RSS
Home
Harbours offer massive sound in a stripped down acoustic set at the Rickshaw Stop on Friday
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Harbours/The Harbours take a band photo!
Friday night Harbours (sometimes called The Harbours) played an early happy hour set over at the Rickshaw Stop. Normally, Harbours sports five members - bass, drums, keyboard, two electric guitars (band leader Miguel Zelaya doubles on lead vocals). However, on Friday Harbours did a stripped down acoustic set featuring Zelaya on acoustic guitar and long time bandmate Conor McCormack on bass. For some songs, the lovely and talented Uni (Uni and her Ukelele) sang alongside Zelaya.
The first song came off a little bit flat - almost as though they were warming up. However, after the first number the two perked up a lot. The most impressive element of the songs the duo performed was how much sound they created. It took a few minutes to remember there weren't any other instruments up there besides the bass and the acoustic guitar. Zelaya's unique method of layering hooks, where the first hook fades into the newer one makes it seem as though a lot more musicians are at work on the stage.
The set featured some songs off No Souvenirs, including the emotionally charged hit "Is That the Situation" and also some new songs. Zelaya has plans to release an EP soon so he is working out the material. Part of what makes Harbours so captivating, in addition to the quality song writing and musicianship, is Zelaya's method for creating new songs. He regularly changes lyrics, trying out new ones and plugging in phrases from old songs, searching for the biggest crowd reaction. When he finds what he's looking for, he nails the song down and then sings it the same way each time. Watching his creative process in addition to hearing solid, favorite songs by Harbours adds to the appeal of the show.
Uni appearing was a special treat on this set. "I've always wanted to sing with her, but I have not been able to do it before because she tours a lot," Zelaya said backstage after the show.
You can find out more about Zelaya at the Harbours website: http://www.myspace.com/harbours. You can find out more about Uni and her Ukelele here: http://www.myspace.com/uniherukelele
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
