Live Review: The Heavy Heavy

The Troubadour  West Hollywood, CA

Contact: Greg Jakubik, [email protected]

Web: theheavyheavy.com

Players: Georgie Fuller, keys, vocals; Will Turner, guitar, vocals; Benjamin Parker, guitar, vocals; Thomas Holder, bass, vocals; James Porter, drums

Material: As the first North American show on the heels of their debut full-length record, Life and Life Only, The Heavy Heavy blew the crowd away at The Troubadour with the confidence, sound, and style of seasoned veteran musicians. From their melancholy cover of Peter Rowan’s “Lonesome L.A. Cowboy” and delicious retro bluesy rock sound of “All My Dreams,” to the finale smash of “Way Out West” (which had the crowd stomping and cheering along), the house was packed and focused for the entire set.

Musicianship: Confident but unassuming, the British quintet delivered an incredible level of musicality and passion. The craftsmanship behind their songwriting and solid performance throughout the show was undeniable. Switching between driving, danceable rhythms and pensive, crooney love songs, the band members were equal parts poet and rock & roll phenom. Engrossing the audience for over an hour, the tight band shared incredible musical chops, alongside fabulous vocal skills and harmonies from all four singers (especially noticeable on “All My Dreams” and “Miles & Miles”).

Performance: The vocal prowess of Georgie Fuller on “Sleeping On Grassy Ground” (which was at moments gently reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s “Great Gig In The Sky”) was a standout, and the group’s cover of Father John Misty’s “Real Love Baby” (also with gorgeous vocal harmonies) had the crowd singing and swaying along with the chorus. Grungy southern rock song “One of A Kind” shared lovely echoed backing vocals, with the crowd responding in thunderous applause. Show closer, “Way Out West,” was a head-bopping jam that had the audience jumping and totally pumped up to the last moments of the show.

Summary:With seemingly natural and effortless musical mastery, and an easiness about their stage presence, The Heavy Heavy are a team of genuine artists that appear passionately committed to delivering only the best they have to offer. They shared a captivating collection of music for over an hour that pulled elements of traditional rock, country, and alternative music, blending them into a beautifully expressive original sound.