Known for their spirited high-energy live performances, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down brought their best to the intimately sized Underground Arts in Philadelphia.
With a capacity of around 500, which is around a third or more smaller than the other rooms Thao has played in on this tour, the Philly audience received a welcome treat in seeing the band in such tight confines.
Before Thao came on Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside (above) were tasked with getting the evening started. The band played through their new album Untamed Heart almost in its entirety with a bit more kick than you’ll find on the record. Their style of old meets new rock is a great complement to Thao’s sensibilities, and Sallie Ford’s voice sounds even better in person. Something of a revelation though was guitarist Jeff Munger who was allowed to let loose and prove that the guitar solo is alive and well on the indie rock scene.
Leading off with a rollicking version of the title track to her last album Know Better Learn Faster, Thao set things off at a great pace for their set. However it was an intense version of the retro tinged “Human Heart” with its doo wop vibe and achingly crooned lyrics from the new album We The Common that took the second half of the set up to the next level.
The band just seemed to have a little more oomph after that, and from then on the band never let up straight through to the encore which featured an exhausting and exciting “Body.”
As a nice close to the evening, Sallie Ford came back out and she and Thao shared the stage for a relaxed cover of The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” that almost served as a cool down after a full throttle work out.
Admittedly fans of both bands’ back catalog may have left a little disappointed that some of their earlier works weren’t showcased much, but what they may have lacked in older material, they more than made up for with stunning sets.
Thao walked off the stage covered in sweat, heart firmly on sleeve, having created almost too big a sound for the walls of the room to contain.
