Written and Photos by Bang Ho
It’s been hard to catch an Urban Heat show in Austin lately as they’re touring so often, so it was quite the treat when they played a sold-out special hometown show at ACL 3Ten in support of their new album The Tower. Normally I try to listen and get familiar with a new album before seeing it live, but I wanted to experience The Tower live for my first listen and I was not disappointed. If you’ve been to an Urban Heat show, you know it is a whole ride from start to finish. My favorite shows are ones where you can tell the band is enjoying the music just as much as the die-hard fans and this is the epitome of that. Urban Heat didn’t just perform their new album, they experienced it as did the audience. Front person Jonathan Horstmann is the whole package, he can sing, write compelling lyrics, engage the audience, and entertain at the same time on stage. The new album is uniquely Urban Heat through and through, but it’s slightly different from their first album Wellness. The dancey synths have been dialed back a little and the sound is a bit moodier and darker. I was surprised at the end of Blindfolds and Magic Bullets when Kevin pulled out a heavy power chord riff and Jonathan hit a guitar solo that just builds and crescendos perfectly. Paxel’s bass playing pulled you in and kept your attention without being overbearing or monotonous. They finished the show with an encore with Jonathan on piano, playing Say The Words and Have You Ever. With so much new material available, I’m extremely grateful they still left Goodbye Horses on the setlist even though I’ve heard them perform it four times now I think? Love that the band is exploring their sound while keeping their roots firmly planted. The band is about to embark on a European tour with Molchat Doma (another favorite), so buy their merch to help them with touring upfront costs, or catch them at a show before they cross the pond!
