~ house in the sand

Gig Photos: The Struts at Wooly's in Des Moines (November 2018)

Hey guys!

One could definitely say that we are making the most of gig season.
With members all over the world, we've got gigs lined up all over the place and sometimes even are simultaneously photographing shows for you - which honestly is the coolest.

I guess it would be a cool thing to ask you lot which gigs you'll be attending this month?
Let us know via any of our social media channels and maybe one of us will see you at a show.

Last week Janet Eckles went to photograph The Struts for us all to enjoy.

Below you can read her little review and see the photos she took that night.

Before you dive into the post, please make sure to say hi to Janet and follow her on Instagram:
website | instagram

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Date: 26th November 2018
Venue: Wooly's, Des Moines (US)

Support Act: The Glorious Sons

The English rock band The Struts, supported by The Glorious Sons, took the stage in Des Moines on Monday evening. The Struts are touring in support of their second studio album, "Young and Dangerous", released one month prior.

The Glorious Sons, a group from Ontario, began the evening with intense energy despite enduring multiple technical difficulties during their set.

Their songs, which mostly came from their most recent album and an even mix from their previous two, touched on themes of substance abuse, heartbreak and emotional vulnerability. They also covered The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter".
The crowd eagerly shouted each lyric and jumped along with front man Brett Emmons.

The Glorious Sons online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram

source: imgur.com

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Headliner: The Struts

The Struts launched into their most recent single "Body Talks" as soon as they hit the stage.
Lead singer Luke Spiller re-defined the role of the typical front man that evening. He made it clear that the most important aspect of his role is to provide the audience with an interactive experience.
Glamorous and wild, he rarely stayed in one place (or outfit) for long. He even joked that the band didn't have a budget for fireworks or confetti canons because he had spent that money on his theatrical costumes.

Halfway through their set, Spiller invited a fan onstage during their rendition of Springsteen's "Dancing In The Dark". He encouraged her as she assisted in leading the audience in a venue-wide sing-along.

The Struts performed an even mix of hits from both of their albums, which had the audience in a dancing frenzy their entire set. They closed the night with their first single from their debut record, "Could Have Been Me".

The Struts online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram

source: imgur.com

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We hope you've enjoyed the review!
Let us know if you've been to a Struts show before.

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words (Intro): Vanessa Jetwash | Words (Review) & Photography: Janet Eckles

Hey guys!

When you really think about it,

music is a pretty constrasty medium.

The creative process can be a very isolated matter for the artists,

yet in some cases the songs they often write alone will be heard by thousands if not millions of people.
Songs they write about not feeling well,

can often be the songs that help others to feel better.

You see my point; music is special and unpredictable.
But isn't that why we love it?

Today we're pretty sure you'll walk away from this post with a song on repeat,

so let's get into it.

- Video Of The Day -
"My Mistake" by Gabrielle Aplin

Gabrielle Aplin is one of those musicians who sprinkle everything with pure magic.

Ever since we heard her debut album, "English Rain", we've been hooked by her sound.
Her sound is ever-changing but always staying true to her roots, the singer/songwriter elements inspired by artists such as Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

With her follow-up, "Light Up The Dark", the musician from Bath, UK proved that she's capable of more elements, showcasing her rock-pop side.
After touring all over the world and playing festivals, Aplin shared her more pop focused EPs "Miss You" and "Avalon", allowing her listeners to be a part of her evolution.

What makes Aplin such an exceptional artist, is her talent for writing relatable and honest lyrics paired with the most gorgeous melodies you've heard.

Her new single, "My Mistake", proves just that.

"My Mistake" combines delicate vocals with dark piano notes.
It highlights the strength it takes to be open and vulnerable. It's graceful and dignifying while it is honest about struggling, allowing the listener to relate, to feel validated, to not feel alone.

The structure of the song is as beautiful as it is moving; the first chorus and verse are kept simple and calm, focusing on Gabrielle's vocals and the piano accompanying her. This gives us enough time to really dive into the song and focus on the personal lyrics Gabrielle shares with us.

During the second verse we start hearing suble backing vocals and soft string arrangements which underline the atmosphere of the track. What stands out is how you don't find a lot of different elements in the track, yet it's anything but monotonous.

Right after the second chorus we dive into the depths of the song, Aplin's vocals are getting more powerful and expressive with each chord, really transporting the emotions through her voice.
"My Mistake" ends on a calm note again and leaves us feeling understood and slightly more optimistic.

Gabrielle says about the track, "I'm really excited to release 'My Mistake'. I've always found writing a therapeutic escape from real life, but this song gently forced me to be brutally honest. This is a song about finding a strange sense of comfort in admitting to yourself that you're not feeling 100% and completely owning it."

Watch the video for "My Mistake" right here:

- buy and/or stream "My Mistake" here -

Gabrielle Aplin online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: Gabrielle Aplin via Wilful Publicity

Hey guys!

Today we get to welcome a new member to our team of contributors,
so this is really exciting.

We haven't had a new addition to the team in a while, so it's nice to welcome someone new to team HITS.
It's our promise to you that we will do our best to support music we believe in.
And with this variety of passionate creators we are able to cover a bigger variety of music for you to enjoy.

So today, please welcome Janet Eckles, our new photographer & gig reviewer from Des Moines, US.

You can get to know Janet & the rest of team HITS here.

Make sure to say hi to Janet here:
website | instagram

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Date: 17th November 2018
Venue: Blue Moose Tap House, Iowa City (US)

Support Act #1: Super Whatevr

Hundreds of fans ascended upon the Blue Moose Tap House in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday night.
They sported dyed hair and plaid flannel tops, and they chatted eagerly as they waited to see Waterparks plays.
Waterparks, who are in midst of their Entertainment tour, were supported that evening by I Don't Know How but They Found Me and Super Whatevr.

Super Whatevr, a band from Oakland, CA, were an enganging start to the evening.
Their songs were catchy and quirky, but lead singer Skyler McKee wasn't interested in just performing that night - he was looking to form a relationship with everyone in attendance. He explained that his cousin's suicide was the basis of their song "Someone Somewhere Somehow". He thend used that moment of vulnerability to promise fans that life always gets better, and to stress the importance of being healthy.

Super Whatevr online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | Instagram

source: imgur.com

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Support Act #2: I Don't Know How but They Found Me

I Don't Know How but They Found Me were then welcomed with passionate shrieks and applause from the audience - and that did not let up the entire set.
Singer Dallon Weekes received an emotional response from even the strangest request - when he asked if someone in the audience could tie his shoe.
Overall, IDKHow's set was tight sounding, and Weekes' vocals were strong and unwavering. At one point, he parted the audience and walked through the crowd, high fiving fans as he went. Meanwhile, drummer Ryan Seaman took over for Weekes on the guitar, much to the audience's delight.

I Don't Know How but They Found Me online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram

source: imgur.com

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Headliner: Waterparks

Then Waterparks hit the stage with the amount of energy the fans had been craving all night.
The band had hardly made it on stage before diving into their hit "Stupid For You", which one could barely hear over the fans shouting every word.
Lead singer Awsten Knight mirrored the fans' excitement the entire set, as he leapt across the stage and into the crowd.
He wore a geniune smile while belting out fan favorites - and he paused between songs to take it all in. Knight expressed how humbled he was by the band's rapid success, and his excitement to be playing in cities they'd never been to before.

Waterparks will tour North America in support of their latest album "Entertainment" until early December.

Waterparks online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram

source: imgur.com