Arts & Entertainment
 

Shins shine for sold out crowd

Talent for songwriting matched by live show

By Dusti Rhodes
The Daily Cougar

This weekend might have brought some top-notch music bills through Houston, but on Thursday night The Engine Room was packed with fans ready to get a head start as the Shins played to a sold-out crowd suitable for their musical stylings.

The sweltering heat that warmed a beer before the drinker finished it off was no contest for good times and good music. Although the Shins are not a band that leads a crowd into circle pits, they serve as evidence that the success of a live show should not be determined by the rowdiness of audience members. 

The show felt more like a crowded happy hour then it did a concert, with a few shouts and whistles for appreciation and steadily swaying fans to let the band know it wasn't going unnoticed. Shouts for an encore were also good signs for the band, which came back to play a couple more songs before calling it a night.

The biggest disappointment of Shins shows is that they are few and far between. The Shins could just as easily pack a local bar every night as they could sell out national venues once every six months. Their music provides a laid-back atmosphere that is as enjoyable as it is relaxing.

The Shins' playlist for the evening was derived mostly from their October release, Chutes Too Narrow, with a few favorites from their earlier releases thrown in. 

"So Says I" and "Saint Simon" seemed to be the favorites of the evening, receiving the most whistles and "woo-hoos."

Keyboardist Marty Crandall did most of the talking for the evening and responded to the crowd's calls and comments.

"Turn up the keys," one fan shouted at the sound man.

"I've been saying that all my life, man," Crandall responded.

Crandall also took over on bass for Dave Hernandez when the song required Hernandez to take to the strings, demonstrating the instrumental versatility of the band. 

Lead singer/guitarist James Mercer played acoustic and electric guitars and helped bring the original elements of the band's songs to their live performance, but his true talent shone through in his voice. Mercer's voice was amazingly close to album quality.

The beats helped complete the Shins' pop sound, and Jesse Sandoval helped keep the band steady and the crowd rocking -- even it was just back and forth.

The Shins are a band that has mastered the art of pop songwriting, and their performance will have many fans hoping they come back soon and waiting to see what they will come out with next.

The Shins

The Engine Room, 1515 Pease Ave.

The verdict: Don't stay away too long, Shins.
 
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