“Bruce Springsteen is playing across the street,” opening-act performer, Nik Freitas, told a young crowd of 20 to 30-somethings last night at DAR Constitution Hall. “… But you guys came to the right place.” Though his commentary was made in jest, Freitas wasn’t wrong.
Love-lorn optimist and California-native Nick Freitas opened Sunday’s show singing soothing melodies that caramelized the timeless trauma of bad breakups, long-distance relationships, and unrequited love. Though Freitas admitted that he’s better at writing about love than politics, his ability to sing a spine-tingling closing cover of Neil Young’s “Captain Kennedy” contextualized his performance and championed Freitas as more profound than a Jason Mraz indie-offspring. Backed by just a solo electric guitar, the unaccompanied idealism of his own songs would’ve been less monotonous with the support of a back-up band.
Claiming to be a band of hillbilly siblings from the Catskill Mountains, the Felice Brothers followed Freitas with raw and rugged melodies reminiscent of American folk legends like Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Neil Young, and Springsteen himself. Lead singer Ian Felice provided raw vocals and crackling guitar riffs as portly brother, James Felice, harmonized on accordion and piano. The rhythm section consisted of “adopted, runaway, dice-throwing” sibling, Christmas Felice thumping on bass and Simone Felice bravely bashing and wrestling the drums in a blue Civil War suit. The four boys are more than just talented charlatans clamoring onstage in bowler hats, these Hudson River brothers are the real deal. The boys aren’t just connected by blood—they’re conjoined by bleeding metaphors and heart-burning hymns. With lyrics like “Powder your nose/put on your panty hose/let me love you from behind/my darling,” the story, style, parlance, and sound of these delectably grimy and self-proclaimed “dirtbags” is as authentic as the musky stench of sweat, booze, and tobacco that penetrated the concert hall’s front aisles.
Bright Eyes was able to catch the Springsteen show and still make it onstage before 10pm. Springsteen made lead-singer, Conor Oberst, happy, and Oberst was committed to making his DC audience happy. Faithful fans merrily swarmed to the front of the stage to sing, dance, and swoon. Bright Eyes pleased and charmed the crowd with their usual pensive and melancholic melodies accented by the occasional flugelhorn or minor-to-Major chord. Overall, the show was pleasant, but predictable, until the three-song encore act.
While waiting for Felice brother, James, to retrieve his accordion from the Winnebago, Bright Eyes performed an impromptu version of their classic song, “Bowl of Oranges.” The Felice Brothers and Nik Freitas then joined Bright Eyes onstage for a rowdy and uplifting cover of Tom Petty’s “Walls.” Unruly Felice Brother, Simone, provided visual entertainment and back-up vocals as he contra-danced with a cane in hand, nearly getting his eye poked out by flailing guitar necks.
It was unclear whether he was upset that his DC-dwelling brother missed the show or if his rage was more politically inspired, but Bright Eyes’ last song showed that you don’t want to get Conor Oberst pissed. Before beginning the evening’s final song, Oberst asked how many audience members worked for the U.S. government and proceeded to inquire, “what the fuck are you doing?” He then dedicated his closing performance to Dick Cheney, saying, “…I hope before he [Cheney] dies, he realizes what a fucking bastard he is.” Bright Eyes topped the evening with an unusually angry and head-bashing song during which Oberst conceivably snapped and started awkwardly lifting a heavy amplifier which he gave up on before mounting himself on his guitar and leaving the stage.
The show’s post-adolescent bipolarity was augmented by the musical feats and private calamities of its performers. While Springsteen wistfully revived mom and dad’s lost and sacred heartland for Verizon Center audiences, today’s troubled, but fiercely hopeful Real America was rocking out at DAR.
all photos: Ryan Wakeman
Previously in Live DC:
- 5/24: LiveDC: The Adicts @ RNR Hotel
- 5/24: LiveDC: The Donkeys @ Black Cat
- 5/23: LiveDC: The Barr Brothers w/ Kishi Bashi @ The Hamilton
- 5/23: LiveDC: Damien Jurado @ Black Cat
- 5/23: Report: Soundbites 2012
- 5/22: LiveDC: Spirit Animal @ Red Palace
- 5/22: LiveDC: Astra Via @ Black Cat
- 5/22: LiveDC: Father John Misty @ Rock & Roll Hotel
- 5/22: LiveDC: Drive-By Truckers and Lucinda Williams @ Merriweather
- 5/22: Photos: Summer Camp takes the "Ladies of Town" Drag Show
God loves a cheerful giver.
Andrea, what do you mean that he mounted himself on his guitar? That sounds painful.
He placed his guitar on the amplifier he dragged into the middle of the stage, stepped on it a bit, and then attempted to stand and balance on the instrument (ie. mounting himself).
okay, yea the tuning pegs would be kinda painful.
"While Springsteen wistfully revived mom and dad’s lost and sacred heartland for Verizon Center audiences, today’s troubled, but fiercely hopeful Real America was rocking out at DAR."
What a crock of shit. Thank god I was at Springsteen. Even if he is nearly twice my age, Bruce Springsteen's pinky finger holds more relevance to me than Bright Eyes' entire career ever will.
I didnt mean to belittle him at all, I was just pointing out that there was more to DC's Sunday music scene than Bruce Springsteen.
What you missed out on was how Bright Eyes then decided to hang out at the Black Cat. That was a poor choice, for everyone involved.
I, for one, hope I never run across Conor Oberst or his drummer, some guy named Clay, ever again. The next time he tries to pick a fight with people who work at a club will not end as nicely as Sunday night did.
Great review, guys. I agree, the show was awesome. But I do wish DC's younger guys & gals would stop their obnoxious catcalling between songs.