From 200 to 2,000, Delta Spirit has officially jumped the ranks in the music industry. Less than a year ago the band showed up in this area to play a 200 person venue. But last night they took the stage to open the show for veterans My Morning Jacket. And by the end of the set, nearly 2,000 people had made their way in. A thirty minute set was not nearly enough time, but it did allow them to hit a few awesome selections.
“People C’mon” is found on the album Ode To Sunshine and starts off very simplistic with a soulful voice and a single guitar. But it’s the percussion section that makes this song so much fun. Drums and bass are joined at the hip as they blues-ify the melody previously set by that guitar. Then when the keys jumped in and some ”bop-bop-baas” came from the gut of Matthew an instant groove started to take over the band members. It was the vocals chants and drum taps though, that finally got the audience involved.
Now “White Table” is probably what most people would call their single off the recent album History From Below. That drum tap is back and when mixed with a few sultry lyrics, you’re started off with a very soothing melody. The tempo picks up to a great sashay movement. Multiple drum participants are probably to blame for this. On the album one would normally just dance a little during these parts. But when they took this song to the live stage, it was easy to see the true fans in attendance. Because as a fan, one would know that those drums taps were merely a build up for the real break out moment in the song. And thus, as the song gained intensity, a few of us began to jump in anticipation. Eventually everything exploded – song, band members, instruments, and crowd, all of it. The faster they played the fast the crowd danced. The best part of that song actually came at the end and the fact that it wasn’t the end. Of the set that is. It’s common to finish a set with your single. But for Delta, it just flowed among the other great songs.
Second to “White Table” if another favorite had to be picked it would easily be “Trashcan.” And because they’re awesome, the guys busted out an actual trashcan lid for the lead in percussion beats. A barbershop chord progression also came joyfully across the keyboard. Truly though, this song couldn’t have been more expertly placed in the evening. Seeing as by now, a much larger crowd had formed for MMJ and what better introduction to Delta than “Trashcan?”
The set ended with “Children” and conveniently brought with it a harmonica. While the general tone of this song is slightly softer than the rest of the set, it still felt very appropriate to end with. Soft rock guitar riffs and light percussion smooth everything out with the delicate vocals. The beauty of this song came smack dab in the middle with a fury of notes creating a guitar sound reminiscent of Airborne Toxic Event which managed to lift everyone away. “You make your own stand, you take your own stand” were a few lyrics that began to be repeated over and over again. Matt wanted to make sure he was really getting his point across to the audience. And rightfully so, as once or twice, they’re just lyrics – but if you actually hear what he’s saying, you realize that they’re empowering each and every person. Which was pretty cool if you ask me.
Like I said, thirty minutes was not enough for Delta Spirit. However they managed to pull out a very excellent set, for both old and new fans.
