West By Swan, Beltline & Boy Tiger

By the time I got to Moxie’s Café on Saturday it was obvious that Emovember was in full swing. Scarves and vintage jackets were abundant and cigarettes were being smoked outside as everyone got geared up for a night of music.
The first artist to play was Chico-local Boy Tiger. One glance at Boy Tiger and you expect something soft and mellow — it’s just Bethany and her guitar. And that’s what she delivered for the first couple of songs. But when that girl starts to pick it up it’s obvious that she’s more than a pretty girl with a guitar: she can sing the roof off. Imagine Rilo Kiley with a theatrical disposition. In fact, Bethany’s voice is so powerful she often had to step a few paces back from the mic in order to avoid inner eardrum explosions. Her set was dynamic and beautiful, and while she’s still a little raw at the edges, the crowd — myself included — loved her.
Up next was Beltline, an indie rock band out of Portland, OR. Their orange and red tiger-striped drum set promised serious rocking, and they came through. Their set was one solid song after another and everyone attending was guilty of foot tapping and head nodding. The tone was very cozy, not that the songs were especially happy, but I felt like the band were my friends and we were just hanging out casually, except they had instruments and I had a tea, and there were lots of other people around. Their sound was very guitar-driven and the lead singer’s vocals fit the mood and the music very well. The songs were similar, but not overly homogenous; overall it was a great set.
The final act of the night was West By Swan. Chances are you’ve been to a West By Swan show; these guys play often, and have developed quite a following. Because of the show’s unfortunate time management they only had 20 minutes to play, which meant only time enough for two or three of their long, mostly instrumental songs. Their brand of rock is perfect for Moxie’s; it demands no more from the listener than a dreamy sort of attention. The vocals are sparse, but used perfectly and the members definitely know how to play their instruments. Often it will seem as if they’re improvising, but then the original melody will come back around when you least expect it. A great band to see live; just remember to bring earplugs, because they keep their amps up high.

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