A few weeks back, Theodore Treehouse made a brief appearance in this spot, lending the band the quote that now appears on their MySpace page: "Even the bike punks couldn't resist bopping their heads." At last week's crowded Slainte Wine Bar Mardi Gras celebration, there was a lot more than just head bopping happening. With floor space already limited, the band began their set in front of the audience-view-blocking structural beam before segueing from an acoustic intro to a full-on electric — and explosive — version of "Maple Syrup Moon." The seated crowd hopped to their feet and proceeded to bounce, sing, dance, and throw body parts (arms, mostly) in the air for the duration of the band's set.
It's tempting to make Modest Mouse comparisons, though that really only applies to one or two songs ("Big Monsters" and "Two Hands") which take singer Ian Ferrel's twangy vocals to punchier Isaac Brock territory. The band is overall far more jubilant in their collective folk (and very Portlandy) approach to indie rock. As expected (and required these days, apparently) you'll find an upright bass, saw, and banjo among the band's arsenal, though these songs work just as well with a straight-up rock recipe (drums, bass, guitar, keys).
This versatility and Ferrel's top-notch pop songwriting is a strong combination, making the young group (under a year old now) one of the city's most exciting new bands.
myspace.com/theodoretreehouse
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Live Reviews
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