Article and Photos by: Matt Guevara
Iron Horse Music Hall, the roots of the Iron Horse Entertainment Group, while based in small town Massachusetts, hosts an impressive array of multi-national artists. One such artist is indie-folk singer Chris Bathgate, who after some time is releasing his newest EP – Old Factory. On the road with him is alternative band The Go Rounds, and for this show only, singer-songwriter Seth Newton.
Renowned local artist Seth Newton kicked off the show, playing from his surprisingly large discography, including albums such as Lost At Sea, Phoenix, and some of his more recent work, The Hexed. Seth’s warm style matched the old-timey vibe of the venue perfectly, making for a very personal and intimate show. His voice has a calming and almost enchanting quality to it, and he keeps things very interesting with his songwriting abilities, incorporating elements of pop, rhythm, and rock into his acoustic work. Seth Newton’s uplifting and resonant voice lifts your spirits and I strongly suggest you check him out.
Up next – twangy rock and soul band The Go Rounds, from Kalamazoo Michigan. They immediately took me by surprise, diving straight from Newton’s warm acoustics into the fast paced rock and roll style that they are known for. For those who haven’t had the experience(which is most), the Go Rounds might be one of the most energetic bands you’ll see on stage, and their presence was more than enough to fill the club. Their “twangy rock and jelly roll” sound is one that you truly don’t hear often, and when you do, you can’t help but think of garage bands, 90’s surfer blues, and that spiky red Mohawk you always regretted. In all seriousness though, The Go Rounds are insanely talented, wild, headbanging rock and rollers, and awesome to see live. In other words, they’re exactly what you would expect from four guys from Kalamazoo.
Chris Bathgate is an “old” standby (despite his relatively young age) in indie-folk. After laying low for awhile as far as releases, Bathgate is back in a big way, currently on tour, and just releasing his new EP – Old Factory. He has a contemporary sound for his genre, which could be why his music appeals to as wide an audience as it does. Think Death Cab For Cutie with unique and defining folk aspects that are very prominent, especially live. The first thing you notice in his work, though, is the soul. The amount of true emotion and experience he puts in his lyrics and songwriting is something that many artists of all genres can only accomplish much later in their careers, and he has done it time and time again. Even more than just the stories told in his lyrics, his music tells the story of being an artist, and the process that goes into it. Although his music can be nostalgic and even dark at times, his voice, instrumentals, and the band he plays with harmonize beautifully in concert to create something uplifting and truly great.
