At the Fox Theater on Friday, Oct 9, Bluehouse and their two openers, Squash and The Speeks, reminded us what makes college bands so special. All three bands had fantastic playing, stage presence, and personality in excess.
The Fox Theater is a historic and well-known Boulder spot for students and visitors alike. The venue has hosted artists from Snoopdogg to Sublime and was voted fourth best music venue in the country by Rolling Stone.
Squash, the first opener, can only be described as indie-rock with jam-band DNA, with distinct tracks complemented by improvisation. They stood out for their on-stage interaction and humor, as well as masterful musicianship, even if their vocals didn’t leave the same mark. Dancing with each other while playing, Squash elicited cheers and kept the audience engaged. One drum solo, in particular, had the crowd erupting. Squash channeled the jam band ethos, with imperfect vocals carried by exciting instrumental improvisation and vibrantly rhythmic playing.
The second opener, Speeks, a more classic indie band, had great vocals that stood out especially in the second half of their set. Their guitar solos and smooth, mellow bass made for a consistently catchy set. While they didn’t quite match Squash in technical prowess, their polished vocals and playful dynamic were contagious. It felt like we weren’t just their audience but their friends, dancing while they played in someone’s dorm.
Perhaps this can be expected of the indie bands in Boulder, Colorado, but both openers were something special, with great original tracks — what more do you want from an opener than new songs to listen to once you leave? The energy during both sets was high; a crowd of both Boulder locals and CU students danced together under the colorful lights of the historic venue.
These memorable openers also did their second-most important job, getting the crowd ready for the main event. Squash and Speeks were great, but as anyone familiar with the Boulder band scene knows, Bluehouse is something else altogether. I consider Bluehouse, an 8-piece indie-rock band, to be one of the best local bands associated with CU. Their instrumentals are dynamic, filling the Fox with layered sound. However, what really makes the band stand out is their lead singer. Her voice is soulful, rich, and expressive; the effect is hypnotic. This was my third Bluehouse show, and she impresses every time.
They also have a saxophone player whose soaring riffs combine with her bluesy vocals to give them that jazzy sound. When their vocalist is belting and that sax is wailing, carried along by their other instrumentals, you can’t help but think Bluehouse is leagues beyond what you’d expect from a college band. It also must be acknowledged that the lead singer’s phenomenal voice is complemented by a retro-bohemian ‘70s fashion sense that, at least among those I attended with, was talked about almost as much as her voice. Overall, the Bluehouse show managed to be intimate yet raucous, and they made good use of the gorgeous venue and its much-revered sound system. With great openers and an unforgettable main event, it’s safe to say that the CU band scene is doing just fine. If Friday was any indication, Bluehouse may go from college band to breakout act.