Concert review: Bell X1 Takes Orlando by Storm
By Natalie Herman
Bell X1 made personal history Friday, May 23, 2008, at Orlando’s downtown club The Social.
“We’ve never been this far south,” singer Paul Noonan told the crowd, “and for five Irish boys, we’re melting out down here.”
As the rain poured outside the door, inside “The Bellies” were heating things up.
Little notice was paid to the dreadful weather because that humble stage was hosting an evening of unforgettable times.
Warming up the crowd, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Brooke Waggoner sat at her keyboard and hushed the enrapt audience with her lovely songs. With Hannah Schroeder on the cello and Natalie Prasc on what seemed like every other instrument known to man (in less than an hour, she covered percussion, guitar, bass, keyboard and vocals), Brooke Waggoner and her band played delightful selections from her EP, Fresh Pair of Eyes, as well as some new material.
It was clear that she was well-received by the flood of people that stormed the merchandise table as the stage crew prepared the equipment for the headliners.
Bell X1 opened with what can best be described as a swoon-worthy acoustic version of “Bad Skin Day.” The crowd roared its approval as Bell X1 played through songs from the latest two of their three studio releases.
During “Alphabet Soup” off of their 2003 album, Music in Mouth, Noonan’s microphone stand collapsed itself mid-song, positioning the mic directly in front of his guitar’s soundhole. Considering his options, rather than break song, Noonan squatted down to mic level and finished the song in a comical crouch.
“A true professional, folks,” he quipped when the song finished, mumbling something about “Viagra for the mic stand.”
The lads demonstrated again what good sports they were when an overzealous attendee jumped the stage to dance first with Dave Geraghty, then with Noonan and to accompany session drummer Tim O’Donovan on the drums for the finale, “Flame.”
Geraghty had a chance, in addition to playing the piano, guitar, banjo, and harmonica during the show, to show off his vocal talents on “Trampoline.”
The band turned that intimate venue into an arena when they thundered through “Tongue / White Water Song.” The suggestive lyrics of “Tongue” had the audience abuzz.
Before leaving the stage, Bell X1 expressed an interest in returning to Florida for a future show. Without a doubt, word of mouth from that explosive Friday night will by then have increased their “Flock” by tenfold.
Natalie Herman provides content for Paddy-Whacked Radioâ„¢ News
Copyright © 2008 Natalie Herman and Paddy-Whacked Radio™