Right off their recent 8 day tour, I feel the need to tell everyone about 2 bands that you will certainly be seeing a lot more off in 2012; The Hotel Year & Young English.
I not only had the pleasure of witnessing one of their epic performances above, filled with outstanding musicianship and a playlist that rivaled some stadium performances I’ve seen, but I also had the honor of playing along side them with my band, I Can See Mountains.
Young English set the tone first with their emotional, yet mature lyrical play, matched by one of the tightest rhythm sections I’ve ever witnessed live. The chords, the melodies, the timing, all perfect and together it creates what Young English is known for… amazing, we’ll written, full of lyrical angst songs. Playing the majority of their new EP “I Hate My Friends,” Young English put on a show I won’t forget for a while, or at least until the next time I see them live.
The Hotel Year followed and with little effort it seemed, showed the fans in attendance that they too can make you feel like your packed like sardines into a amphitheater rocking out to a band as large as the Foo Fighters. The Hotel Year was much more laid back than Young English, but made up for it in complex song arrangements and an experienced musicianship that was hard to believe for a band who’s majority isn’t able to legally drink. The highlight of their performance was a cover of “The Weakerthans” that a few fans were able to sing along too while the majority of the crowd simply thought it was an original song by this up and coming group.
