Good Old War // 3-19-12 // Houston, TX
Tour Review by Heather Phillips
Fresh off of SXSW, Good Old War headed to Houston to go forth on their headlining tour in support of their new album, Come Back As Rain. The venue, Fitzgerald’s was a seemingly perfect fit for their show. Made to look like a two story house, you felt an overwhelming sense of home upon stepping into the venue; a perfect setting for a band of this genre.
Family of the Year and The Belle Brigade opened up the show, both offering their own style of indie folk music. Even though opening a show can be nerve wrecking they both did an excellent job of pumping the crowd up for the main act.
If there is one word to describe Good Old War’s stage presence it is humble. No fancy intros needed, the group came out all smiles as they set up their gear. From the moment they stepped out on stage the fans, aka Warriors, cheered them on. The room might have been small but it was packed with dedicated fans just ready to clap and sing-a-long to the band’s music. From the lighting, to the face-to-face proximity of the stage to the audience the entire show felt as if a group of friends were just getting together to share a few drinks, a few laughs and enjoy some good music.
The three piece blazed through a 15 song set. Covering both the classics as well as the new jams to leave no one in the crowd disappointed. Keith Goodwin’s soothing vocals blasted through the speakers while Dan Schwartz, powered through solos on acoustic as well as electric guitar while drummer Tim Arnold kept the beat and lead the crown into rhythmic claps to create a truly euphoric sound. The set had the audience completely hooked the entire time and singing along with every word.
After 13 songs the band departed from the stage only to be greeted with the crowd chanting their name for more. All smiles, the band returned back for two more, ending with the crowd favorite, “Coney Island” to wrap up a great night of music. They then immediately went to greet their fans, pose for photos and thank everyone for attending.
Good Old War is a truly humble band. It’s easy to see this from their live performance as well as their interaction with fans. If you are in the mood to see a down-to-earth performance that feels like a reunion with old friends then I would highly recommend checking out Good Old War when they come through your town.
View more photos here.
