Floodwood & Keller Williams’ LIVE @ Toad’s Place

If you’ve never been to a Keller Williams show before put it on your list of things to do before you die. This is the type of show you need to experience to believe.

The band Floodwood opened for Williams with an amazingly simplistic set of Bluegrass music that had the audience dancing from start to finish, and Williams took the crowd by storm with his fast-paced folk set full of many upbeat tracks.

Let’s start by talking about Floodwood. This band made me fall in love with their charismatic stage presence and fiddle solo’s that would make anyone stop in their tracks. At first I was a little confused by the audience members and thought they I may have been at Woodstock for a minute, until I realized the street outside the window. These fans believed they were still in 1974 and I felt like I took a trip back in time watching them twirl in circles with their flower headbands and long flowing skirts. Needless to say I did not fit in, but I did my best to dance to the beat of their drum. You know what they say: “When in Rome.”

Fans were so friendly at this concert it almost shocked me. After a while it felt like we all knew each other and were hanging out in someone’s basement. I went along with the show not knowing any of the music until Floodwood performed a version of Bob Marley’s “Waiting in Vain,” which brought the house down; I have never heard a version even comparable to theirs.

Williams came on stage and changed the entire composition of the crowd’s mood. Everyone went from contemplative to expressive so quickly, and I think that a huge part could be contributed to Williams’ uplifting performances. When he performed his song “Freaker by The Speaker,” I have never heard such an eclectic mix of music all at once before. This song encompassed lyrical elements, whistling, beat boxing, skatting and so much more.

I have to say that at first I was extremely confused by the combination of these different forms of music into one song, but I have to add it was kind of freeing to see someone break the traditional music mold in such a successful way.

I’ll admit before being asked to see and review this show I had never heard of either of these bands and I was a little close-minded when it came time to start listening, but I think you all would be doing yourself a huge injustice if you didn’t take the time to check them out. Even if an artist isn’t in your favorite type of genre, it is worth listening to them and trying to broaden your mind and musical horizons.