Strangers are the new age troubadours of a familiar sound, giving a younger generation stories of their own. 

Kind Hearted Strangers | 2021-07-29 | Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO

-= One Set =-

01. Redwood
02. The Egoist
03. The California Zephyr
04. Shit Eating Grin
05. El Carino
06. High Horse
07. Save The Flag
08. Cerberus
09. Red & Blue
10. (Banter)
11. Key To The Highway (Big Bill Broonzy cover)[1]
12. Midnight Rider (Allman Brothers Band)
13. Running With You
14. Illusions
15. I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan cover)

Show Notes: This was a headlining show. Tom Peaver opened the show followed by Famous Men.
[1] “Key To The Highway” featured Tom Peaver on guitar.

Taper Notes: Slightly to the stage-right of center, next to the soundboard. Mics PAS raised around 7′.  

Band: Kind Hearted Strangers (http://www.kindheartedstrangers.com/)
Venue: Larimer Lounge (https://www.larimerlounge.com/)

Thank you to the Kind Hearted Strangers and the Larimer Lounge for being cool with taping/sharing shows. Go see live music and tip your bartenders!