Written and Photos by Chloe Diehl
Last Sunday, I attended Palace’s concert at the House of Blues with Amy Lam, former KTRU Rice Radio Creative Director. To be frank, we didn’t know much about Palace. I knew the hit song “Live Well” and loved the motivating, soulful ballad. However, I never got the chance to listen to the rest of their discography. Recently, Palace has gained a lot more listeners and has appeared at major festivals across America, including Austin City Limits. I was excited to see what the fuss was about. Amy, always down to listen to new groups, joined along for the adventure.
As we squeezed through the packed front of the crowd, we were astounded by the captivating opening act. It’s a humble one-man band, Rollo Doherty. This artist is a true jack-of-all-trades. He is a London-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, filmmaker, illustrator, and animator. He is also known for being the frontman of the band ISLAND.
Doherty sang while playing acoustic guitar. His songs were unique because he used a loop pedal to play intricate riffs he strummed with a small bow. His serene folk lullabies almost reminded me of the upcoming Irish musician, Dove Ellis. With only one instrument, his atmospheric songs filled the concert hall. I was in awe to see his incredible gusto.
Palace came on with the frontman dramatically spotlighted the whole time. Like Doherty, the band members came humbly dressed in casual outfits fitting for a campsite. The frontman’s guitar skills were exceptional. He could seamlessly switch from a strong chord progression to throwing the pick out and fingering an elaborate lick.
My favorite song Palace played was no surprise: “Live Well”. The frontman prompted the audience to sing along as he accompanied them on guitar. I loved hearing a familiar song, and I also loved his sweet, genuine crowd engagement.
Overall, I thought the band sounded crisp and polished. Each band member had impressive technical talent. However, honestly, I don’t know what was more eventful: the lively metro ride to the venue or the concert. Palace felt a little too bland for both Amy's and my palate. We typically gravitate towards musicians that are more unique and avant-garde, which is why we couldn’t pinpoint anything distinctive about Palace compared to some of our favorite artists. However, they still drew a solid, enthusiastic crowd for a Sunday night in Houston. So you shouldn’t take my personal preference too seriously.