Carriers, Duncan Fellows and Sun Seekers leave a surreal impact @ Great Scott

Duncan Fellows

November 21, 2019 at The Great Scott

The crowd was in for a treat when a three-way alternative rock splash from bands Carriers, Duncan Fellows, and Sun Seekers shook the stage Thursday night.

The Carriers kicking off the concert.
Captured by Sabrina Ruiz

Fresh out of Cincinnati, Ohio, Carriers ambled onstage first. The band’s dreamy, positive lyrics flooded the venue. Their smooth transitions allowed them to flow from one verse to the next, especially as the enthusiastic drumming kept their melodic beat alive. Two people began to spin around and dance at the center of the small crowd. The group remained incredibly synchronized, performing their latest releases “Daily Battle” and “Peace of Mine.” Curt Kiser, the mastermind songwriter behind the up-and-coming band, resonated with the audience with his wistful lyrics from “Another Guy:”

“I know that you were telling me something right

Clearly I was tripping on a past life

My soul needs touched with a holy knife.”

Their music serves well as bedroom music, quiet study music, or even to listen to on peaceful walks in the morning. They successfully opened and left promise for the rest of the night’s performers.

Up next came Duncan Fellows, originally from Austin, Texas. The five-person band shared intimate moments together, like in “Sleeper” where they harmonized their voices onstage. They slowed things down further in “Sway,” where the audience enjoyed a moment of captivating relaxation. “You’re fighting a war, it’s a burn, it’s a drug that you’re fighting for,” they sang in euphonious unison. Guitarist and vocalist Cullen Trevino swiftly raked his fingers across the fretboard and delivered sweet guitar bends, and Colin Harman made a show of hoisting his guitar in the air as he played during the interludes. The versatility of the group was evident as fast-paced licks, hard-edged sound, and gentle strumming meshed together in their songs. The group even expanded their palette enough to cover a Beatles song, “Don’t Let Me Down.” Girls in the audience made it evident they were fans, singing along to the lyrics in “Deathwish Fish” and “Fresh Squeezed.” Harman even dedicated “Cursive Tattoo” to his lover, and the band made a memorable exit with their final song “Coffins” as the crowd happily grooved to the catchy, uplifting beat.

The Sun Seekers close the concert.
Captured by Sabrina Ruiz

Sun Seekers at last took over the stage. Their full-length album is to be released sometime this year. The Nashville band’s music explores melancholy and emotional turmoil, especially in songs like “Good Year.” The keyboardist provided lovely sound effects to enhance the band’s sound. Bassist Asher Horton slapped all the bass notes, and its undertones gave way to the echoing reverb of the guitar. The audience rocked in time to the combined forces, and the subtle, mellow strumming was evident in the midst of the sound effects and drums.

Guitarist Alex Benick even goofed off at one point on set, keeping the environment light. “We’re about to get real serious,” he said. Horton invited the audience to move closer to the stage. “We’re going to sing one of our latest releases. Who likes breakfast?”

He then launched into an improvised song, breaking it down to the audience to eat biscuits with jelly on a bagel. Almost as if nothing happened, the band resorted back to their set. “Sorry about the song,” Benick joked. “Georgia Dust” and “Won’t Keep Me Up At Night” followed as the small crowd continued nodding along.

Influenced by psychedelic music and experimental rock, these bands may be more underground than many other musicians out there. But to those at Great Scott, they know this is only the beginning.