While on the road for work a few weeks ago, I was able to catch a Trampled By Turtles show in Madison, Wisconsin. For those unfamiliar with the band - yes, that is their actual name. The group actually hails from nearby Minnesota and is highly regarded in the folk rock community. They've been together for over 10 years and put out their 4th studio album earlier this year.
The show took place at the Overture Center, which was a beautiful venue. It was a theatre setup, giving Hurray for the Riff Raff.the show more of a 'Broadway' feel than a folk show in a college town. The room definitely played into the performance, as the entire audience sat in the dark for the duration of the show. Trampled by Turtles took the stage just after 9pm following opener -
Initial impressions was that this was a true strings show. The 7 members of Trampled by Turtles constantly lined up front stage with their respective string instruments and jammed out tunes. For several songs, the group was joined by a local string quartet, adding even more string instruments into the mix. I myself am not accustomed to shows with no percussion or electric instruments. But Trampled By Turtles made it work, making up for the lack of loud instruments with a big group playing as one.
I thought the most talented member of the band was violinist Erik Berry. Throughout he night, Berry constantly stirred up loud ovations with his violin solos. He played above everyone else and was very enjoyable to hear.
Lead singer Dave Simonett wore a cowboy hat all night and didn't interact too much with the audience. He led the band through the majority of the groups well-known tunes, which he seemed to play at a faster tempo than on the studio versions. He also spent time on the slower songs to create a more intimate setting. Some of my favorites were "Wait So Long" and "Codeine."
A true highlight of the evening was a delightful cover of the Pixies "Where is My Mind." The band added an excellent wailing violin into this rock classic, giving the song an entirely new feel. It was a great cover that had the audience singing.
Trampled by Turtles played a 3 song encore bringing their total performance to just over an hour and a half in length. After all the shows of 2014, I can relate it most closely to a more laid back Old Crow Medicine Show. These guys don't necessarily have the same high energy or sing-a-long moments, but they're still plenty enjoyable to see live. I'm always in to support a solid folk rock band!
Concert Rating: 3 Stars
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(Pixies cover)
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