The 71s: Rock and Roll Reaction Vol. 2

The 71s at the Stafford in Bryan April 29.

It really doesn't take that much to charm me, musically. Put on a great show with some stage presence and solid rock-based music, and you've basically won me over. I'm easy. (But don't spread that around - gotta keep up the "good" in my name.)

For The 71s, the moment of charm came in April when I saw them play in Bryan at the Stafford. The band launched into a cover of Tom Petty's "American Girl." Their version was solid, but what charmed me was when the main mic cut out and lead singer Keeton Coffman simply frowned mid-lyric, stepped away and kept singing right into the crowd and encouraged us to make up the difference by singing along too. The rest of the band didn't miss a beat.

After all the hard work that goes into writing original songs, it's not easy to get up on a stage in a semi-receptive room and play only to have a mishap. That's a make or break moment.

And the 71s made it.

Eisley on PrettyRiot.com

I have a new post up on PrettyRiot.com on the Eisley show I went to in early June. 

Check it out here.

Also be sure to browse through some of Jessica's back posts from Free Press Summerfest - lots of great interviews with local bands. The Tygaraja one is my fave.