Girl at the Rock Shows

Bandits on the Run had posted on their social media to “grab a friend” and come out to their show on Tuesday night, so that’s exactly what I did. I had never heard of this band before, but something in their bio caught my attention. “…musical trio… known for their distinct combination of cello, guitar, accordion…” Yeah, they had my attention. I didn’t know what my friend and I were walking into when we arrived at the 7th Street Entry, but I knew I was ready to be wowed. I was prepared for something fresh and fun, but also something that got me out of my own head, which I had been stuck in all day. I was ready and just prayed that this band and their opening act would be enough to give me what I needed on Tuesday.

Christopher and Sienna Sears got the night started. I’ll be honest, my hopes weren’t set super high when just two people walked out on stage, one taking their spot behind a keyboard, and the other grabbing a guitar and getting situated behind the microphone stand. Obviously, with a name like “Christo[her and Sienna Sears,” I knew this was going to be a duo of some sort, but, truthfully, my heart was craving a big and boisterous sound, not a dainty duo kind of track. I braced for impact and held my breath, thinking I would be sorely disappointed and that I had picked the wrong show to spend my Tuesday night off, but within just seconds of the set from this brother-sister duo, I realized that I had made a colossal mistake. Sure, Christopher and Sienna are just a duo, but to call them “just a duo” is such a painfully wrong assumption and statement.

It only took me a few seconds to realize that these two performers are clearly from a theatrical background. It seeped into their music, with bold yet deep songs that often felt straight out of a musical, but it also came with the way they carried themselves. I instantly wish that some sort of musical theatre (or theatre in general) background were a requirement to get on a stage. They commanded the audience with ease and with their undeniable sense of power that came through the speakers, but also seemed to radiate from these two performers. It was as if they felt sure of every note and every song that they were giving the audience, but didn’t lose sight of the fact that they were playing in front of strangers and had something to prove, nothing to lose.

Christopher and Sienna’s voices melted together so perfectly, but being brother and sister, that’s not a surprise. What was surprising was the way they were able to change their voice from song to song. Don’t get me wrong, they were subtle changes, but throughout the set, I feel like I got to see multiple acts all in one due to these small changes. From tender to slightly angsty, beautiful to gritty, Christopher & Sienna gave us the world and had wrapped it up in one of the most beautiful bows you could have asked for. At one point, the duo played Sienna’s “Lucky Girl” song. I don’t know why this one hooked me so hard but it did and, every time the chorus came around, I couldn’t help but wonder if this song was written for me in that moment because, truthfully, I did feel like a very “Lucky Girl” because of this opportunity to see such amazing and beautiful talent on an overall sleepy Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

So, a cellist, a guitarist, and an accordionist walk into the New York Subway system. No, this is not the start of a joke; this is the start of Bandits on the Run– one of the truly most impressive bands I’ve seen in recent memory. The meeting of these three musical geniuses happened by chance while they were all busking, and it truly made me believe in the idea of stars aligning and things happening that, at the end of the day, you just can’t question. The perfection of Bandits on the Run’s set stemmed not only from their sound but also from their energy. Like the opening duo, it felt like this trio had everything to prove, nothing to lose, but, within the first song, they already had the entire audience sold, so everything beyond that was just a giant bonus in a way.

I was taking photos during the show on Tuesday night. Although I often joke that I’m more of a writer with a camera than a photographer with a pen, I’ve found a love in trying to capture the perfect angles and find those fun shots that really showcase a band and bring their energy to life through a photo. I gave up on that within the first song from Bandits on the Run because I instantly picked up on the fact that no matter what angle I got, no matter what photo I snapped, I would never be able to encompass the joy, passion, and love that was radiating off the stage. More importantly, I wouldn’t be able to share their sound with you through a photo, so why even try? I’m a perpetual over-shooter. I leave shows with hundreds of photos to sift through, even if it’s just a two-band show, but not Tuesday night. I got home with just eighty-six photos between the two groups, and that says a lot about the performance. It says that, for the first time in a hot minute, I was more concerned with not missing a single moment of this night rather than getting the perfect shot.

Sonically, this band was all over the place. They played everything from indie-rock bops to rock ‘n’ roll treats. Although I could categorize all of their tracks into those two categories, that doesn’t come anywhere close to capturing the intricacies that truly make this band stand out. Obviously, the cello, played by Sydney Shepherd, brought an almost classical influence to the songs, with long, flowing notes that served as an undertone for the harsh sound of the accordion and the more fluttery sound of the guitar. However, at other times, the cello seemed to act as the driving force behind the songs’ power. Whether playing guitar, bass, or any of the other various instruments they held in their hand at one point or another on Tuesday night, Regina Strayhorn seemed to constantly be just perfectly in the pocket, while Adrian Black Enscoe seemed to push that pocket ever so slightly.

How have I gotten this far into the review without spending any time on the vocals of Bandits on the Run? Oh, now I remember. It’s because words seem so useless when it comes to describing it. From three-part harmonies that sent chills running up my spine to vocal solos that could have been about anything in the world but had me moved to near tears just due to the beauty and passion that came through– I was stunned, I was shook, I was and remain lost for words.

This is a lot of rambling. I know. But have you ever walked into a show completely blind and walked out feeling like you just saw something that is too beautiful for this planet? Do you ever have a moment where you are so emotionally moved by something, even though you have zero history with it, that you lose your ability to form a cohesive thought? Pardon my language here but… holy shit. What a fantastically beautiful and powerful way to spend a Tuesday night.

Line Up:

Christopher and Sienna Sears

Bandits on the Run

Venue: 7th Street Entry

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 40

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Dance-ability – 1 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Christopher and Sienna Sears – 0

Bandits on the Run – 0

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score – 8 out of 10

Show on Deck — Wavves / Beach Goons / Death Lens

Shameless Self Promotion:

Join My Patreon Here!

Buy Me a Coffee (Seriously!)

Check out my playlist HERE!