Not sure if the feisty, high energy Denver based foursome who dba …And the Black Feathers chose their ultra-hip name via their sense connection to symbolism, but let’s go there anyway. A black feather is often viewed as relating to negative energy, but that relationship can be a warning of negative energy to come or a protection against negative energy already in place. Or it can represent the closing of a finished chapter and the start of a new one that brings spiritual growth or wisdom.
Both those concepts make perfect sense in light of their killer new EP Sociallusions, whose four single word titled tracks find them full of fury and attitude, jabbing their hearts, blazing guitars and soaring vocal harmonies at our ridiculous obsession with social media – and the BS way we portray ourselves there compared to the more mundane day to day of our lives. Everything’s driven by the bright, punkish lead vocals of Danny Ke and the way they intertwine with bassist David Warren’s whimsical backing.
While the overriding theme of tracks like “Feature,” “Danger” and “Scandalous” tackles issues only audiences of a certain generation would understand, sonically, …And The Black Feather is all about feel good retro garage-y blues/rock, mixed with dashes of scorching new wave. Their promo material refers to dark bars in Chicago, a 1970 Chevy Nova, Mitch Ryder and MC5 but they’d be right at home on a bill with Green Day. Also interesting with all the Windy and Motor City references is the fact that the band brands itself “An American Rock Band from Colfax Avenue,” the main drag that runs through the Mile High City.
Geographic musical references are great as points of comparison but the folks in Denver have all the luck, getting to see …And the Black Feathers at their point of origin, taking their edgy flights of fancy way more often than the rest of us.