All’s fair in love and war, and tonight here in Fountain Square, a fierce battle rages on. Lines have been drawn and people will choose a side, and when the smoke clears, there will be one undisputed winner.
Who will that be? We’ll find out soon enough.
As part of her “This Is War” Tour, singer/actress Emily Kinney (TV’s The Walking Dead) made a stop at The Hi-Fi in Fountain Square. Also joining in support was singer/songwriter Dylan Garder and Adam Tressler, who is also the lead guitarist in Kinney’s band.
Admittedly – like many people in the crowd – I know Ms. Kinney from her role as Beth on The Walking Dead. It wasn’t until maybe a year ago that I realized she’s also a singer who already has an EP out and has been performing all over the country. (SPOILER ALERT) Saddened by her departure from the show, I was really interested in seeing what she could do on the stage. A few months ago, I was bummed out on my couch. Today, I’m standing outside The Hi-Fi waiting to get in. Also, to converse with Dylan Gardner, who was gracious enough to set aside time to talk before the show (concART Podcast #23 coming soon).
I’m inside, there’s plenty of chatter going on, and if I wasn’t so hungry, I’d enjoy a Sun King with this show, but alas, I’m here for music and not beer. So let’s get this going. Allons-y.
WHEN THE SUN IS OUT
I’ve not heard of this first act, a soloist by the name of Adam Tressler. It wasn’t until he got up on stage that he explained that he was also the lead guitarist for Emily Kinney’s band, and this was more of something he did for fun (or as he joked, he’s allowed to play songs while the sun is still out). Armed with only a Fender Telecaster, he played through a short set consisting of songs about topics such as William Henry Harrison and Kurt Vonnegut (good thing we’re in Indiana). Since he was the only one on stage and performed with no percussion or backing tracks – only his guitar and a few loops from his pedal board – it feels a little less like an opener and more like open mic night at the coffee shop. That’s not to dismiss him at all. His personality fun and his songs were very well-written and executed. He even had some fun interaction with a few people in the front.
The downside? My experience was hampered by people who kept talking throughout the set (loudly), but aside from this distraction, Tressler put on a brief, but enjoyable set. A nice way to start things out.
For those who have never been in The Hi-Fi (happy anniversary!), it’s not a very big room. The max capacity is about 200 people including bar staff. Needless to say, it got pretty crowded, pretty fast. Moving from one side of the room to the other can turn into a process. Since I don’t feel like invading anyone’s personal bubble or moving over to the bar when I’m not drinking, I guess I’ll stay leaning against this wall.
READY TO START
As I remain trapped against this wall, our next act takes to the stage. Let’s all welcome Mr. Dylan Gardner. It’s not the first time he was in Indiana. He was here just a few months ago, performing to a huge crowd of about 6 people. As he would joke, even 8 people would look like a sell out crowd.
In talking to him before the show, you could tell he’s very passionate about what he does. He’s someone who loves music and has dedicated himself to every aspect of it. While he’s performing, this is very evident. Gardner is one of those rare performers who seems to hit on every note (no pun intended). His overall enthusiasm perfectly compliments his generally upbeat pop/rock. He generally sticks with fun (not the band), happy electric rock, but knew how to dial it back when it came to acoustic songs. He even threw in an Arctic Monkeys cover for good measure. He earlier mentioned John Lennon as an influence, and you can definitely see it. Not bad for someone who had to spend much of his time in the green room because he’s under the age of 21. Actually, being under 21 is why he had to cancel his usual meet-and-greet with the crowd. Also, he was going to be on a St. Louis morning show the next day, and he had to leave immediately following the performance.
Overall, Gardner is a tremendous talent, and best of all, he’s just getting started. Keep an eye on this kid. Big things could be coming.
The room has about reached full capacity. How hard is it to move now? Even getting to the bathroom in the hallway is a struggle. Thankfully, people are creating a path for those who need to move around. I’ve actually found a new spot this way. It’s closer and provides a much better view of the stage. I’m ready, and the rest of the crowd looks ready, so how much longer do we have?
LOVE AND WAR
Actually, we don’t have too long of a wait, and Kinney with the rest of her band come out to cheers from the crowd, and away we go. Let’s get this war started (a “cute” war as she says).
Unlike the more energetic Dylan Gardner, Kinney’s set takes a noticeably more somber and melancholic sound, and her stage presence kind of reflects that. There’s not much movement or dancing, and her songs aren’t nearly as fun. What they are though, are profound and full of emotion.
With that, she has plenty to say on a variety of topics, from love and relationships, to life struggles and chasing your dreams. It’s a different side of Emily Kinney that many in here may not have seen before, and she makes it work.
Not everything was melancholy. This is a show, so she knows to involve the audience. This comes in the form of getting people to chant “Take Home Julie!” and snap our fingers (saying to treat this as an audition, and then as a call back respectively) and mentioning how this tour makes everyone in the band want to get on the phone and break up with their significant others back home. Maybe not the smoothest thing, but hey, she acknowledges that we’re here.
The standout moment of the show had to be her A capella performance. Her emotion was real, and you could hear a pin drop in the room. That’s how attentive everyone was. Definitely not something you see at most shows (aca-awesome).
Another moment – my personal favorite – were two songs she sang during her time on The Walking Dead, including “Be Good” and her Tom Waits cover “Hold On.” On person yells out that she cried when Beth was killed off, which prompts Kinney to apologize for her pretend death to make people sad, and that she cried too.
Almost an hour later, she reaches her final song and bids everyone farewell. Of course, we want more, and after a few moments of cheering, we get our encore in the form of “Rockstar.” Then the show finally ends, and she sends us all on our way.
It’s a beautiful night in Fountain Square, and I’m sad to see it end, but it’s back to my car and to my computer to type some words about it.
Final verdict?
On paper, it looks like we have two opposites: an exuberant singer/songwriter determined to make music his life, and a more emotionally-driven pop act. Both compliment each other very well and form a complete show.
Who wins in this war? For one of the few times in history, everyone wins.
The Good:
Dylan Gardner is a rare talent that hits on all the right notes, and Emily Kinney is as profound as you want any musician to be. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that The Hi-Fi might have been the best venue to have this kind of show in.
The Bad:
Maybe some issues with the crowd (talking during the opener), but hey, I can’t control everything.