This past Saturday, Kingsley Flood, along with Tom McBride, provided an evening of rip-roaring folk rock sounds to an intimate-but-filled house at IOTA. The Vinyl District was proud to participate, and I was quite pleased to have the opportunity to introduce each act and in doing so take all the credit.
The Boston-bred Americana “Rock with a Fiddle” sensation Kingsley Flood were playing to promote their latest EP release Colder Still, as this was the release party. If I were to sum up Kingsley Flood in one word, it would be “fun.” They were kind enough to send me a copy of their EP, and I devoured it quickly. I found though, after seeing them twice (now thrice) and then hearing their recorded sounds, I prefer the live sounds. That’s not to knock the quality of the EP—it’s to talk up their live show—but it’s hard to bottle lightning.
Each time I see Kingsley Flood, they become both more polished and more exciting. They were mostly six-deep with lead/rhythm guitar, bass, fiddle, keyboard/trumpet, and drums, but at times they brought up a fiddle or an extra horn, or Jenée Morgan would switch from fiddle to saxophone. They never left us hanging. Naseem Khuri sings most of the lead vocals and has an electrifying stage presence.
Their set ranged from the sweet swinging rhythms of songs like “Stoop Cats” to driving highway chase scene rock like “Mannequin Man,” and the highly danceable NPR-featured folk rock jam “I Don’t Wanna Go Home.” People were up and down on stage changing instruments or beating an upturned garbage can. The kind of aluminum garbage can Oscar lives in—I don’t think I’ve ever really seen one of those in real life. I hope he didn’t mind. Let me reiterate that this show was what the band is in one word: fun.
IOTA is a great space for smallish shows. A brick-walled space contains a bar on the side with several beers on tap and a short stage against the front windows. The show space attaches to a second bar and adjoining cafe area. If I wasn’t front and center to catch the music fire hose, you better believe I would have been relaxing in a booth eating some kind of crazy panini.
Opening for Kingsley Flood was Tom McBride, who is just starting to do shows again after holing himself up to write a new album to follow his first creation, A Brief Head Spin. He is a regular sight at IOTA, but this was his first show back in a good six months, and everyone was glad to have him back.
He plays mostly acoustic guitar and was backed with simple drums and bass; a stripped-down folk rock sound that highlighted his best asset, his voice. He provided rhythms and tones that spanned the spectrum from slow love songs to pumping rock. His songs are all very well written, catchy, and radio-ready, particularly “Into the Arms of the Wild-Eyed Young.” Not to mention he’s a total dream boat (see above).
Both sets were highly desirable and meshed well with the atmosphere created by the space itself. It’s always a pleasure to get to see Kingsley Flood, and many thanks to The Vinyl District for the opportunity to actually participate a little bit this time. Until next time, friends!
Kingsley Flood photo: Jess Hodge
