REVIEW: The Floorwalkers – Live @ the Beachland 4/22/11

The Floorwalkers – Live @ the Beachland 4/22/11

Beachland Ballroom was graced with quite the show last Fri 4/22. After a folk intro from Chicago’s The Damn Choir, followed by the electro-indie Walk the Moon, The Floorwalkers took the stage. The six piece from Chardon, OH – and now Columbus – brought out the big guns (tambourine and hand claps) for the first song and the performance only continued to gain momentum.

What stands out the most with the Floorwalkers is their inherent ability to play any genre. Each song has its own moments of ska, jam, alt rock and soul. Jon Elliot’s voice seems limitless with each song – his vocals are effortless; by the end of the show I was convinced he was capable of singing any song, any style (although am still reconsidering opera). Several songs had a very Sublime feel to them, yet would be followed up with a Jason Mraz-y pop rock. The band has a stage presence and it’s clear they’re at home in front of the crowd. They weren’t out to impress the crowd, it just happened as a result of their own hedonic love of music.

Instrumentally the band holds its own. Apart from the impressive electric guitar solos, the acoustic guitarist pulled out a steel slide guitar mid-show, and the singer showed up everyone with a wild kazoo piece. The show as a whole was a huge crescendo of quality, each song surpassing the next.

The audience, which had started out fairly stagnant, was completely grooving by the end – enough to request a second encore. The Floorwalkers have won over many a crowd, including those at SXSW this past March. Maybe you should be at their next show? That was a request. On Mon 5/20 they open for the national act O.A.R. at the LC Pavilion in Columbus. Find out where you need to roadtrip and hear more at http://TheFloorwalkers.com.

If more convincing is necessary or you need some physical evidence on the table, check out their video for the single “Three Wishes” off The Natural Road: http://YouTube.com.

In a band/know a band/see a band? Email Laurie at ClevelandSoundsATgmail.com!

 

Laurie Wanninger is a Cleveland convert, having lived in Pittsburgh for 20 years. After attending John Carroll University, she was sold on the city and now lives, works and breathes Cleveland. Spare time is spent DJing Music for Your Laundry List at WJCU 88.7, bicycling, going to local concerts and dreaming of microbrews and National Parks.

[Click here to return to the current issue of Cool Cleveland]

Post categories:

• News
• Music: Popular
• Performance
• Commentary
• Review
• Laurie Wanninger