Indie bands Sea Wolf and The Donnies The Amys played to a full house in Founders Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts last night for the Off Center Festival.
The festival features comedy, dance and theater, however, last night’s performance was dedicated to fans of live music. Audience members were treated to a night of talented musicians performing in an intimate venue. For those who have not seen a show in Founders Hall, visit the SCFTA website and get tickets, because the theater is a great venue for any performance. Although it seems more fitting for a night of improv acting, Founders Hall was perfectly suited to host the folk rockers.
The Off Center Festival gives people of all ages, interests and most importantly, budgets, the opportunity to see world-class talent at an amazing venue. With tickets starting at just $10 for some performances, SCFTA patrons can be entertained all night for less than the price of a movie ticket.
As the growing crowd mulled through Founders Hall, the opening act, The Donnies The Amys, took to the stage. The white noise of audience chatter quickly gave way to the sounds of the musicians’ instruments. If you were to close your eyes and just listen, you would be amazed at the amount of sound and intricate melodies that were produced from this two-piece band.
Both musicians were multi-talented as they played multiple instruments throughout their hour-long performance. As the band’s name would imply, there is one male member and one female member. This male/female dynamic prompted an audience member to shout, “are you guys a couple?” To which vocalist Donnie Logan quipped, “Yeah…a couple of friends.” The audience laughed. When Logan introduced the next song, “I Told a Lie,” the audiences’ laughter grew even louder. Was this just a coincidence, or was the band trying to tell the audience something? The mystery remains.
After The Donnies The Amys inspired performance, main act Sea Wolf was ready to play. As with most shows, the anticipation between acts grew, so when Sea Wolf came on, they received a joyous ovation.
To keep the crowd’s energy going, Sea Wolf opened with one their most popular tracks, “You’re a Wolf.” The stage was adorned with slowly pulsating white lights that gave the stage the look of an old black and white photograph. The lights certainly added to the band’s moody ambiance.
Sea Wolf is based in Los Angeles and is the brainchild of Alex Brown Church. The band takes its name from Jack London’s 1904 psychological adventure novel about a survivor of an ocean collision. Sea Wolf has been compared to popular bands like Arcade Fire and Nada Surf. The combination of poignant lyrics, skilled musicianship and stage presence makes Sea Wolf a must-go for anybody who loves live music.
The Off Center Festival continues until February 2 and tickets are still available to see some amazing performers. Be sure the check the complete schedule here.
