SCHENECTADY, NY – As a massive crowd gathered here at Frog Alley Brewing Company to see Band of Horses and City and Colour perform a nostalgic evening of early-aughts indie folk and alternative rock, it was clear that on this night 2006 had called, and the 518 answered.
Millennials from all over the greater Capital Region seemed to had excitedly dusted off their band merch, to go out and sing along to their favorite indie early-2000s hits. And with good reason: The venue’s outdoor summer stage was hosting an exceptional dual bill that fans had eagerly been awaiting.
Both City and Colour and Band of Horses saw immense success with their first few albums; both shaped the indie-folk landscape of the 2000s and 2010s, and influenced the next generation. New wave indie-folk acts like Mt. Joy, Wilderado, Caamp, Wild Rivers, Yoke Lore, and even Noah Kahan, have these two artists to thank. Notable hits like “The Girl” and “Lover Come Back” by City and Colour, and “The Funeral” and “No One’s Gonna Love You” by Band of Horses are recognized as indie anthems that stand the test of time. Just seeing some of those incredible songs performed live, nearly two decades later, was worth the price of admission.
As the acoustic heart behind City and Colour, a founding member of the post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, and half of the folk duo You+Me alongside P!nk, C&C frontman Dallas Green clearly wears many hats, both metaphorically and literally. (Seriously, look at that hat!) He covers the full gamut of the musical spectrum, from screamo tracks to introspective acoustic ballads. Don’t believe me? Listen to “Sleeping Sickness” by City and Colour, and then queue “Boiled Frogs” by Alexisonfire. You’ll get musical whiplash.
City and Colour released The Love Still Held Me Near in 2023, and the album is somehow just as impressive, if not more, than the highly acclaimed early albums. In several interviews, Green said his recent music came from a vulnerable place of grief and loss, after tragically losing both his cousin and best friend, as well as separating from his wife of 11 years. While the album still carries some of that classic warm, comforting, acoustic City and Colour vibe, it feels even more exposed, and subtly darker than before, both lyrically and through instrumentation.
That raw, transparent message of grief depicted in the album was masterfully translated live when City and Colour took the stage. It felt as though you could read the lyrics just by looking at Green’s face as he played the songs from the album. It was a profound and beautiful display of vulnerability.
With seven albums and many hits to choose from, I was excited to see how the group would encapsulate nearly two decades of incredible music into a shorter set. To the crowd’s delight (and mine), they ended up playing songs from every single studio album. The band seamlessly floated through time, ending the set with “Fragile Bird” from Little Hell (2011), “Lover Come Back” from If I Should Go Before You (2015), “Sleeping Sickness” from Bring Me Your Love (2008), and finally, “Sometimes (I Wish)” from Sometimes (2005).
It was a phenomenal set, yet one song was glaringly absent: their biggest hit by far, “The Girl.” While I was excited to hear this song, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. The setlist flowed perfectly, the crowd was engaged, and the band put on a captivating, emotional performance.
Band of Horses took the stage next. In a similar fashion, the group’s set included songs from all of their albums, from their most famous earlier albums Everything All the Time (2006) and Cease to Begin (2007), to their most recent album, Things are Great (2022). My biggest takeaway from their performance was the palpable joy on frontman Benjamin Bridwell’s face throughout the set, and it was a joy for the audience to partake in.
From the lighting and production to the band’s tight, clearly well-rehearsed sound, Bridwell and his band should be proud of their performance on this tour. While I admit, I felt the middle of the set laid slightly stagnant, this is a remarkably talented group of musicians. Being able to perform a song from 2006 live the same way it sounds on the record in 2024, is wildly impressive in itself.
Honestly, I wouldn’t have necessarily paired these two bands together for a co-headline tour; Band of Horses has an emo/punk element to their sound that contrasts City and Colour’s warm, acoustic blend. However, both bands are certified indie hitmakers of the early aughts, and these conflicting sounds ended up uniquely complementing each other.
All in all, it was an incredible night of music. I may have gravitated more toward City and Colour’s performance out of pure preference, but both bands are powerhouses, consistently making and shaping culture for the better part of two decades. Seeing this kind of stamina and longevity in the industry is truly inspiring, and I hope to hear them play for another 20 years. But Dallas: Will you please play, “The Girl” next time?
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City and Colour – 9/13/24 at Frog Alley Summer Stage, Schenectady, NY (Photos by Catherine Windover)
Band of Horses – 9/13/24 at Frog Alley Summer Stage, Schenectady, NY (Photos by Catherine Windover)
