THE COLD FOLLOWS / THE PAGONIA – TAFTA MUSIC HALL – LOWELL

THE COLD FOLLOWS / THE PAGONIA – TAFTA MUSIC HALL – LOWELL

By Rick Fleck

The cold looks play Taffeta Music Hall in Lowell MA with the Peacocks in direct support.

Evansville, Indiana The cold looks opened their show at the Lowell, Mass destination venue Taffeta with their popular song “Horse to Water”. Taking full advantage of the club's impeccable sound, guitarist Chris Tapp dropped a riff reminiscent of Lynyrd Skynyrd's “Saturday Night Special.” A distinctly southern rock song, with an infectious chorus and crunchy guitar, “Horse to Water” set the tone for the evening with its blues-inspired hard rock sound.

The cold looks began as a duo in Western Kentucky in 2009 with the aforementioned guitarist/singer/songwriter Tapp and drummer Brian Mullins. The band later moved to Evansville. In 2023, “newcomer” bassist Bryce Klueh was added to the floor, making The Cold Stares a blues-rock trio.

Early in the set, “I Was a Fool,” brought to mind Jimi Hendrix's “Crosstown Traffic,” again taking a classic rock influence and turning it into something special. “Got No Right” was vintage country funk, a criminally neglected genre, that gave a glimpse into the band's musical spectrum. “The Third Degree” and “Coming Home” were two gems of Mississippi Blues-inspired hard rock, while “Prosecution Blues” took us on a trolley ride through Memphis.

Rick Fleck photos

“The Third Degree”, featured Tapp's most entertaining song and was his vocal tour de force. “Coming Home” was a trip down a dirt road on a hot summer day in Mississippi with Joe Perry playing guitar next to you in the back of a truck. “Prosecution Blues” was another example of Tapp's guitar prowess with a slick Joe Bonamassa-like blues style, while vocally spoofing Greg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band. The boogie groove of “Going Down Easy” found the band hitting on all cylinders, including a slick solo from Tapp. “Confession” from their new album The Southit was a flat-out, 1970s-style, barnburner.

“Tombstone” he got The cold looks in a different direction. The song's thick riffs brought to mind classic Black Sabbath songs like “Behind the Wall of Sleep” and Tony Iommi's influence was unmistakable. However, “Headstone” retained a roots rock feel creating an exciting mix of genres that worked flawlessly.

My favorite song of the night, and a clear crowd favorite, was “Any Way the Wind Blows,” which is featured in the hit Netflix series, Sex Education. Using a riff reminiscent of Led Zeppelin's 'Heartbreaker', 'Any Way the Wind Blows' is a monster of a song and a real treat to hear live. “Any Way the Wind Blows” is the song you'll be singing to yourself on the way home after the show.

Rick Fleck photos

Tapp swapped out a reverb guitar for “61 Blues,” adding a new sonic element to the mix, creating the sound and feel that best suited the song. “Two Keys and a Good Book” ended the night with bombast and guts, bringing the show full circle to the hard blues sound of “Horse to Water”. I would have liked to have heard some of the songs stretch out with longer solos, but the pacing of the show was well planned and created a rhythm and flow that worked seamlessly.

It was a loud, enthusiastic crowd for a Tuesday night in Lowell. Although not sold out, the newly renovated room felt crowded. As Tapp noted from the stage, these weren't casual fans who heard a song on Spotify and came to see the show. Between songs, for example, people shouted requests from deep within The cold looks list, which sometimes surprises the band. The cold looks he enthusiastically interacted with fans throughout the night, even after the show, staying to sign autographs, shake hands and take photos. We hope they make the greater Boston area a regular stop on all their tours.

Lowell's own The peacocks opened the show. The Peacocks have been on a short hiatus and it was great to see them back. The core of The Peacocks is singer/guitarist Josh McDonough, bassist Ethan Whipple and drummer Graham Nasson. Usually performing as a blues rock trio, the Peacocks were joined by a number of other artists, including backup singers Emma and Julia, alto and tenor saxophonists Isaac and Jackson, and keyboardist/singer Dom the Composer. Dom the Composer is a remarkable up-and-coming artist in his own right, and McDonough shines in his band.

The Peacocks played four songs with the set, including opening track “Angel”, their first single “Troublesome Child”, new song “June” and show closer “Higher Ground”. “Higher Ground” is a cover of the Stevie Wonder classic and the Peacocks played it with passion and respect. “June” is a departure from their tried and true blues rock formula and promises exciting new directions to come.

As a trio, the Peacocks played staples “Cut Me” and “Promised Land” like the well-oiled machine they are, picking up where they left off. The eight-piece band is both an experiment and a work in progress. The band wasn't without its hiccups, but they played together with such spirit and enjoyment that it didn't really matter.

It's refreshing to see something new develop before your eyes and ears. I was glad to be there to witness it, especially if it turns out to be a one-of-a-kind show. The Peacocks and Taffeta are two reasons why Lowell is becoming a New England live music destination and why it attracts national luminaries like The Cold Stares to its stages.

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