Audio By Carbonatix
In my nearly five years here in
pleasure and fortune of playing with and booking shows for them; getting to
know them a little bit in the process. However, at the Rhythm Room last night,
Golden Boots took it up a notch giving what I think is the best performance I
have seen them give Phoenix in a long time. This is by no means implying that
their previous performances have been sub par, either. The thing that you need
to know about the Boots is that they are somewhat of a rock chameleon;
constantly shifting from one shade of the spectrum to the next while still
retaining the same body. Despite the frequent change in personnel, Golden Boots
have gone from just another
infected various musical scenes with their honest, light-hearted, and just good
old fashioned rock and roll.
Setting up the scene: It’s a near sold-out house
at the Rhythm Room and there are hipster kids galore waiting to experience
amazing and (rightfully) hyped Dirty Projectors (shameless plug: you can read both a feature and interview here and here). There are the regular
concertgoers that I see every now and then; people who wouldn’t miss a show
like this. Then there were the folks who seldom come to shows and only come out
when something seems like it’s really
big.
Enter: Golden Boots. In all their modesty
(quirky lab coats, hats, and smiles), the quartet took the stage and
immediately jumped into the song “Run Hide,” a rockin’ track bursting with
their trademark country influence. Their vitality shone through providing the
perfect landscape for their dead-on three part harmonies and group vocals. The
dynamic duo of Dimitri Manos and Ryen Eggleston (the ring-leaders of the band) are a stellar contrast from each
other. Taking turns manning lead vocals, both have a distinctly familiar yet
highly original sound. Standout tracks such as “West Nile Isle” and
“Everything” are good examples of this. But while they remain approachable, the
chameleon still deceives you. While they have been seen as one of the best
backing bands that K Records’ Jason Anderson could ever have, the Boots have an
eccentricity to them as well. They have played alongside artists such as
freak-folkster Whitman and have contributed to out-of-this-world compilations
such as “Taco Bell Fella,” a tribute album to the California-based noise band Quem Quaeritis, amongst other endeavors
including a three-way split with Phoenix wonder boys Andrew Jackson Jihad and
Portland’s Flaspar.
While there were a couple dozen people who were
already familiar with the Boots, it was apparent that this crowd was somewhat
of a hard surface to scratch. It’s hard to play music that sounds a lot like
country to a group of hipsters who probably just wanted to keep their arms
crossed and their gaze still for the next act. However, the Boots have an
undeniable charm to them. They are real, their songs evoking the most simple of
human emotions, and they are relatable in almost every which way. As part of
their elusive persona, Golden Boots can go from their apparent honky tonk
country roots and enter into a slow, dreamy rock and roll mess complete with
catchy hooks and chant-able choruses all within one song and that’s what makes
them oh-so-delightful to see live.
Critic’s Notebook: Last night: Dirty Projectors and Golden Boots at Rhythm Room. Better than: Spending a cold autumn night alone. Random Detail: Dimitri and Ryen are originally from Philadelphia.
