Monday, November 5, 2018

Live Shows: Caroline Rose and And the Kids, The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA 11/1/18

Photo by Ken Sears
In the past year, I've seen Caroline Rose and And the Kids twice each. There was really no need for me to see either of them a third time... except for the fact that they're both such great bands to see live. Plus, they were playing together, and at The Sinclair, one of my favorite live venues.
Photo by Ken Sears

One of the best parts of seeing And the Kids live is that, despite listening to their albums quite regularly, they always seem to play material I'm not familiar with. That was the case Thursday night at The Sinclair. Most of their songs I knew and loved ("Kick Rocks," in particular), but a few were a mystery. And the Kids might just be the perfect touring partner for Caroline Rose. All of their music is insanely upbeat and I don't think it's possible to listen and not move your body just a little. As with any time they have an opening slot, they had their own set of fans but quickly converted some of Caroline Rose's fans into their own. Singer/guitarist Hannah Mohan always encourages the fans with her own awkward yet perfect dance moves when the song allows. Their enthusiasm and love of playing would be completely infectious even if their music wasn't as spectacular as it is.
Photo by Ken Sears

Speaking of infectious energy, no band exemplifies that more than Caroline Rose. After their show at Great Scott earlier this year I had said as much as the crowd loves seeing them live the band loves playing live more. Despite playing 200 shows in 2018 so far, they were still able to match that energy and love of playing. Taking a stage decorated almost completely in red (fake red flowers, boas, lettering on instruments, a red backdrop, and all red/orange lighting), they focused almost entirely on this year's stellar LONER, completely ignoring her 2014 album I Will Not Be Afraid. They did break out three new songs, and also played their cover of Britney Spears's "Toxic," which they also played at Great Scott. To keep things fresh, they slightly reworked a few of their songs. "Getting to Me" was changed the most and was done as an almost completely stripped down track/bare bones track. They also busted out the one/two punch of "Soul No. 5" followed by "Money." Much like at Great Scott, the band paused for a few minutes for Rose to talk to the crowd and play kazoo (at Great Scott it was a recorder) before bursting back into a furious ending for "Money." Instead of the traditional encore break, Rose told the story of how she and keyboard player/guitarist Abby and she became friends while roadtripping to an And the Kids show in Vermont.
Photo by Ken Sears


Caroline Rose's show at The Sinclair wasn't that much different than her show earlier this year at Great Scott. Mostly the same songs, including the same cover, and basically the same break during "Money." Normally I'd find that disappointing, but I wasn't disappointed at all. It just goes to show how great of a performer Rose is. Instead of staying behind her microphone stand by her keyboard, she was all over most of the stage while playing guitar and singing. Instead of being hokey or a contrived way of getting the crowd more into it, Caroline Rose's energy and moves are done more to enhance her own fun. You get the feeling that her band plays the exact same way at soundchecks and rehearsals. That fun and love of playing is what makes a Caroline Rose show much a can't miss event.

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