Preview: Quiet Life / Stuart’s Opera House / September 26
By Tony Cardwell, Contributor
Stuart’s Opera House / Friday, September 26, 2014
As a part of Stuart’s Opera House FREE summer concert series, Quiet Life is visiting the Nelsonville staple for a FREE Friday night show. Did I mention the show is FREE?
Quiet Life, whose current lineup came into formation about six months ago in Portland, Ore., are visiting Nelsonville for the first time promoting their newest EP, Housebroken Man.
“We’re really excited to be playing Nelsonville. One of the joys of touring is visiting new places,” said Philippe Bronchtein, who plays keys for the band.
Quiet Life has been relentlessly hitting as many spots as possible, not taking a single day for recuperation for the next five shows.
“All of us have been touring for many years, so at this point it's business as usual. Tour life is great, but it can be grueling,” said Bronchtein. “This tour's been great so far. Bristol Rhythm and Roots was really wonderful as well as the two shows in North Carolina,”
When it comes to their sound, Quiet Life plays around with a mixture of both older and contemporary Americana, along with influences from country and classic rock, something that Ryan Spellman (drummer) refers to as “Y’allternative.” Bronchtein hardly sees it as “genre bending,” stating the band’s sound has its influences, but holistically the band, “is just interested in doing what we do as well as possible.”
But when asked about the groups’ influences musically, only one past performer was mentioned. “Three of us grew up in New Jersey and are huge Springsteen fans. His energetic performances and awesome songwriting is always in the back of our minds,” Bronchtein said.
Along with the question of past musicians as influences the group also seems to be influenced by the landscape and scenery of past and current living situations. The band certainly has a western sort of vibe, inspiring images of small town bars located in towns cut away in valleys.
“The landscape of the west is very dramatic and inspirational,” said Bronchtein. “The Northwest and Oregon specifically is a really beautiful slice of the country and it seeped itself into our sound while all of us were living there.”
As for the Ohio connection, Quiet Life doesn’t necessarily have one, but one particular song, “Record Time” off of their last full length LP Wild Pack, references traveling up through Ohio. The line however only references a tour where they opened for Dr. Dog.
Nevertheless, Quiet Life is excited to be playing at Stuart’s Opera House this Friday night. After the tour the band will more than likely be heading back to the studio to begin creating the follow-up to their newest EP.
