The Weatherveins @The Abbey 5/12/13

     As I walked in to The Abbey Sunday evening, I saw Noelle Daley (guitar/vocals) and Cory Pitts (violin/vocals) sitting together at a table, contemplating the order of their 12-song set. They waved me over and invited me to take a seat, as Noelle and I shared our enjoyment of the coffee house’s delicious hot chocolate. Brittany Powers (banjo/vocals) walked over a few moments later as Cory began to write the set list on the back of paper bag that once contained Noelle’s choice of pastry treat. The girls were relaxed and in good spirits as their friends and fans began to file in to the venue.
     As the crowd found their places on the many comfy couches and arm chairs that sprinkle The Abbey’s main room, The Weatherveins took their place on stage and began to warm up to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”. The three friends laughed with one another as they made up their own bopping dance moves to accompany the rap, preparing themselves to put on the lively, humorous show that was to take place. The show began with their popular and adorable hit, “Only One I Love”, as fans sang along to the catchy verses and chorus. The band’s talent was recognizable from the start with Cory and Brittany’s remarkable ability to accompany harmonics to Noelle’s leads, showing how well the girls fit together as a musical trio.
     After playing a couple of older songs, the band chose a newer piece, “Autumn Song”, which Noelle introduced by revealing she wrote it about Santa Cruz and “home in general”. The first minute of the song is slow and somber, but after a short pause it takes off with a faster, more lively tempo, waking the audience up from the dream-like state Noelle’s lyrics have the ability to put them in. The seasonal tune ends optimistically (“I hope you find a love that you deserve”) before fading out with one of Cory’s lovely violin solos.
     Straying from their usual folk-bluegrass roots, The Weatherveins took on surf-rock with Best Coast’s “When I’m With You” and Dion’s “Runaround Sue”. Though these songs are far out from their typical style, the band was able to make them their own. Shining moments were plentiful for Brittany as she showed the soul within her voice in “Runaround Sue” as well as The Weatherveins’ original, “Hope Floats”.
     Another surprise hidden within their exciting set was the brand new, never-before-been-performed number “Little One”, which reflected the emotion and power of Daley’s voice with a rockin’, dark undertone to match the intensity of lyrical content. 
     Be sure to check out The Weatherveins’ other songs included within their “Live in the Attic” EP and demos found on their Band Camp page or find them “busking” on Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz. You can also look forward to their upcoming shows: Santa Cruz Hostel on May 24th, live on KSZC on May 29th, and The Crepe Place on Sunday, May 30th.