By Allison Plake
Located in the heart of Deep Ellum, Club Dada looks like something out of a kooky fun house. The crowd outside buzzes with excitement waiting for the doors to open. The air is light, a perfect night for a show. As we walk in, the lights are dim and a small stage hangs in the corner. Not knowing what to expect, I made my way to the front. Little did I know what a surprise I was in for.
Communion Dallas put on a fantastic show featuring sets from LOLO, Seratones, Whiskey Shiver, and Allan Rayman on the evening of Feb. 24. The crowd was filled with the younger kind, although it grew larger as the night progressed.
Up first was LOLO, a two-man band featuring Lolo (Lauren Pritchard) and her guitar-playing partner. They packed a punch with hits like “I Don’t Wanna Have to Lie” and “Not Gonna Let You Walk Away” off of their latest EP “Comeback Queen,” which was released last summer. Young girls flocked to the stage as Pritchard reached down to hug and shake their hands. Her energy was contagious, with a sound to match. Pritchard’s vocals cascaded through the crowd with a soulful twist, influential from the likes of Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell.
I had the chance to speak with Pritchard after her set. She explained how personal her music is to her and to her fans when asked about the song “I Don’t Wanna Have to Lie.”
“I had to go through something that was emotionally very hard. I know I am not singular in what I went through,” Pritchard said.
Although she did not go into detail, it was evident that this was difficult and expressing through music was healing for her.
“There is a line in the song, ‘waves of sadness, waves of grief’ and I struggled with if that was too real, am I okay to put my feelings out there, what do I do,” Pritchard said.
What ultimately helped her decide to record it was realizing that she was most likely not alone in going through hardships and that her music could help someone in a similar situation.
Following LOLO was Seratones, a four-person rock band straight out of Shreveport, Louisiana. A voice so stirring, lead singer AJ Haynes had the crowd dancing for the entire set. Their sound can be described as having a twist off of Alabama Shakes mixed with the sharp crispness that only a heavy hitting rock band can produce. I fell in love with her the second she began to sing.
Heavy guitars riffed through each song and the tinge of red lights from above enhanced their unique vibe all the more.
“Necromancer” was by far the crowd’s favorite. High fives were had and the crowd was reverberating as they played. Seratones reminds me of a mix between jazz and garage rock, all while still creating a unique explosion across the dance floor.
After leaving the show, I did some research and came across their music video featuring “Necromancer.” It opens with Haynes, and her sassy self, in an old cemetery, reminiscent of those in New Orleans. She begins to walk and is followed by three “skeletons.” As the song progresses so do the creative qualities. A woman is seen dancing as an array of colors float around her mixed with the occasional “shadow puppet” illuminated on a brick wall. The music video was brought to the stage through the use of lighting and energy the band exudes.
Seratones are definitely on the radar for big things to come in their bright future. They are a must see with huge potential. The band recently signed to Fat Possum records and is set to release a full length album soon.
