How I Pushed My Way to the Front at a Here, In Arms Concert.

Here, In Arms (with Life In Jersey and RTB2).

Review of their Album Release party.    
Sat. Aug. 15, 2009
9:00 p.m. 
City Tavern
1402 Main Street, downtown Dallas.

Witness the Dallas band Here, In Arms and you will witness 23-year-old Brent Engel singing as if he’s a Been Around the Block veteran, Jacob Greenan stomping his feet and masterfully groovin’, Billy Kuykendall playing the extreme hell out of the keyboard, and Chris Carmichael playing handlebar moustache-influenced drums.

Singing Dynamo Brent Engel plays the hell out of the keyboard.

RTB2: Ryan Thomas Becker and Grady Don Sandlin: Can we have some more beer, please.”

During the first act (Life In Jersey), the sparse crowd seemed to nor really know what was going on (“Huh?” could be a good group description). During RTB2′s (second act) set, a few people edged their way toward the front.  During Here, In Arms’ set, a throng hugged the stage (including me with a Corona! and a couple of band members’ moms) while some onlookers from the back gave those in front evil looks, some people just sat claiming their CHAIRS, and some City Tavern Partakers stood  nonchalantly in the back, taking it all in.

Rtb2′s (second act) lead singer, Ryan Thomas Becker, 27, has a powerful, clear, almost cryptic voice. Together, he and Grady Don Sandlin, 27, form the Denton, TX band. They sound a little bit like The Black Keys and a little bit like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I shelled out $5 for their CD, “In The Fleshed.”

Here, In Arms was having their album release party (for “Outlaws,” so I paid $10 and got their new album on vinyl. Must now get a record player! Here, In Arms sounds like Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp (does he still use the “Cougar”) combined with a little bit of Bob Dylan thrown in (also with a random Blues Man on the Street thrown in.) Yes, Here, In Arms is a band and each of those artists was solo but it’s my blog post.

During the very first song lead singer Engel shared, “I remember 1971,” which made me wonder, does he really remember 1971???  The lyric before that, if I am not mistaken, discussed the year 1963.

I skillfully pushed my way to the front by sneaking up to talk to RTB2 when they were done. Then, I started talking to Greenan’s mom, and she and her husband let me sit (and stand) at their table. Heart Dallas always gets the primo spot.

A requirement to get in, for guys, was skinny jeans and a tattoo or tattoos. For girls, the uniform apparently consisted of a tank top, tube top and / or an ugly purse.                   

 Unwelcome Visitor Moment: While standing outside, a homeless man who sometimes comes to the writing classes I help teach at The Bridge came up and asked for money. He did not get any donations, but was asked to leave by a strange girl. He did not see me, even though he was standing right next to me (  I didn’t say hi). I don’t know what I would have done if he would have seen me, except I probably would have given him something.        

The HEART DALLAS BOTTOM LINE:  Catch Here, In Arms next time they have a show!!! (Two of their members used to work at CD World. ) Do BRING your U.S.A. bandanna and big belt buckle.

Life In Jersey: had good style and were earnest, but don’t become a lifetime downloader yet!

RTB2: Buy their CD “In The Fleshed,” if you can find it, and check them out Wed., Aug. 19 at City Tavern (Google this first, barhoppers, just to make sure.)          

See Here, In Arms online at:

http://www.myspace.com/hereinarms

By Alice, Drunk-people Dodging blogger.