Bear Hunter & Low Flying Owls

Judging from the buzz that Sacramento’s Low Flying Owls have created for themselves, and the already established caliber of talent and energy exuded by Bear Hunter, expectations were high for a thrilling evening of rock music at what still stands as the best venue in town for music, Riff Raff.
Originally, Danny West and the Lonesome Cowboys were to open the show and douse the audience with a healthy dose of old-fashioned country ballads, but due to an illness, the group was not able to play, thereby providing ample time for socializing and people-watching on my part.
Low Flying Owls had their gear set up and my anticipation took precedence for approximately one hour before they actually took the stage. The buzz for this band is well-deserved. Low Flying Owls’ lavish instrumentation and echo-y vocals ricocheted off Riff Raff’s old brick walls and instantly pleased each person who was in attendance. Solid, flowing bass lines drove each song into an almost disco feel, though the core of the songs remained true to a kind of Brit-rock vibe. I would expect that for a band that has gained such favorable accolades, the bar would have been standing room only, but due to occupancy issues, the crowd remained minute.
I have to give due respect to Bear Hunter for using their setup time wisely and bringing the rock without too long of a wait in between bands. The group started their set with a dreamy instrumental number that featured some crafty string work by the bassist and guitarist. Drummer Clint Bear never missed a beat and provided the perfect template for the rest of the group to draw from. Perhaps it was the late hour at which the group started playing, or the allure and aroma of the pizza next door, but even with the entire group’s energy, the crowd was pretty stagnant. I was especially pleased to hear a spot-on cover of “Lullaby” by the Cure, which was given a bit of Bear Hunter flair but remained relatively true to its original form.
The evening ended with a sense of confusion, the kind of confusion that sets in when your expectations exceed reality. Friday’s show could have had more support from local scenesters, or even simply from curious bar flies, but, alas, it seems as though great bands and a nurturing rock venue are sometimes not enough. Best wishes go out to Danny West.

– Ryan Prado
– Photo by Alyssa Starkey

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