CONCERT REVIEW: Royce, lokalgrown perform for students
Loud, screaming hard rock or heavy metal, they’re not.
Hip-hop, rap, emo, and punk are words that might make them cringe.
But the crowd that came to hear the boys who played at Wednesday night’s concert didn’t come for any of that. They came to discover exactly what a little ‘lokalgrown’ talent could do (and for $3 a ticket, they didn’t have much to lose).
The night began with a duo that was new to most of the crowd – an Ogden-based group named Royce. A somewhat Simon and Garfunkelish pair, David Carter and Adam Record are certainly up on their genre. With instrumentation that included acoustic guitars, a banjo, a mandolin, an accordion, a bongo and even some spoons (yes, spoons), the group proved what ne’er a boy-band could: 1) They can write their own music, and 2) they can play their own instruments (and play them well).
The only drawback of the evening was that most of Royce’s music was slower-paced (though conciliatory). Slow and sappy songs are good every now and again, but a little toe-tappin’ adrenaline rush never hurt any concert.
One highlight of the evening, however, was Royce’s lyrics. Unique and interesting, the band hit home with such wonders as “Weed” which begins by saying, “Pretend we’re all a bunch of plants, we’re damaged by droughts and we’re crawled on by ants. And you my girl are a flower indeed, and I’m everybody’s neighbor, but I ain’t nobody’s need, I’m a weed.” (In a strange semblance of Paul Simon’s “Punkie’s Dilemma” which begins by saying, “I wish I were a Kellog’s Cornflake.”). Royce was definitely distinctive, and certainly a crowd-pleaser.
In contrast to the newly found Royce, when lokalgrown stepped up to the stage, the crowd was ready for what they had to offer: Honestly excited entertainers with a wide repertoire who knew exactly what their throng wanted.
With the self-proclaimed objective of using “music as a tool to make the world a better place,” lokalgrown certainly started out on the right foot.
“Can you take me, can you take me, into the atmosphere” came with a roaring approval and their second song (which asked the crowd to “come alive” and “step outside”) kept the groove going. But not everyone was pleased with the order of the opener. Guitarist Jake Callister said that between the “booty swingin'” he did during the first song and “singing his guts out” on the second, he might not make it through the night.
The bands’ many inspirations (from Phish and Pink Floyd to John Denver and America) came through in some of the nights covers which included “Spiderwebs” by Coldplay and their trademark “Danny’s Song” by Kenny Loggins (which they usually dedicate to their parents). Other highlights of the evening included Jake Callister’s rarely played, “Sehnsucht” and Quinn Dietlein’s “White Knights,” a song that got the audience dancing in their seats (and a pair dancing in the isles).
Overall, the night’s performances were excellent and the $3 entry fee was paid back in extreme excess. lokalgrown, unique among Utah bands, was at the top of their game for one reason: They put passion into everything they played. More than musicians, these entertainers seemed to know that a concert is also about the people who come to listen. As drummer, Keith Sorensen said, “Every show, every rehearsal, and every time we see each other I am reminded that music is about more than just music. It’s about people, and loving people, and finding common ground.
Folks interested in learning more about the bands can go to www.geocities.com /roycemusic or www.lokalgrown.com.
Matt Wright is a sophomore majroing in English literature. Comments may be sent to mattgo@cc.usu.edu.