Athens’ Well Kept play earnest, emotional rock that can sound riveting on record. But, if we’re being honest, the true measure of such a band is how they translate their music in a live setting. Do the same songs still deliver the same shivers down your spine or is something lost? Do they fall flat and fade? In the case of “Listening,” one of the many highlights from Well Kept’s excellent debut, In the Meantime, the answer is a resounding flood of goosebumps.
I’ll admit that pre-recorded sessions aren’t the best indicator of a band’s live prowess. There’s no audience interaction and you have the freedom of multiple takes to line everything up just right. Still, there are things you can’t fake. Passion, for one. Also, energy and charisma. When Well Kept tear into “Listening” for Springdale Sessions, it’s the sound of a band existing in the moment. Frontman Tommy Trautwein’s vocals sound as gritty and vulnerable as they do on record, and the accompanying performance from his bandmates is raucous and loose. Can I say with certainty that Well Kept are a great live act? Maybe not. But I definitely can’t wait to catch them on the other side of the pandemic.
“We wanted to get the ol’ band back together and capture the live energy of a few of our favorite songs from our debut record,” Trautwein says about the session. “It was the first time Well Kept had performed together since March, other than recording over the summer. It was amazing to play these songs again and get them captured for those who may never have caught a Well Kept show in person.”
Watch/listen above.
More Info
Bandcamp: wellkeptmusic.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @wellkeptmusic
Instagram: @pterodactyl.tom
SoundCloud: @wellkeptmusic