On an unseasonably warm night in Boston, members of the band Tulsa opened eyes of a few lucky attendees at Great Scott to their striking, western grunge sound. Full of intricate riffs and nimble movements, the band's setlist consisted of a couple old, a couple current, and a couple forthcoming tracks, all of which point them skyward. And for all of the attention their studio effects have gotten, their live sound was easily as strong.
Some of the greatest moments of the set came from tracks off their recent I Was Submerged EP (QRO Review). The gliding "Shaker" had a front-porch coziness, while the slower "Mass" was highlighted by the strain in Carter Tanton's vocals. Throughout the show, bassist Erik Wormwood's complex bass riffs truly sold the songs. On "Breath Thin", the cascading guitar and bass combination was instantly compelling. They finished on a new song with a slick bounce thanks to a hesitation in the gripping drum beat, which set off the melody as forcefully as any song of theirs to date.
Coming off of the EP and heading into an upcoming album, Tulsa's momentum is building constantly. Their live show is another reflection of it, as they're able to pull off such a unique and haunting version of alt-rock that really hasn't been explored yet. Keeps your eyes and ears open.
