Show Review: Gentlemen Hall

Gentlemen Hall – The Satellite, 1/27, Los Angeles

Review and photos by Tessie Navarro

 

From the moment the members of Gentlemen Hall (GH) walked on stage, I was intrigued. Co-lead singers, synths, bass, guitar, drums – seems pretty standard right? Well, let me also add the flute. I had not listened to the band beforehand so my expectations only went as far as a synth-pop indie rock performance for the night.

The band started the set off with “Get Rich Slow,” encouraging crowd participation with stick clicking, hand clapping and dance inducing melodies. Flashing neon lights also helped set the mood as GH, the second band of the night, played to a packed venue at The Satellite.

When done right, I’m a sucker for dual vocals. Cue guitarist/vocalist Cobi Mike and vocalist Gavin Merlot, offering perfect vocal counterpoints. Mike’s bluesy, soothing vocals give some of the more mellow moments a relaxed R&B feel while the resounding vocals of Merlot provide a seamless lead in to the band’s energy driven choruses.

Before introducing one of their better-known songs, “Sail Into the Sun,” the band took a moment to laugh at the irony of being from Boston and never actually seeing much of the sun. Given the uplifting, sunny nature of the song you’d really never know.

I want to take a moment to commend flutist Seth Hachen. Okay, so we’ve all seen Anchorman, right? I’m sure we can all agree that Will Ferrell’s character, Ron Burgundy, made that flute look pretty badass. Well, leave it to Hachen of GH to turn a fictional occurrence into a reality. Even throughout the moments when he wasn’t playing the flute, he wasn’t just idly standing by. At any given time you’d see him jumping up and down, raising his flute in the air and engaging with his band mates. The guy knows stage presence. It wasn’t just Hachen getting the audience going. The gentlemen of GH made the room move, and if you’ve ever been to a show in Silver Lake you’d admit that’s a pretty impressive feat. Now, let me elaborate on what I mean by “move.” This went beyond head nodding and foot tapping. Let’s say, a step above head nodding and a half step under head banging, with some hand clapping and hip shaking thrown in. To the audience’s delight, GH also included a very well done cover of Santigold’s “Disparate Youth.”

By the time the band played their last song “D.U.M.B.O.” a group of four or five gathered the (perhaps, liquid) courage to go beyond the invisible barrier four feet in front of the stage and dance with drinks in the air and smiles all around.

Having been together since 2008, the members of GH have had time to polish their performance and sound, and they have used that time well. Each song played out almost effortlessly while their set was compelling from start to finish.

After their set had ended I turned around to hear someone say, “they were so great, they’re going to be the next big thing!” I laughed for a brief moment and couldn’t help but smile because I agreed with the sentiment.

So what did I think of the show? Well, you read the review. All I have to say is this: well done, gentlemen. Well done.

 

Set list:

Get Rich Slow

All Our Love

Sail Into the Sun

In the Rearview (Low Light)

Cover of Santigold’s “Disparate Youth”

Lonely Road

Raindrops

Hold On Tight

D.U.M.B.O

The band is currently on tour with Basic Vacation through mid February.

Tour Dates:

1/30 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s

2/3 – Reno, NV – The Alley

2/4 – Portland, OR – Star Theatre

2/5 – Seattle, WA – Barboza

2/7 – Boise, ID – Neuorlux

2/9 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge

2/11 – Phoenix, AZ – Pub Rock

2/12 – San Diego, CA – Casbah