Local folk unit Hunter Gatherer set the stage for the latest Waterfront Wednesday at Penn Treaty Park. The group’s rich harmonies, delicate guitar stylings, and moody lyrics did well to capture the audience’s attention before The War on Drugs let loose.
A friend once described The War on Drugs as “Dylan and a delay pedal playing with the drummer from Black Sabbath,” which seems pretty spot on. That’s not to say that their sound is rehashed, however. Adam Granduciel’s lyrics are Dylan-esque, but the airy, dreamy tones of his tracks keep the songs from playing like a knock-off.
The set was full of driving rhythm, which was composed through a mix of live drumming and pre-recorded loops. Granduciel’s distant licks were tastefully understated and his drawing vocals were clever and catchy.
“Arms Like Boulders,” the bright, crashing first track from the band’s LP Wagonwheel Blues sounded great resonating through the field. “Needle In Your Eye #16,” another hit from the same album, also played well, its heavy beat keeping everyone engaged.
It should be said that Kurt Vile, The War on Drugs former guitarist who has recently seen some attention of his own, did not play with the group. He was present at the show, but Granduciel took care of the strumming this time around.
It was an overall impressive display of folky modernity at Penn Treaty Park last night, one that was both calming and exciting through the cool evening. Check out the upcoming shows in the Waterfront Wednesday series here.
