I wanted to still around for more Whitney Rose, but didn’t want to miss the Utilities and Colleen Brown’s new band with members of Scenic Route to Alaska aka Major Love playing the Slice, Feb. 16.
To my surprise the Edmonton musician Colleen Brown opened the show solo then added band members beginning with Elijah Abrams, one song at a time, then playing the rest of her two sets with the full band. Brown opened accompanying herself on guitar and later switched to keyboards as her bandmates joined her.
They played a tight set of immediately appealing indie pop and folk music. They also added a touch of R and B and blues.
They played much of their upcoming debut album. I didn’t hear the single “Tear it Down,” but may have missed it.
They were enrapturing. “So Good” was a highlight as was “One Woman Up Against It.”
They wound their set down with a cover of Tom Petty’s “Breakdown.”
The Utilities closed off the night, supporting their fourth CD “Heavy South.”
The band, which also included Tyson Wiebe on guitar, had a jangling alt country/pop sound along the lines of the Jayhawks and Wilco. There were plenty of catchy vocal melodies and chiming guitars.
