david thornton / ice cream man

Howlin Rain “Lord Have Mercy”

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A Wednesday night at Que Sera with all the usual suspects and more than expected, too. CB Brand were good old Gram Parsons-style country strumming with a solid group of songs. After threats to our Dear Editor of bodily harm and mostly, as I recall, certain death by the next band whoever they were (“Fucking Awful,” I would report), everyone waited for the main showing of the night, which was for Howlin Rain. Ethan Miller of Comets on Fire and some other Big Dudes of Rock took the stage. I suppose there are a few different reactions you could have had to Howlin Rain. A lot of people were into it, and that’s cool, man. Or, maybe, as I saw, you could have played pool, you could have gone for a cigarette and pretend it isn’t happening, or you could drink your drink and listen politely. I suppose. But listening to their music was kinda like the girl at the party that looks really pretty but doesn’t say anything other than “uh huh” and “Where’s the bathroom?” It was some chords stacked one against each other and someone beating out beats. Listen, here’s the thing: I don’t understand why anybody would—and let’s be upfront—you have to give up fucking everything in this country and anywhere for that matter to be any sort of artist, let alone a musician. So why, on God’s Green Earth, would you go up onto any stage and just play the part? Why? Isn’t the music the very purpose for why you’re there and for what you do? That’s right. I’m waxing poetic about fucking art which has fucking disintegrated to ashes and culture which has been the only salvation of the human soul ever. And again, I’m not saying they sucked. I’m saying they were just. There. Maybe I missed it—entirely. Or maybe I’m just writing how one night of music affected me. Which was not at all. But then, all of a sudden, a breath from above: it’s Crystal Antlers, not giving a fuck if they’re playing to two people, none, or the Gods of Olympus. They zip open the sky and play their fucking souls out. I’m not an expert. I’m just some girl that’s seen some shows, but that is where the music lies. And life without music, as Nietzche said, would be an error. Let’s not make the same mistake twice.

— Chesney Higgins

[Not to risk further bodily harm, but this different reaction thinks that Howlin Rain write, perform, and even conduct ordinary conversation with crazy conviction and talent, though agreed that they look pretty pretty while they’re up there doing it!—ed.]

SEE ALSO: Ice Cream Man review here!