Other Lives My New Fave Band

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure to check out the band Other Lives at The Shrine Auditorium. Three days have passed and I’m still in awe of their sound, their soul and their overall love for their music. They were the opener for Bon Iver and while I’m definitely a fan of Bon Iver, I must confess, I was more excited to see Other Lives.

 

I heard about Other Lives a couple years ago when their first record came out. At the time, they were on Radiohead’s label and KCRW was playing their record regularly. Right away after hearing their first single “Don’t Let Them,” I was drawn in by the voice, the strings, the melancholy tone of the music. I quickly went to iTunes, downloaded the whole record and was instantly a huge fan.

 

For whatever reason, their music just speaks to me. It’s heavy but light at the same time. The instrumentation and voices are also so fragile yet powerful. I think also as a musician, I’m curious how they come up with their unique sounds. When I hear their music, I’m instantly drawn in by the dark beauty and I find some small similarities between us. I also love how they incorporate strings in all their songs which is something I want to do on my next record.

 

This past year, Other Lives went back into the studio and lo and behold, they finished their second record right around the time I was scheduled to go to SXSW this past year. After I booked my own gigs at the festival, I made sure to check out all their shows or at least as many as possible. I was so blessed to be able to hear all of their new songs off of Tamer Animals before the record was even released. I watched them perform at these tiny venues including Cedar Street Courtyard in Austin. It was this small and intimate outdoor courtyard surrounded by two bars and there must have been no more than 50 people there. I was moved to tears. I still clearly remember sitting at a table all by myself and their music just swept me away and moved me so deeply. I was reminded why I love this band so much.

 

So being the “groupie” that I was, of course I introduced myself to the band and just felt like I should tell them how incredible they were. Josh and Jenny from the band, were both so cool and so sweet and I think also a bit shocked and humbled to hear my overwhelming support. I got to the see them two more times at SXSW and both shows were so moving.

 

So when I saw them at The Shrine this week, I was so proud, so in awe and so excited to see this band from Stillwater, OK share the stage with Bon Iver and transform this huge room into a musical paradise. The strings, the voice, the percussion, the talents of this band truly shined. To see this band just six months ago play in front of just 50 people and now open for Bon Iver should be an inspiration to so many artists.

 

Other Lives may never be a huge household name, but they are true artists who are so clearly humble and so moved by their own music and also so inspired by what they do. Of course after their set, I met up with the band and was so humbled to see that Josh remembered me from SXSW. I also got to say hi again to Jenny and ask the band a bit about their setup and how they created such a huge sound on stage. Just a wonderful and inspiring moment for me.

 

I guess in this day and age when I’m sadly reminded how music has often lost it’s value or how it’s taken for granted by the way so many people just expect to get their music for free, Other Lives gives me hope, inspires me and reminds me how powerful good music can be. And how great music is worth so much more than the ten dollars some people so begrudgingly pay these days for a record. Sure, most people were there to see Bon Iver and while I definitely admire Bon Iver and am so in awe of how his left of center music has captured so many people, to me the night belonged to Other Lives. They were brilliant, so creative, and so sweet in taking the time to talk with me after their show. Cheers to Other Lives and their impeccable journey. Check out this video of them right here…Other Lives Tamer Animals