Last night, The Henry Clay People and Futurebirds played a show together on Delaware’s Ninth Ward, as part of a few shows they’re playing together along individual tours. The turnout wasn’t very large, but the two bands seemed not to care as they played through their sets with enough energy to fill up First Niagara Center.  In fact, the smaller crowd helped to better the experience for band and audience alike, creating an intimate feeling that really made the concert what it was.

The Henry ClayPeople picked a wonderful setlist, taking advantage of their most energetic songs in this smaller venue. Knowing their ballads wouldn’t work, they loaded their show up with as many of their more punk songs as possible. Their presence on stage was fun to watch, as well, particularly the interaction between lead singer Joey Siara and his brother and lead guitarist Andy. When discussing his band’s new album, Twenty Five For The Rest Of Our Lives, Joey said : “It felt good to write songs about giving a shit...so we’re gonna play like we give a shit.” They then played such songs as "Hide" and "Twenty Five for the Rest of Our Lives," showing how much they really do give a shit about their music.

Until last night, I had known nothing about the Futurebirds except for a blog post about them written by Cliff Parks. I left the concert last night knowing no song names or albums, but knowing everything about them as a band instead. These are six guys who are really passionate about their music, and they let it show in every song they perform. At one point they played a song that lasted about nine minutes, but I was put in such a trance by their spacy country sound that I hadn’t realized how much time had passed until it was over. I’m very glad I found these guys last night, because they are a band everyone should know. The impermeable wall of sound created by the three guitars, pedal steel guitar, bass and drums and three or four part vocal harmonies was like a punch to the face with a sock em bopper, and the band could be smiling the whole way through it.