#Risingartist: Duncan Fellows life at the Pike Room
Last month, Austin band Duncan Fellows released their new EP Eyelids Shut via Warner Brothers' new distribution platform Level. The five-piece also announced a Fall co-headline tour with Sun Seeker which will include a stop in Pontiac at Pike Room. Which is where we were at. So Let’s talk about Duncan Fellows' show. The day was cold but as we get into the middle of fall, it is to expect that as a few fans line up for the show. Some had traveled a few hours to catch Sun Seeker and Duncan. The light pack of people added a bit of coziness to the night performance as most of the bands who open or where the main act took part as the audience for the night. Duncan Fellows were a pleasant surprise to hear performed in such a small atmosphere. It’s no wonder that NPR names them as one of the 20 Artisit to Watch in 2019. They knew how to keep the audience's attention with members changing positions and rhythmic movement.
A little about Duncan Fellows:"
Named for the address of a ramshackle house inhabited by several of the bandmates in their formative years, they’ve now—with everyone firmly in their mid-20’s—traded a life of piling into various bedrooms for piling into a tour van, creating a mobile Duncan Lane of sorts by staying true to that era’s sensibilities of shared adventure. Fronted by Colin Harman (vocals/guitar) and Cullen Trevino (guitar/vocals), the lineup is rounded out by Jack Malonis (keyboards/backup vocals/guitar), Tim Hagen (drums), and David Stimson (bass), with musical input coming from all corners.
Typically, Harman and Trevino do most of the songwriting—alone or together—and once a song’s bones are in place they bring it to the larger group to develop the arrangements and individual parts as a band. The live-in-a-room collaborating is an integral part of the process, and oftentimes tidbits from other music the band members are listening to will find their way into the works. But the sonic details are decided first and foremost by the emotions that push each song along. As Malonis says, “We believe heavily in trying to serve the spirit of a song, so when we’re arranging as a band we really want to bring that out as best we can.”
You can see them on tour with Sun Seekers, the remaining tour dates are to the right.
