Silent Lions and Flint Eastwood opened for Stepdad last Fall and it was first time I experienced both of these bands. I’ve never been one to folllow the local music scene, but these two instantly sparked my newly found love for homegrown talent. While Silent Lions isn’t necessarily “homegrown”, Toledo, OH is close enough. The second time I saw these guys they did shows separate: Silent Lions at their Secret Friends Fest (promoting their new album The Compartments) and Flint Eastwood’s first headlining show; both were at The Loving Touch in Ferndale.
Silent Lions describes themselves as a “two-piece, effected bass and drums, chill punk/spooky soul, from Toldeo, with good friends in Detroit.” It’s incredible at what this drum and bass duo can accomplish together. Dean Tartaglia rips through bass lines, jamming on stage, while adding layers of samples, creating their uniquely tangled sound. Matt Klein owns the drums, adding back up vocals throughout their set. Silent Lions is known for beginning their show and jamming non-stop until the very last note of their set.
Showcasing their new album, The Compartments, they played a set I was unfamiliar with. The crowd was the most involved I’d ever seen a crowd during a Silent Lions performance. I noticed a couple of familiar faces; fans who also follow these talented gentlemen. It’s quite apparent I am slowly becoming a ‘regular’. Tartaglia is also a producer and has a music degree (saxophone specifically, which he also incorporates into his music and live performances). He’s well versed in the world of music and his passion, as well as Klein’s, radiates throughout their live performances. This duo has a musical bond that is flawless and unbreakable.
Ever since we reviewed their first concert over at Under Bright Lights we’ve befriended these awesome fellas. We were honored when Tartaglia requested we review their album a week before it dropped. Since then we’ve also done a couple of reviews for their friends: Jacob Sigman and Nathan Roberts and the New Birds.
https://www.facebook.com/SilentLions
***
As their Facebook describes, Flint Eastwood is “a spaghetti-western cooked in the ovens of Detroit,” and they complement their motif wearing black suits and bolo ties. Outside of the high-energy non-stop show that they put on, they are big on reminding their fans that they’re ‘Flint Family’. It brings them immense joy having that open friendship with each and every one of us. Outside of Jax Anderson’s stage presence, she seems to have this very real and pure heart and I absolutely love that about her.
Flint Eastwood took the stage to do their sound check and the crowd went wild. Their fans were obviously overflowing with excitement and I shared the same overwhelming feelings. Giddy to be sharing this experience with my cousin Jennifer, who had yet to experience these guys, and my partner in crime, Jessica. Flint Eastwood is by far the hardest band to describe with words; it’s definitely a performance that you need to see live.
They tore right into “Can You Feel Me Now,” a song off their EP Late Nights In Bolo Ties, and Anderson’s passion for what she does was quite obvious from the moment she began singing, “High noon and I’m onto you / I’ve got my plans and they’re bleeding through.” Between songs she asked how we were doing, making sure we were on our toes and ready to jump right into “Shotgun” demanding to throw up our (hand) pistols. The first time I witnessed Anderson during this song she faux shot everyone and had us fall down domino-effect style. I was shocked at how easily she persuaded everyone in the venue to participate.
Flint Eastwood got sassy with “Secretary,” my favorite song, about working a dead-end job and hating your boss. “Boy I ain’t your secretary / I don’t please no one but me, / Boy I ain’t your female dog, / So quit bitchin’.” Drummer Mark Hartman jumped to his feet, tearing into his drum set while Anderson shook the tambourine zealously. During the middle of the song she coerced everyone—and I mean EVERYONE—to sit on the floor of the venue and come up dancing.
They treated us to a new song, “Moments,” which Anderson explained is about leaving the past, the bullshit, life, and everything that isn’t within the moment behind and living right NOW. She requested that we all close our eyes, dance to the music, and really focus on zoning ourselves into enjoying what was happening in that moment.
The quartet slowed things down with “Angels” which caused tears to well up in my eyes immediately. During their first headlining show Anderson announced that she had just lost her Mother, her number one fan, and dedicated the song to her. Looking around the venue I didn’t see many without wet cheeks, all empathetic of her feelings. It was such a moving moment for me and the song will forever remind me of the woman that will always be watching over her and proud of everything she is accomplishing.
“Billy The Kid” closed the show, everyone’s pistols up, and not a person in the venue was standing still. The new bassist some how managed to unplug his bass mid-song and Anderson screamed to stop, demanding that they can’t end the show without him, with the band restarting the song. Having just lost their previous bassist, I was curious how their replacement would do that night. All I have to say is: welcome aboard! He was fabulous.
Check out Flint Eastwood’s Audiotree session here.