Folktronic is not a term you hear too often in today’s music scene, however, Howard’s performance at The Chapel last Saturday certainly put it on our radar.
The Brooklyn based trio is comprised of Howard Feibusch, Myles Heff and Chris Holdridge. Creating most of the songs in the studio first, the band combines electronic sound with folk influences and create a unique blend that can be recognized as none other than folktronic.
Howard were the sole openers for Bronze Radio Return. The majority of the crowd came to see the main act of the night and displayed some trepidation when first hearing Howard perform. However, the cautious crowd had very little effect on the band. Howard made the stage their own and skillfully conducted their unique sound with instrumentals and electronic equipment.
The show drew mostly from the band’s latest LP, Religion, which was released in January 2015. The whole album creates a layered sound, intertwining raw acoustic instruments with carefully manipulated electronic elements. The most popular song on the LP is, arguably, “Money Can’t Buy,” which served as a crowd pleasing finale to Saturday’s performance. Howard also performed a few songs from their highly anticipated EP, Please Recycle, which will be released on March 25.
The smoke filled room’s contrast with the bright stage lighting mirrored the contrast between the enchanting electronics and clear sounding acoustics. The Chapel proved itself as the most ideal venue for the band to perform the transcending songs off of their LP, Religion. Howard certainly expanded their fan base as they conformed the at first cautious crowd into entranced listeners. The band continued to display their commitment to not only their craft, but also to their listeners when they encouraged audience members to come hang out with them after the show.
Overall, Saturday night’s performance at The Chapel was an enlightening experience for the audience. Howards’ release of their EP, Please Recycle, on March 25 is expected to be another unique and creative display of the bands artistic abilities.
Article and photos by Erica Munson