ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Daily Aztec
19
LIVE AND DANGEROUS
Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers steal the show
Jeff Lewis / Staff Photographer
Jeff Lewis / Staff Photographer
SA RA H GR I E C O MANAGING EDITOR
Normally folk and rock music do not go well together, but last week at Belly Up Tavern, the two went hand-in-hand. Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, a northeastern band with a loyal following, opened for tour headliner NeedToBreathe. While both bands have very different sounds, they transitioned well and provided the crowd with a much-needed pick-meup. Despite the workweek being only hours away, the Sunday night show was packed with fans wishing to end their weekends on a good note. Early in the evening, Kellogg and his crew walked onstage with a swagger that only comes with the experience of performing for years. But instead of starting with an upbeat tune from its latest album, the Sixers began with its older, soulful tune “Girlfriend as Pretty as You.” It kept the somber mood going with the next song, but once finished Kellogg spoke to the crowd in his easygoing way, giving everyone a feeling of euphoria. After a few jokes about San Diego’s perfect weather, the Sixers went on to salute the troops with the song “4th of July.” The band then danced its way through the next two songs from its newest album, “The Bear,” and guitarist Sam Getz ripped a guitar solo so powerful the rest of the band could do nothing but look at him in awe. Kellogg then took back the reins with his autobiographical tune, “Satisfied Man.” The audience stood still as he sang about significant moments from his life while
simultaneously playing the harmonica and guitar. Kellogg’s likability and talent makes it easy to understand why he is the front man — he is able to easily switch from performing with his bandmates to crooning away a solo. The last song the Sixers performed was “Days,” one of its oldest tunes. Kellogg incorporated a few cover lines during the bridge, including homage to Taylor Swift and Enrique Iglesias. After a round of applause, Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers exited the stage victorious and left the crowd wanting more. However, the audience was soon greeted by the guitar-heavy NeedToBreathe. Compared to Kellogg and his expressive voice, lead singer William Rinehart came on a little too weak vocally and too strong with his various guitars. Although Rinehart’s voice wasn’t fully appreciated, the rest of the music permeated the venue and invited audience members to dance along. After seeing these two drastically different bands at Belly Up Tavern, it’s hard to imagine a bad show there. The venue is a rare combination of an East Coast dive with a West Coast twist. The layout provides excellent acoustics and allows the audience to see from just about anywhere in the large room, which represents the hull of an old ship. This 21 and older venue also has two main bars, one of which has a great white shark replica hanging from the ceiling. Because the capacity for the building is less than 1,700 people, it’s the perfect place to see lesser-known bands such as Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers and NeedToBreathe.
NEED SUMMER STORAGE? The pizza guy isn’t the only one with Free Delivery! Are you looking for a cool1, safe and friendly place to store your stuff for the summer? Need a ride? We’ll pick your stuff up right from your dorm or apartment! Plus...
FREE DELIVERY! *Our Schedule Is Filling Up Fast So Book Your Delivery Slot Now!! 1 Climate Control Spaces Available!
2150 Hancock Street San Diego, CA 92110 619.297.6524 www.storageetc.com
We Sell Boxes & Packing Supplies!
T STUDEIN L A C E P S
10% FF O RENT!