Kaleo @ House of Blues (4/11/22)
It's been so long since I've heard the phrase "sold-out show" that I was a little intimidated about shooting Kaleo at House of Blues Cleveland. But then I looked around the room and saw an eclectic mix of music lovers, one of which reminded me how cool it is to be able to go around and photograph concerts. That small act of kindness is what I love about music - the way it can bring people from all walks of life together through song and even for three to five minutes.
The show opened with Myron Elkins, a native of Michigan and current resident of Nashville, and his band The Dying Breed. Myron’s voice alone earned cheers and applause that filled the room floor to ceiling. Songs like “Greater Good” and “P.T.S.D.” are like Tom Waits slow dancing with Chris Stapleton, and likely what have earned him a position opening for Lucero in the coming months.
My first memory of Kaleo was hearing the beautiful, dreamy work of lyrical poetry known as "All The Pretty Girls," on the airwaves of The Summit FM in 2016. Their sound has evolved with a commanding heartbeat, words sung from the gut, and intricate melodies and harmonies that it's no wonder why the crowd was cheering as soon as they opened their set with "Break My Baby" and "Alter Ego." But it wasn't until the lights were turned low and the haunting whistle intro of "I Can't Go on Without You" did the show really begin. To be honest, I still feel goosebumps thinking about it and the moments that followed between seeing the packed house from the balcony to feeling the music in my bones. So if you need me, I'll be listening to their entire catalog on repeat for the next two weeks straight.
Photos and words by; Mollie Crowe