The Revivalists are one of those bands that tug on all your heart strings and bring out every emotion. Not just the ones you want to feel, but also the ones you need to feel. The ones you know you have and the ones you never knew you had. The Revivalists truly are men amongst mountains pressing into the night.
When I first heard The Revivalists, I was just a casual fan but after a few more intense listens, I couldn’t wait to see them live. That time finally came at Suwannee Hulaween 2016 where they delivered a performance that was in my top five of the festival. I was moved in some many ways, from lost loves to life appreciation to party times. Not to mention the middle of that set included two Nine Inch Nails covers back to back.
Then last year at Hulaween 2017, frontman David Shaw closed out the fest on the Spirit Lake Stage on Sunday night with an acoustic band set, which is just what my soul needed to end the weekend.
Watch my video below of their epic performance from Hula 2016.
The Doctor himself, Roosevelt Collier, is the special guest opening up the four Florida shows on this run. Rosie’s accompanying band is fellow South Florida local legends in the making, Electric Kif, who provide a sweet jazz fusion funk flavor to Rosie’s southern rock soul twang.
Soon after, The Revivalists take the stage and immediately begin delivering a high energy performance that is ultimately filled with sincere moments of love and reflection, coupled with lost dreams and hope. The bouncy intro to”Bulletproof” gets the fans excited for a rocking show and we are all instantly family. Appropriately enough, “All In The Family” is the next song. “Amber” follows with its somber yet still rocking sound. One thing I’ve noticed about this band is that they really know how to build up the energy in their songs. You might think a song is going to be pretty mellow by the way it starts, but by the end, it develops into an absolute monster of itself.
A song or two later later they play “Stand Up,” which specifically addresses us in the crowd. To me, this song is about dedication and not giving up on yourself.
Things get rowdy during the end of “Catching Fireflies” and I try to not reflect too hard during the song, about who I used to be or who I’m trying to be.
I’m a peaceful man today, Ain’t got no more weekend wars to wage. So give me one more shot babe.”
The rowdy vibe quickly changes as one of my top moments of the show include “It Was A Sin” and “Criminal” played back to back.
I believe it was a sin, Oh to do you in the way I did. I took out more than I put in, I got fat while you stayed thin.”
I’m a criminal, I do this everyday. I take the low road, I roam the highways. Maybe we’ll meet again, Maybe we’ll die today. Maybe we’ll live forever, Never throw this love away.”
The set finishes with two very contrasting songs. The first is the angry tearjerker “Need You” which has a chorus saying “I don’t need you, you need me!” Naturally, that is what everyone thinks when a love leaves them. Then the ever so popular “Wish I Knew You” sparks a singalong that gives me chills and gets me so high.
The encore begins with “BTBD” followed by “Fade Away” which is about fading love and begging a lover: “Would you come with me? I want you to come with me, ‘Cause I can’t do this alone.”
The unexpected second encore is a cover of Tom Petty’s “Refugee” which satisfies the crowd and sends us off on the highest of notes. Check out my video clip of it below on The Sober Goat’s Instagram.
Watch my highlight clip video of The Revivalists St. Pete set, and peep the setlist from setlist.com.
Check out The Revivalists’ setlist from St. Pete thanks to setlist.fm.
The next night, the tour stops into my hometown of Orlando. I link up with Roosevelt and hang out backstage at House of Blues before the show. Rosie informs me that he will have Zack Feinberg of The Revivalists sit in with him early in the set, and also that Rosie will sit in with The Revivalists at some point during their set. I feel blessed knowing this insider info. There were no sit ins either way the night before in St. Pete.
Check out my two videos below of Zack sitting in with Rosie, as well as my video of the last song of Rosie’s set which actually starts with the ending of the prior song and Rosie absolutely dominating his pedal steel guitar. Rosie’s backing band, Electric Kif, is Jason Matthews (Hammond SK2, Fender Rhodes, & Moog), Digo (Bass) and Armando Lopez (Drums).
After Roosevelt and Co. get things started, The Revivalists come out and put on another fantastic show to marvel the prior night’s performance. Check out my Instagram video of Roosevelt sitting in with them near the end of their set.
The setlist at the Orlando show is mostly the same with a few exceptions including the Rosie sit in near the end of the set and no Petty cover, although I wish I would have wrote the setlist down throughout the show to better tell the differences between the two nights. A lot of my friends are at this show, scattered throughout the building, and I enjoy the show from several different spots as I bounce around saying hi and taking pictures and video along the way.
Throughout the show, each musician has multiple special moments on stage where they get to dominate. Watch my videos below of “Catching Fireflies” and “monster” filmed from the balcony.
After the show I head backstage for a quick minute and end up running into David Shaw! I take the chance and introduce myself, shake his hand, express my gratitude, and get a picture. He’s so tall, he’s got me by a full head length. Thanks for the pic, David!
The Revivalists have quickly become one of my favorite bands and they are truly a healing power for the soul. Their music and words remind me to not give up on life, or love.
The Revivalists are David Shaw (lead vocals/guitar), Zack Feinberg (guitar), Andrew Campanelli (drums), George Gekas (bass), Ed Williams (pedal steel guitar), Rob Ingraham (saxophone), and Michael Girardot (keyboard & trumpet).
“Love makes it easy, it makes it alright.”
The Revivalists PHOTOS & LIVE REVIEW by Richie.
ST. PETE PHOTOS
ORLANDO PHOTOS
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