The Head and The Heart @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 10/8/2016

The tour in support of the 3rd album from The Head and The Heart  started his past July in Kansas City, about two months before the September 9th release of Signs of Light! Three months later, the indie-folk band from Seattle made their way to The Greek Theater in Berkeley on Saturday, October 8th! It doesn't get much better than seeing shows at one of the best outdoor venues in the Bay Area, on the beautiful campus of UC Berkeley, on a warm Indian Summer evening. 

The Tallest Man on Earth @ The Greek Theater 10/8/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

I arrived as the sun was setting, enjoying the last sun-lit exchanges of show-goers proudly describing who they were who they were there to see perform.  From where I stood, it sounded like there were just as many people there to see The Tallest Man on Earth as there were for The Head and The Heart. Some fans compared The Head and the Heart to Mumford and Sons, which isn't surprising but it was surprising when the question of why went un-answered. It's pretty obvious that both bands fall under the folk category.




Even post banjo filled Mumford is still pretty folky (maybe not their 2016 EP but everything before that, definitely). The Head and The Heart are like Mumford and Sons just not as Rail Road Revival-y, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros (pre and post Jade) and even The Lumineers. Why? Indie-folk, that's why.

The Head and The Heart @ The Greek Theater 10/8/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The Tallest Man on Earth went on right on time at 8:00 on the dot and all eyes were on the handsome, charming, Swedish frontman, Kristian Mattson. Transmitting a kindness from the stage with a warm smile across his face and a guitar in hand, Mattson transcended a care-free vibe into the crowd. Twenty and thirty something ladies swooned like young teenagers at the top of just about every song and I was tickled by how many people around me sang along through out the set. Earnest yet modest, Mattson was intermittently, outwardly gracious for fans getting there early for what would be their last show of the tour and for The Head and the Heart for having them.

The Head and The Heart @ The Greek Theater 10/8/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Dusk had set on top of the hill at UC Berkeley as the six members of The Head and the Heart found their way to the stage.  The stage design made you feel like you were hanging out in your friends living room with ceiling to floor curtains, round hanging lanterns and leafy greenery created a cozy, homey atmosphere. It was quite quaint and a lovely fit with the wholesome, wholehearted feels The Head and the Heart give. 

A wave of cheers and applause swelled from the crowd as the sound of the first single, "All We Ever Knew" off Sings of Light, filled the evening air. Opening with their current single was a risk worth taking: not only was everyone was delighted by it but it also eliminated the anticipation of hearing them play it, integrating a delightful audience experience from the start. Once they had fans dialed in they threw it all the way back to "Coeur d'Alene" from their 2011 self-titled debut.  Jangly piano keys  of "Ghosts" welcomed another oldie yet goodie early on before back to back to back songs from 2013's Let's Be Still filled the Autumn air.  Fans positively adored when Charity Rose shared lead vocals on the album's bitter sweet title track, "Let's Be Still": the track that quintessentially captures the essence that is The Head and The Heart. As their name suggests, The Head and the Heart ride on the (not so) subtle emphasis on both emotion and intellect, i.e the struggle between following your heart and doing what you think is best for your own good. A highly relatable, gut-wrenching  juxtaposition.

The  Head and The Heart @ The Greek Theater 10/8/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

They were unconventionally, visually charming up on stage: Jonathan Russell starting off front and center in a tan wide brim hat and matching coat,  Charity Rose Thielen, to his left, in a black slit sleeve cape over a floor length shimmery Orchid Pink dress and the rest of the guys seemingly doing their own thing in button up shirts and denim jeans. Their causally cool look accentuated their stylistic, artisan vibe. Interludes of warm harmonies between his and her vocals, violin, guitar and tambourine pleasantly characterized the set as they do throughout their repertoire.

The Head and The Heart @ The Greek Theater 10/8/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The acoustics that Saturday night at The Greek faired well with the folky hymns and rustic instrumentals, whisking them up then gently laying them down.  The new album finds this collaboration more fluid and unified than albums past. Perhapse age and experience helped them grow stronger, personally and musically.
Heart-always-on-their-sleeve songwriting was effortlessly brought to life at their show with an enchantingly welcoming stage presence, friendly fan interaction, placid swirling melodies and intimate harmonies.



 It's plain to see, and hear, that The Head and the Heart unabashedly wear their cohesive heart on their sleeve along side their head. They delivered a most enjoyable, good for the soul, show going experience! Great way to round out the 2016 season at The Greek Theater in Berkeley which officially wraps up this Friday November 4th with Miss Lauryn Hill and Nas!







The Head and The Heart SET-LIST 10/8/2016 
1. Signs of Light 
2. Coeur d'Alene 
3. Ghosts 
4. City of Angels 
5. Turn It Around 
6. Another Story 
7. Let's Be Still 
8. Colors 
9. Lost In My Mind
10. Shake
11. Winter Song 
12. Rhythm & Blues 
13. Sounds Like Hallelujah 
14. Down In The VAlley 
15.  Library Magic 
16. Oh My Dear 
17. Your Mother's Eyes 
18. Rivers and Roads