HNRY FLWR AND RODES ROLLINS PLAY MAGICAL SETS AT MERCURY LOUNGE

It was your typical hot sweaty July evening – scantily clad party goers flooded the lower east side ready to welcome in the second edition of the roaring twenties. David Van Witt aka Hnry Flwr was on a mission to find a replacement shirt for his show with Rodes Rollins that evening at Mercury Lounge. He ran into the Marshalls on Houston between Orchard and Ludlow and pillaged his way through the racks until he found a blue chambray button-up tucked away among a sea of T-shirt’s.

The basement of Mercury Lounge was flooded with excitement as the bands from the early show came downstairs running high on the adrenaline of performing. “You all are going to have so much fun!” they exclaimed to the room.

Rodes Rollins & Hnry Flwr

Rodes Rollins and Hnry Flwr had this show planned since last year and were finally able to perform together for the first time this past Friday night. It was even more special because it was Rollins’ first performance back since everything shut down last March.

Rodes & Hnry

“It’s the first time I’m singing most of these songs outside of my bedroom and it feels great!” Rollins said to the crowd during her set. A lot of the songs she performed that night were written during the pandemic, including “Isolation” – a song she and Hnry Flwr re-recorded together and performed live for the first time that night.

Rodes Rollins

Not only did the bolo tie wearing twins look aesthetically pleasing performing together but their voices also meshed so well. The lower-toned crooner style vocals of Hnry Flwr combined with Rollins’ crisp, melodic tone created a hypnotic layering of sound throughout the song.

Rodes & Hnry

Rodes

Hnry Flwr likes to make an entrance. As his band mates waited for him on stage, he emerged from the back of the venue passing out flowers to everyone in his path, decorating the sea of concert goers with floral accents.

flowers

From the moment Hnry Flwr and the rest of his six-piece band started to perform, their energy was harmonious. You could see the bonds they had built off stage carry over on stage. There was even a touching moment at the end of the set where Hnry Flwr went over to each band member and gave them a hug.

Hnry Flwr

Hnry Flwr played a mixture of songs off his EP Flowerama as well as newer songs including a never before heard song, “Something From Nothing.” This new song still has the typical Hnry Flwr feel but with much more funk which is something I wouldn’t have expected to hear from him but absolutely love.

Hnry Flwr

The night ended with Rodes Rollins joining the Hnry Flwr and the band on stage for their encore with a cover of “Bittersweet Symphony” that was out of this world. The crowd left sweaty and happy as remnants of flowers and beer cans littered the floor – artifacts of a night well spent.