Right off the highway, in Cleveland, OH, lies an unsuspecting venue riddled with bustling music fans. When my photographer, Lilly Bratka, and I opened the doors into Beachland Tavern, we were greeted by a gentleman who (once our hands were double x’d) informed us that Beachland had a vintage clothing and music shop below the tavern. We had no choice but to investigate, and just down the shallow steps I was delighted to hear a record playing—a band of my own particular enjoyment, HIM—over the sound system. Behind us, a small group of men turn the corner of the steps as we sift through the clothing racks and make our way over to the vinyls. One, notably wearing a baseball cap and sporting a denim jacket, others wearing jeans and t-shirts with a jacket or two.
We stayed down in the vintage shop for around ten minutes before heading back upstairs to scout the venue for a place to stand—and, once we had—It didn’t take long for us to become surrounded from all sides by fans, anxiously waiting for the openers to begin their set. To my right was a gentleman who, upon seeing our cameras, asked us if we were with the band. When we told him we were student journalists from Kent State University with Black Squirrel Radio, he told us in return that he was an alumni. He made it very apparent of how excited he was, and how highly he thought of Coyote Island through our conversations.
Opener: The Silkies
Once the lights started to dim and the colored LEDs behind the stage became red and purple, the gentleman sporting the familiar baseball cap and denim jacket grabbed a guitar, and, alongside the keyboard player, took the stage. Next to him, a bass guitarist, and one other guitarist, with a drummer in the back. The Silkies began their set with slow tuning that progressively turned into a cacophony of sound. Gradually their fingers sped up, and notes became indivisible; to my surprise, it resulted in the blending of noise into the beginning of their first song of The Silkies’ set “The Light In Your Eyes.”
I remember this band instantly drawing me in, what with their electronic-indie sound and their gorgeous rhythmic guitar parts. I took acute interest in the bassist and vocalist, Pierce Gearry. His animated mannerisms were refreshing—one note I took to clarify, being that “they are a band that has fun, and loves what they do.” Their smiles, and general attitude towards the crowd were memorable, as well as their ability to get the audience grooving. I remember specifically a group of women behind the half-wall of Beachland’s tavern waving their arms in the air, and spinning to the sound of The Silkies’s “Happier.” Above all, The Silkies truly know how to keep a crowd engaged with their high energy, self-expression, and—of course—the bass that you can feel through the floorboards.
“All days are good for Rock & Roll.” — Vocalist and guitarist, Joe Pruitt, The Silkies
Coyote Island Takes The Stage
Coyote Island took the stage in a calm, swift fashion. I took note of their attire—a couple hats, and a little bit of denim—as well as a grateful demeanor. As soon as he took to the stage, something about Mike O’Hehir, the lead vocalist, said to me that he played music for the sake of it; for the love of music. There was a sense of calm passion surrounding him. Coyote Island’s discography and general performance feels like the eye of a hurricane, where everything around you is swirling, containing excitement—and yet, through all of it—you are transported into a place of blissful tropics anyway.
Taking on inspiration from Reggae, Coyote Island’s version of indie is refreshing, and catchy. Even if it’s not usually the kind of music I tend to listen to myself, their original songs were easy to get sucked in too. A few of my personal favorite songs from the night were, “Long Ride” and “River.” To me, some songs came off as having an ‘old-western’ kind of sound—maybe even folk-ish—but predominantly, psychedelic and tropical. The kind of music you’d hear at a resort bar, fresh off a cruise ship in the Caribbean.
I turned around to take in the atmosphere, and was not let down. The buzz of the packed venue behind me was contagious. A smile worn on every face, and anxious individuals of all ages stood around the venue, anticipating the first note. By the end of the first song, patrons of Beachland Tavern were clapping along to the music; but what really got the crowd pumped up was a triplet of guitars, moving together in one synchronized sway.
Not long after, lead guitarist Amir Rivera performed impressive slides on the neck of the guitar, paired with an excellent vibrato. If you were there, you’d know what I mean when I say you could feel the singing of the guitar in the air around you. Ryan Benoit was spectacular on the drums. His chemistry with the other band members allowed for perfect synchronization, and seamless transitions from one song to the next. Garrett Roy Jones, on the bass, was a delight to watch—I enjoyed his bouncy mannerisms. His style of bass is so important to Coyote Island’s sound, as it is so prominent in almost every song they have.
Funny enough, another Coyote Island fan in the crowd went up to Lilly and I, and warned us that she’d be in our area from time to time, because of how much she admired Garrett’s playing. This was also the same fan who kindly asked both the bands of the night to give us their setlists—we appreciated this more than she knew!
At the end of the night, I take a closer account of what I see around me: a gentleman to my right waves a large fan to cool the crowd around him. A couple to my right dances with each other, and the ladies behind the wall hug, and sway along to the vocals. The woman to my right holds a hand to her heart. The air is swimming with sentimental, familial lyrics that know how to persuade a crowd to come together, to love one another, and be friends for just an hour and a half; and to me—it seems like that is one of the things Coyote Island loves to see, just as much as I do. With their infectious smiles, intense passion for their music, and their small bounces with each beat, it is no wonder why the Beachland Tavern was packed that Tuesday night.
“That is the most authentic band around right now!” – A Coyote Island fan
pictured after the concert
Photo Credits: Lilly Bratka
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