Sea Wolf – Friday, October 23, The Earl, Atlanta
By: Rob Jones
Sea Wolf has been on my radar for a few months, but until last Friday I hadn’t actually listened to any of their music. When Chuck asked if I’d like to review their show I decided to hear Sea Wolf for the first
time with no preconceptions.
By the third song I understood what the hype was about; Alex Brown Church is a great bandleader who really conveys a sense of connection in his music, which is what I look for in any singer/songwriter. His backing musicians were both a joy to watch and talented, with every member playing multiple instruments. Each person on stage seemed to truly care about each song, a feeling that started with Church, flowed through the band, and out into the crowd. True passion was put into Church’s strong ballads and the band definitely let loose playing rockers like “Oh Maria” and closer “Black Dirt”, but as the show progressed I felt it lacking a certain spark. For most of the night it seemed like Sea Wolf was almost there; a good band about to give a glimpse of greatness, but each time they let it slip away. They had magic in the bottle, but couldn’t get the cap on before it got out.
After the show I assumed that the band just needed a solid producer to help them put together the final pieces, but after reading that they have worked with both Phil Elk and Mike Mogis I’m not sure what else
Church and his Sea Wolf band mates can do to complete the puzzle. While even a casual observer could tell that there is something missing, I will continue to keep an eye on Sea Wolf, hoping to see a good band become great.
Editor’s Note: DeadJournalist.com welcomes Rob Jones as a contributor. Contact him via Twitter: www.twitter.com/raddisonjones
