Live Concert Photography: Electric Citizen with Horisont and The Golden Grass at The Studio at Webster Hall 11/1/16
With the release of their 2014 full-length debut Sateen through renowned heavy metal/stoner rock/hard rock/metal label RidingEasy Records, and a busy schedule of touring both nationally and internationally with several well-regarded acts including Fu Manchu, Wolfmother, The Budos Band, Pentagram and others, the Cincinnati, OH-based quartet Electric Citizen – comprised of husband and wife duo, Laura Dolan (vocals) and Ross Dolan (guitar), along with Randy Proctor (bass) and Nate Wagner (drums) – received attention across the blogosphere and elsewhere for a sound that owes a debt to Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, early 70s Rush and others. Much like their debut effort, the Cincinnati-based quartet’s sophomore effort Higher Time was recorded at The Diamonds Studio by Brian Oliver, best known for his work with The Greenhornes, The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, Dr. John and others; however, the band found themselves expanding upon their sound, crafting muscular and anthemic hooks around prog rock-leaning song structures. Along with that the album features Laura Dolan stepping up into more of a frontperson role – and that’s reflected in their live show as she struts, stomps and swaggers with a self-assuredness and larger-than-life confidence.
Earlier this month, I caught Electric Citizen co-headline a great rock show at The Studio at Webster Hall featuring Gothenburg, Sweden-based hard rock/metal quintet Horisont and Brooklyn-based psych rock/hard rock trio The Golden Grass as part of Electric Citizen’s and Horisont’s co-headlining Stateside tour. Check out the remaining tour dates and photos below.
11/7/2016 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
11/10/2016 Oakland, CA @ Starline
11/11/2016 Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
11/13/2016 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
11/14/2016 Mesa, AZ @ Club Red
11/16/2016 Dallas, TX @ Curtain Club
11/17/2016 Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
11/18/2016 Austin, TX @ Beerland
11/20/2016 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
11/22/2016 Philadelphia, PA @ Voltage
Currently comprised of Axel (vocals), Charles (guitar), David (guitar), Magnus (bass) and Pontus (drums), the Gothenburg, Sweden-based hard rock/metal act Horisont can trace their origins to their formation back in 2006. And with the release of their first two albums, 2009’s Tva Sidor Horisonten and 2012’s Second Assault, the Gothenburg-based quintet quickly established themselves as the forefront of Scandinavia’s retro-rock revival, along with contemporaries like Witchcraft, Graveyard and others – but distinguishing themselves from the pack for a sound that possessed elements of boogie blues and prog rock while drawing from Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Cactus, Thin Lizzy, Yes and Judus Priest. But whereas as the band’s first two albums garnered praise across Scandinavia, it was the band’s third effort, 2013’s Time Warriors that wound up being the band’s breakout album as it received greater international attention – and some international touring. The band’s fourth and most recent album, Odyssey finds the band not only going through a lineup change, as it’s the first to feature Church of Misery’s Tom Sutton; but coincidentally finds the band expanding upon their sound and re-thinking their songwriting approach. As the band’s Magnus Delborg explains on their website “I think it was Tom, who during a tour, said that it would be fun to write a ten-minute song. When that song took shape, the idea of a cohesive album was born. Most of the songs are in some way connected to the bigger theme, so – yes, it is a concept album. It concens a supreme race of mysterious beings, who experiment with the creation of life and starts to populate planets around the universe. And this is a story of one those planets . . . “
Adding to a growing international profile, the members of Horisont are currently co-headlining with the aforementioned Cincinnati, OH-based quartet Electric Citizen, the Gothenburg-based quintet signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records while working on their fifth full-length effort. And from their Studio at Webster Hall set, I’d have to say that I’m looking to hearing how their next effort will push their sound.
Comprised of Adama Krinley (drums, vocals), a member of La Otracina, Zoned Out, Dead Tape and a touring member of Nebula, Cult of Youth, Castanets and Cloudland Canyon; Michael Rafalowich (guitar, vocals), a member of Strange Haze, Whooping Crane and a touring member of Tav Falco’s Panther Burns; and Morgan McDaniel (bass), The Golden Grass are a Brooklyn-NY based trio whose sound reminded me quite a bit of Cream, The Guess Who, Steppenwolf with longer, prog rock-leaning song structures – but with a modern take, as each member of the band will take up vocal duties, depending on the song.
For these photos and more, check out the Flickr set here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskNeHzop