You know the music is good when it brings the crowd to tears – and that’s exactly what happened at The Felice Brothers‘ concert this past week. Full of spirit and charm, The Felice Brothers brought their passionate folk-rock songs to World Cafe Live for a magical night that will be hard to forget, not that anyone in the crowd would want to.
Made up of brothers Ian and James Felice, Will Lawrence, and Jesske Hume, The Felice Brothers recently released their album Valley of Abandoned Songs. As the title would suggest, it’s a collection of songs that didn’t make it onto their previous two albums but rather fit together on a new project, full of the vivid folk-storytelling characteristics of the band. However, don’t be fooled by their folk exterior, The Felice Brothers know how to rock and shred as well, as demonstrated at their show.
The Felice Brothers | photo by Emma Zoe Polyak for WXPN
Before jumping into the fan-favorite “Whiskey in My Whiskey,” James Felice called out to the audience to sing along, but the crowd needed no encouragement, with many singing along to their songs since the start of the show. Another song that roused the crowd was “Jazz on the Autobahn,” with cheers as soon as the song started. The crowd’s enthusiasm was truly one of the highlights of the night, with plenty of dancing, jumping, and singing filling the room with a lighthearted feeling.
Opener Dead Gowns made sure to establish a friendly mood early on. The band’s frontwoman Geneviève Beaudoin put the crowd at ease with her jokes and banter. Although Dead Gowns has rockier songs in their catalog, their set was a relaxing event, with stripped-down songs highlighting Beaudoin’s soothing vocals.
Dead Gowns | photo by Emma Zoe Polyak for WXPN
The Felice Brothers ended the night on a high note, finishing with their hit, “Frankie’s Gun.” There wasn’t a still body in the room, and the crowd erupted with cheers long after the band had finished.
Check out photos from the concert below. The Felice Brothers tour resumes next week with a Buffalo, NY gig on July 23rd before the bands heads up into Canada; full dates here.