Golden Bloom

The guitarist in Golden Bloom uses a butter knife for a slide; the drummer used a Rice-A-Roni package as a shaker. Those kind of facts give you an indication of the type of band this is - a fly by the seat of your pants, use whatever you've got on hand type of outfit, just looking to make music. Three quarters of the band's members have recently gained recognition as players in Neutral Uke Hotel, an association they downplayed during their set. Said lead singer Shawn Fogel (also the lead singer of Neutral Uke Hotel), "We've been on tour with Neutral Uke Hotel. They're nice guys, I guess, but hard to work with." It was just one of many witty lines he dropped throughout the evening, and not the last of the smiles. This is a band that clearly has fun playing music together, and they are refreshing to watch.