Shakey Graves – December 11th – Bluebird Theater

Photo by Erika Goldring

The Scene: Shakey Graves sold-out all three shows at the Bluebird Theater this past December weekend and you could feel the energy coursing through the room as people crammed the theater early buzzing with excitement. While men and women in their late 20s to early 30s made up a majority of the audience, you would come to find the suave elderly rubbing elbows with giddy teens. It was a weeknight show, but that didn’t stop the indie rocker from beginning his set at 10:45 and playing until a mean 12:30 a.m. People left with heavy lids and happy hearts.

Shakey Graves: Alejandro Rose-Garcia is touring behind the release of his second full-length album, And The War Came. The top-selling album has earned rapid fame across the indie pipeline and there are many reasonings behind this. For one, Rose-Garcia’s one-man acoustic sets are attractive in this age of technology (otherwise known as the era of DJs-grinding-on-their-play-buttons). Accompanied by only his electric guitar and suitcase drum for a portion of the show, the Austin-native combines Alternative Rock with Indie Folk. He’s the quintessential grunge folkster.

As Shakey Graves walked onto the stage in his austral cowboy hat, the singer-songwriter graciously greeted the audience with a bearded smile. He played a phenomenal mix of old and new. Older songs like “Roll the Bones, “Georgia Moon” and “Proper Fence” sprinkled in between hits like “Pansy Waltz” and “The Perfect Parts.” Rose-Garcia’s solo songs were gritty and raggedy, soulful and tragic, but when his band came out and he grabbed his electric guitar, the room would start to shake. I think I get the name now. Basically, Shakey Graves shows are rock concerts performed by a relentless singer-songwriter.

The extraordinary Esme Patterson, a Denver local, came out to accompany Rose-Garcia in vocals for the final three songs of the evening. An increasingly sleepy audience caught their second wind when she ran out to perform a mesmerizing mini-set including “Call It Heaven, “Dearly Departed” and “Big Time Nashville Star.” They were goofy, electric, twangy and heartfelt. This emerging Texan will play at some big time festivals and continue to sell-out shows across the country. Continue to look for Shakey Graves collaborations with alt-folk’s finest!

Energy: A
Musicianship: A+
Sound: A
Stage Presence: A
Set/Light Show: B-

Overall: A