Since September, my friends have been telling me that I should attend a concert at the Brooklyn Bowl. Their consensus was that the Brooklyn Bowl’s colorful lighting, two floors of standing area and cozy atmosphere make for an elite concert experience. When I heard that The Brook & The Bluff was playing at this venue, I knew I had to see them. With opener Bendigo Fletcher kicking off the show followed by The Brook & The Bluff’s catchy set list, I can definitely say I made the right decision.
The venue was packed, with fans crowded together on the floor and lined on the balcony. When opener Bendigo Fletcher — a five-piece band hailing from Louisville, Ky. — took the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers. The band played “Birding,” a slow-paced song from their album “Fits of Laughter.” They also played “Country Lemonade” from their upcoming album which will be released in early March. This song was catchy; the drum groove had me nodding along to the beat, and I caught myself humming the melody during the next chorus. At the end of the song, guitarist and singer Andrew Shupert fell to the ground, strumming the last few notes as the crowd went wild. After getting back up, he noticed someone in the audience wearing a “happy birthday” crown and led the crowd in wishing her a happy birthday.
“1… 2… 3… happy birthday!” Shupert said.
Shupert closed the opening set with more details about their new album and a potential tour for that album with a stop in Nashville.
After a lengthy intermission, The Brook & The Bluff took the stage to a medley of flashing lights and a pre-recorded audio track introducing the band. People in the crowd screamed each band member’s name as they set up their instruments. Soon after, the band launched into their setlist. The first song that stood out to me was “Shelby,” a groovy track from their 2019 album “First Place” featuring a driving drum beat and shouts of “first place!” during the chorus. The crowd reciprocated singer Joseph Settine’s “first place!” chant, bringing a smile to his face.
As the band began playing the next song, “Don’t Go Slipping Away,” I heard someone in the audience excitedly yell, “That’s my favorite song!” — a sentiment with which I soon understood. The song was calm and made me feel relaxed and happy. As the show progressed, The Brook & The Bluff continued with other songs “My Foggy Lens” and “Make Your Decision Now,” which featured a creative bass guitar solo.
Near the end of their set list, the band played “Rush.” This song was undoubtedly my favorite of the night, immediately making its way into my playlist. Its swing-like feel mixed with the catchy melody and meaningful lyrics created a beautiful work of art.
I would definitely watch The Brook & The Bluff in concert again. The relaxing vibe of their music mixed with Settine’s energetic dancing and the numerous crowd interactions make for a thrilling night. This band is a perfect choice for any indie music lover; you will find yourself — like me — rapidly adding each song to your late-night playlist. If you go to see them in your city, be prepared to reciprocate the band’s contagious energy with the rest of the crowd and dance along to each song.
