REVIEW: Whitney at Union Transfer

Sep 30, 2019Sep 29, 2019 AnnaMarie Otor 0 Comments

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WRITTEN BY: Ross Aronow

In support of their sophomore full length record, Forever Turned Around, Whitney came through Union Transfer with a fantastic, sold-out show on September 29^th. Whitney is the project of Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakakeck. After playing for years in bands (both together and separately) such as Smith Westerns and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, the two decided to take a totally different sonic route with Whitney. Having now released two full length albums for this indie-folk project, the two have gained great critical acclaim for their excellent songwriting and musicianship.

The show was opened by Los Angeles four-piece, Hand Habits. The band is fronted by guitarist and vocalist, Meg Duffy. In addition to Hand Habits, Meg’s playing be heard on projects released by The War on Drugs, Kevin Morby, Weyes Blood, William Tyler, and more. Their guitar skill was excellently showcased during the bands opening set. Meg was able to flawlessly to sing their lead vocal parts and support tricky guitar lines simultaneously. A highlight for the band in particular were the perfect harmonies between each of the members. The vocal parts added a very interesting layer to their already captivating songs. Hand Habits proves themselves to be a band to watch out for next time they’re in Philly.

After a quick turnover, Whitney took the stage. The seven-piece band came out wearing suits, something that they newly introduced to their live sets. Drummer and front man, Julien Ehrlich, let the audience know that this Philadelphia show was very special for them. The band was accompanied by a string section, something unusual for the band’s live shows, and the group was very excited as Union Transfer is one of their favorite venues in the country. Their set opened with, “Polly,” a track from their 2016 debut record. The audience was immediately singing along to the lyrics and instrumental parts alike. The band moved onto “No Matter Where We Go” and made a smooth transition into the new album’s lead single, “Giving Up”. This track showcased the drums, guitars, and keys, truly locking in, promising the audience a very impressive set.

The band’s chemistry became truly apparent during the instrumental jam, “Rhododendron.” For this song, Meg Duffy of Hand Habits joined the band on stage to participate in the trading of solos. Meg, guitarist Max Kakacek, keyboardist Malcom Brown, and trumpeter Will Miller all played fantastic solos. The extended jam and interplay between instruments and band members truly gave the song the rendition it deserved. Another highlight of the set was “Light Upon the Lake.” This low volume song gave the strings section some time to shine, resulting in one of the best and most emotional performances of the set. After taking a short break, the band came back on stage to play a couple more songs. One of them was a cover of Glen Campbell’s “Southern Nights.” Whitney transformed the upbeat original into a smooth, Wurlitzer driven song that perfectly fits their sound. The final two songs of the set, “No Woman” and “ Valleys (My Love)” had the crowd singing the loudest and dancing the most, proving to be perfect closers for a great night. Whitney’s new, critically acclaimed album, Forever Turned Around, can be heard anywhere. Make sure to give it a listen!

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