Hometown heroes House of Heroes (pun completely intended) were back in front of a packed house to play their entire new album Cold Hard Want, plus a few old favorites. Good friends of the band and label-mates Abandon Kansas offered direct support, with Columbus rising stars The Kraze opening the show.
The Kraze I would describe as energetic pop-rock. Not unlike The Fold, Number One Gun, and the like. The quartet put on, as expected, a solidly enjoyable performance for the room, which was already mostly full. Their half hour long set had tunes I have yet to familiarize myself with. Most were probably in the same boat however, as their last full length release dates to 2009. In a post-show conversation I was promised a new release very soon, so keep an eye out for that.
Abandon Kansas, a foursome from Topeka, KS (where else?) roared onstage with their current single, “Turn It To Gold” and wasted no time during the next five songs of their set. Things slowed down just a hair for “The Golden State” and “Like It Or Not” was dedicated to locally run RadioU. One has to admire the consistency of this band. They are still relatively young, yet tour and perform like the veterans they are. Guitarist Brad Foster sinks into his role with gusto every single night, getting into his trademark onstage dancing. This evening was no exception. New song “The Chase” from what’s presumably a new full length brought a grunge-like feel to the room, and “Chariot” and “Heaven Come My Way” brought the set to a close.
House of Heroes had no dramatic prelude to their performance. The foursome gathered around a mic, and Tim Skipper nonchalantly announced “This is our new record, Cold Hard Want” before harmonies of “A Man Who’s Not Afraid” bathed the room. This line-up featured Tim Skipper on vocals, Colin Rigsby on drums, relative newcomer (ha) Eric on guitar, and their newest member, Matt Lott on bass (formerly of Wavorly). “Out My Way” woke up the theoretical person who was inexplicably still asleep and the rest of the record kept the audience bouncing (with the exception of the mellow “The Cop”, of course – which Skipper revealed was actually a b-side from Suburba). “Comfort Trap” and “Remember the Empire” were definite highlights, and the band was at times joined onstage by Skipper’s fiancee Stephanie Smith, who sang back up in “Angels of Night” and “I Am A Symbol.” There wasn’t time for an encore, but the band churned through “God Save the Foolish Kings,” “Serial Sleepers” and “Code Name Raven.” ‘Twas a pity they didn’t get to play “In The Valley of the Dying Sun” but one cannot complain. The band was gracious throughout their entire performance, and reveled in awkward concert banter (which seemed to default to bass player and Spiderman megafan Matt Lott). Great entertainment value! I look forward to the next time House of Heroes gets to play a hometown show – those are some of the best you can attend.
