On Feb. 3, the Larimer Lounge was chock full of glasses-wearing, rolled-up-jean-clad hipsters prepared to see the indie rock band Saint Motel. But first, the crowd had to enjoy The Moth & the Flame.
The curly-haired trio The Moth & the Flame hopped up on stage, asking for numerous sound and microphone adjustments.This initially seemed finicky but was forgotten as soon as the group started its set. Led by vocalist and guitarist Brandon Robbins, The Moth & the Flame performed a solid arrangement of alternative rock tunes. The band looked entirely average, wearing plain jeans and generic t-shirts, composing a carefree vibe. Despite the relaxed disposition, The Moth & the Flame ramped up the energy. Robbins definitely stood out, but Mark Garbett, keyboardist and backing vocals, and Andrew Tolman, backing vocals and drums, both were strong performers as well. The closing song “Wishing Well” was the only weak part of their performance as a whole; the chorus had simple writing, with predictable and generic lyrics that brought nothing new to the table.
The Larimer Lounge seemed like the perfect venue for The Moth & the Flame, but contrasted oddly with the headliner Saint Motel. The sticky, beer-stained floor and dim, strung lights complimented the “I don’t care” attitude of The Moth & the Flame, but did not match the energetic indie pop of Saint Motel, who seemed to belong in a venue less like a dive and more like a concert hall.
Despite the odd match of the Larimer Lounge and Saint Motel, the latter band did deliver. Armed with Christmas light-covered mic stands and mop-topped and side shaved haircuts, the California four-piece led the crowd in a dance-fueled groove.
AJ Jackson—lead vocalist. guitarist and keyboardist—is a chaotic frontman, conducting the audience with a flurry of happy, spirited movements. Other members include Aaron Sharp on the guitar, Greg Erwin on the drums and Dak Lerdamornpong on the bass.
Saint Motel was also accompanied by saxophone player, Nathan Kersey-Wilson, who was arguably the most entertaining performer of the night besides Jackson. Kersey-Wilson added a classy component that entertained both the young people and the adult members of the audience. The crowd itself was picking up the vibe that Saint Motel was throwing down; couples danced together, people clapped with the beat and others bounced their head and tapped their feet with contagious smiles on their faces.
Even though Saint Motel was entertaining, there was nothing special about the group’s music. The band sounds just like any other indie pop group out there, with typical lyrics and a commonplace sound. However, the live performance aspect was impressive enough that the crowd will come back for more.
Overall, The Moth & the Flame was very good musically; check out their Facebook page to keep updated with new tour information. Saint Motel isn’t a band you should buy music from, but should definitely see live if given the chance. Watch out for new dates from Saint Motel.
