Balmorhea at Cafe du Nord
Last night I saw my friend’s band, Balmorhea, play at Cafe du Nord. I was surprised to find that they were the opening act because in Austin—their home town—they’ve played sold out shows at much larger venues. They had just as many, if not more, viewers than the acts that followed—or perhaps they just knew more people in San Francisco.
Their instruments consist of acoustic/electric guitar, stand-up bass, fiddle, (something that looks like a larger fiddle—not sure what instrument it is), keyboard, melodian, and drums, which my friend plays. The melodies are entrancing and the listener is never quite sure what to expect next. With no vocals or repeating chorus, the songs don’t have the predictable repetition that prevails in most pop songs. Each song feels like you’re on a ship at sea waiting to see what weather Neptune is going to send you next.
You can still catch them in the western states in the next few weeks. Check out below for a sample, “San Solomon”