When I walked into the Music Hall of Williamsburg Friday night, I knew what I was in for. A veteran of Gardens & Villa shows, it was not my first time as an excited crowd-goer, and I had the pleasure of meeting them during an interview at last years Outside Lands in San Francisco. I share a common tie with the band as we have all considered Santa Barbara, CA our home at one point in our lives. Needless to say, I was on the edge of my seat knowing I would see yet another fabulous show from the four-piece indie rock band.
It was my first time at the venue, so being a little anxious while I waited by myself for the band to start, I sipped on a whiskey ginger, or two. “It’s really great to be in New York,” said frontman Chris Lynch, as the band walked out on stage. The crowd was a bit scattered but still rowdy, one guy in particular screaming “DRINK YOUR BEER” as Lynch cracked one open. Others, called out funny high-pitched noises. Lynch responded, “I like that little monkey call whoever that was…that was really cute,” before the band began playing what is arguably their most popular song “Black Hills.” I love the feeling when an entire room knows every word and note to a song, especially when you can tell the band still loves it no matter how many times they’ve played it. Drummer Dustin Ineman playfully but aggressively mouthed the words throughout the song.
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The whole evening had this dreamy 70s school dance vibe to it thanks to the classic blue curtain backdrop behind the stage. “I promised I wasn’t going to make any pope jokes tonight but…” said Lynch, after making a somewhat random albeit timely pope joke. When Lynch brought out his famed flute, we all continued dancing without a care in the world, and the men of Gardens & Villa proceeded to encourage us with an enticing and passionate set.
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“This is our last song…the pope is up next,” claimed Lynch, only to return for a truly refreshing encore consisting of a cover of The Kinks “Waterloo Sunset” and closing on another flute-heavy song “Orange Blossom” from their first album. Fans, or more specifically, that yelling-man, continued to shout things like “SANTA BARBARA” and “DON’T PUT AWAY THE FLUTE” right through to the end of the set. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Article: Mor Weizman
