Review by Ray Cobra; Photo by Vince Aung

I am one of those folks that believe there aren’t too many things in this world better than live music. Over the last 5 years, I have averaged 120 concerts a year and I see no signs of slowing down. There is something about live music that just makes life a little better and I’m here for all that. Yes, I have my bands/genres that I love, that I will always attend but I also will go to almost anything. October 16th, 2019 was one of those shows different for me. I was given the chance to go see The Head and The Heart, a band I only knew of. A band I had never listened to. And I left having enjoyed the evening from start to finish.

One of the reasons I accepted this show was the venue. It was at the beautiful Palace Theatre in downtown Columbus. This is a venue I had only been to twice in my time here in Columbus. Both shows were amazing. There is something about seeing shows in a theatre like that, especially one that was built in 1926. Can you imagine the history there? And the sound is top-notch. I really do need to go to more shows there. The other aspect that made the show a good one was the evening itself. It was a chilly, windy night here in Columbus and it just fit the night. It really added to the aura of it all. 

The show opened with Illiterate Light, a two-piece from Harrisonburg, VA. The duo is comprised of Jeff Gorman (vocals, guitar, synth pedals) and Jake Cochran (drums, vocals). And let me tell you, they are an act to see live. Before that night I had never heard them but wow, were they good. Their set started off a little slow and I wasn’t sure what to expect. But by the third song, I was into their set. The energy was off the charts. And they managed to maintain that for the rest of their set. Jake Cochran is one of the most entertaining drummers I have seen in a while. I would 100% see them again.

As I mentioned above I only knew of The Head and The Heart. I had never listened to them. Sometimes it takes seeing a band live to appreciate them or become a fan. And for me, that is the case here. Their set was hands down one of the best I have seen this year. As one that mostly attends pop-punk, emo, and hardcore shows in small venues, to venture outside of that is always a good thing, and to see the production that goes into shows like this is always a nice change. I absolutely loved the stage setup and the lights. It was a well put together show. But above all, I loved the energy of front man Josiah Johnson. He is such an entertainer. His charisma is off the charts. This is what he should be doing. And the rest of the band was also very entertaining. You can tell they have mastered their craft. What I really enjoyed about their set was the fans. As one that loves music the way I do, it is always nice to see others with the same passion and love. Their fans enjoyed every single second of the show. They alone made it an enjoyable show. This was a night I will not forget for a while and you can bet it will end up on my year-end list of favorite shows of 2019.