We played a great show in Whitehorse yesterday at Art in the Park. The sun shone down.
Kids in knight costumes played in the grass. Around 100 people spent their lunch hour with us in a gorgeous Northern afternoon.
One of the nice folks who saw us invited us to play a house party at his place later that night, and we had a great night pickin' tunes acoustically (the PA turned out to be a nightmare) for some more of the wonderful folks in the North. We love it here.
Also, when we woke up this morning, a new review had come in from the UK. From Maverick Magazine, no less! They gave Lay You Down 4 stars, hurrah!
"Headwater on their second record turn out a sound that is rooted in an old-time string band aesthetic while informed and typified by modern roots rock sensibilities. They're a hard-working group, busking in the streets prior to nightclub gigs, and this comittment to their craft manifests in some tight and very fine playing as well as a sense of cloesness and rapport between the players.
There is some excellent technical ability on display but Lay You Down is never reduced to a cold aesthetic excercise, rather it knows when to hold back and when to give its all. There are frenetic stomping runs through bluegrass territory, and sleepy shuffling ballads held afloat by gently lapping waves of pedal steel. Transitions between these different vibes and approaches sound completely organic and natural, owing to both the largely acoustic instrumentation and the comfortable familliar manner in which its played. The songs have been well practiced, but never to the point of being played by rote. They sound lived in rather than carefully mastered, all the effort that has gone into them sounds effortless. This all lends the record a personal dimension, a warmth that acts as counterpoint to the often melancholy songs. Think Great Lake Swimmers with a greater sense of momentum.
Headwater have turned out a very exciting record, exciting in the impressive musical ability evident thoughout, but more exciting in the way it never flaunted but rather lent to a bigger picture, a more personal and expansive statement - something of real worth."