Written by Jordan Drinkhouse
Photo by Anna Deatherage
It can be so easy to sit on your couch and stay home.
I wasn’t going to go to Woodlands Tavern to see Circles Around the Sun. I had queued up reruns on Netflix and was completely horizontal in my hammock. Yes, my wife coaxed me into hanging one up inside our TV room. Thankfully, a new friend of mine wouldn’t have it.
.
I had to weigh my options. I knew the re-runs would remain there for another day, but the opportunity to see these artists was fleeting.
I decided that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Circles Around the Sun on their journey through an amazing career. Truth be told, spontaneous decisions can lead to the most rewarding circumstances. I had a gut feeling that this would not be a show to miss.
Tyler Ramsey, former guitarist for Band of Horses, opened the evening at Woodlands Tavern. He took advantage of the intimate atmosphere and slowly drew a seemingly timid crowd toward the front of the room. I’m not sure the audience knew what was happening, but it was evident that Tyler did as he glanced up at us, smiling from his fingers to his pedals. Then, he sat alone with his tools and went to work. I lost myself in the melodies that he produced as people continued to filter into the audience chamber. As I saw the light from the main bar refract from the opposing wall, patrons of the venue opened the partition and flocked toward the music. This was the perfect introduction to my evening. My plan was to catch a few of Tyler’s songs and take a rest on the outdoor patio before the headliner’s set was audibled. I bore witness to the entirety of the set, and I’m glad I did. Even though an intricate dance of sound was produced from a single guitar, it felt like there was more than one musician. No one outside of that room will ever know what the music felt like on that day.
Circles Around the Sun’s music exudes confidence; musicians who are clearly adept with their instruments and know how to utilize them to communicate with their audience. Watching them is like eavesdropping on a conversation between friends the next table over. They don’t speak in English, but in the language of music. Unconcerned with being overheard, they remain steadfast in their message. Early in the set I was entranced by guitarist Neal Casal’s stylistic plucking. I was fixated on the melodies in what I now know to be “Hallucinate a Solution” and “On my Mind”. I began to move my body and felt myself making the same awkward face I do at every show. The band rolled into “Immovable Object”, and like a camera lens changing focus, my mind locked onto Dan Horne’s bass. Supported by the foundation of sound coming from Mark Levy’s drum kit, the pair bubbled up through the guitar’s melody and encapsulated me. This was where the heart of the band’s music lived. Easy to follow and groove to, each instrument was hypnotizing and seemed to wind around the sounds of the others. Listening to these guys at home could never replace the live spectacle.
One thing that really stood out to me about Circles Around the Sun was their responsiveness to the crowd’s energy. They never let the momentum die. Often, you could see the members giving cues to each other about where to go. As they carefully executed their plan, the strings would quiet, and like biting into a fruit gusher, Adam MacDougall’s keys evoked a new flavor to the music that caused the crowd to erupt with energy. If you would like a taste as well, sink your teeth into the jam break of “Halicarnassus”. By the time Adam relinquished the spotlight, the other members of the band had taken us somewhere into “Scarlotta”. The rest of the set after this kept me fully alert and engaged. “One for Chuck” brings a bouncy light to the band’s transcendent grooves, and “When I Was at Peace” felt like a natural conclusion to a well-curated set. Circles Around the Sun certainly brought something special to Columbus, and I am thankful I was there to bear witness to it.
A show only happens once. This experience caused me to realize how imperative it is to make it to your local shows and support live music. It must be known that there are some truly loving and inspirational people within these communities who are always ready to welcome anyone that comes in with an open mind.
If you would like to catch a show with me, hit me up on Facebook! I am committed to seeing new music each week this year so if someone is near Columbus that I should see please let me know. I’ll also be at the Werk Out festival to catch some of my all time favorite acts: Turkuaz, The Motet, Sunsquabi, STS9, and much to the dismay of some of my friends, TWIDDLE =). If you don’t have your ticket yet, you can get them here! Make sure to grab them before prices go up.