The Wild Reeds Share the Stage and Good Vibes with Blank Range

Last week, photographer Steph Catsoulis shot alternative country band The Wild Reeds at Gasa Gasa with Blank Range, and the bands' connection was obvious.

Last week, the country-tinted harmony group The Wild Reeds played Gasa Gasa with Blank Range and The Lostines opening. Photographer Steph Catsoulis was there, and here are her shots and her notes. Click on the photos to see them in a viewer.

When I first saw Blank Range on stage, I couldn't help but stare at frontman Jonothon Childers in his white suit and white cowboy hat. They churned out mellow southern rock songs that were all definitely crowd pleasers, and it was fun to watch The Wild Reeds in the crowd mouth the words to their songs and come up on stage to sing along to their song, "Roommate's Girlfriend.” It's really sweet to see two bands organically and positively vibe off each one another. 

NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts are part of the music scene’s conversations since Tank and the Bangas won the Tiny Desk Contest this year, and The Wild Reeds have played one in 2015. Because they’re vocal-oriented, they’re well suited to that sort of stripped down presentation, but their Gasa Gasa show was more physical than their Tiny Desk Concerts would lead you to believe. Each member of the band held how own weight as a front woman by taking turns on lead vocals, and they effortlessly demonstrated their skills on electric guitar, pump organ, harmonica, and keys. Beyond that, the raw energy they poured out into the room was refreshingly organic. They were in their own world having a blast that the intimate audience got a chance to be apart of. 

What ultimately made my night was when The Wild Reeds and The Blank Range came on stage to do an encore covering The Kinks' "Strangers.” You'd have to be blind not to see how much fun these two bands were having together onstage, and it was a great end to the night.