Review and Photos by: James Pappaconstantine
Show photos HERE
 
Often times as a concert photographer, you are asked to cover shows that you A: have never heard of, or B: might not necessarily be your taste in music, but you do it, because it’s your job, to capture the moments of live entertainment and hopefully, your audience, (the readers of the reviews) can live, or re-live the show through your eye, and what you’ve captured.
That said, when asked to shoot Delta Rae, I had never heard of them, and this is in no offense meant to the band or their record company or P.R. people, It’s all on my part, at 51 years of age, I tend to stick with what I know, preferring to listen to my CD’s and MP3’s of bands I already know.
Many times I walk away from a shoot, thinking, “they were OK, but not really my cup-of-tea.” After hearing the first 5 minutes of the band Delta Rae, I was a fan, and I feel soon, they will occupy space on my CD shelf and in my iPod.
Opening the show were an Australian Duo who call them selves, Falls. Their music had a bit of that Folk sound to it, with great harmonies and very well written lyrics that pull you right into the mind of the songwriters. Listening to Falls, took me back to the 60’s, when folk was coming into it’s own.
Footnote: Although I was born in the 60’s, the fore mentioned “took me back to” was from what I’ve seen in movies and old club footage.
Delta Rae opened the show with their song, I Want to Run, and I could immediately tell these kids had talent. The song had this message of freedom and of leaving your past behind and running into the unknown. (Or that’s what I got out of it.) The vocals are shared by all but primarily by Brittany Holljes and Elizabeth Hopkins, given both Ian and Eric Holljes time at the mic’s as well. All have incredible vocal power and blend extremely well with their harmonies.
The band debuted in 2009 and released their first EP in 2010, they then signed to Sire records and released their first full length album entitled, Carry the Fire.  The band released their second EP called, Chasing Twisters and are currently working on new material.
Throughout the evening’s performance the band proved their talents again and again, many of the members moving from instrument to instrument, guitar to piano, bass to drum, vocals to guitar, etc.… and at no time was a member not being utilized, If someone had time to stand back, they had a tambourine or other hand percussion instrument in their grasp, keeping themselves in the moment. At times the vocal harmonies were like being in church.
If you haven’t heard Delta Rae, check them out on Youtube or their website, If you like what you hear, and I don’t know why you wouldn’t, go out and buy their CD’s or check them out the tour.
 

The Set List

I Want to Run

Better Off Alone

Is There Anyone Out There? / Morning Comes

Bottom of the River

Because the Night

God Damn Shame

Twisters in the Canyon

(Can not read the handwriting for this one)

If I Loved You

Surrounded / Outlaws

I Will Never Die

After it All

Dance in the Graveyards