Bird Rights: a Phoenix Rising (artist feature)

     Warning: checking out this new Grand Rapids-area band may cause a mild case of déjà vu. If seeing the basketball-jersey-clad Boyea brothers onstage, crafting a unique brand of indie rock based on love, life, and wonder induces that woozy-wonderful headrush, don’t worry; it’s not you, or your memory-- Bird Rights is the reincarnation of the brothers’ former band, the Flowbs-- or, it could just be a side effect of their dreamy, melodic, indie-meets-shoegazer tunes (think an indie-er Snow Patrol, or a chilled-out Bloc Party).
     The Boyeas, rounding themselves out to a trio with drummer Spencer Engler, have traded the more hyper façade associated with the Flowbs-- with their tendencies towards uptempo rock, at times leaning toward ska and pop-punk-- for stripped-down balladry, characterized by a delicious subtlety and a haunting ambience, underscored by flawless melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. Their lyrics, based on introverted reflections on life-- particularly transition (look out for their first single as Bird Rights, “Nightmare”) and reinvention, a very real theme for the band at this point-- tend to be at once brave and vulnerable; juxtaposed against lightly-distorted guitars and shimmery, gentle percussion, the combination is haunting, undeniably radio-ready and likely destined for solo sing-a-longs on lonely drives home and sober mornings-after.
     Like the proverbial phoenix, Bird Rights confidently rise from their former rocker selves into the mature, thoughtful crew we see today: amazingly unpretentious and humbly self-assured. The evolution is duly reflected in their newly-released material; for example, on the aforementioned single “Nightmare,” singer/ principle songwriter Luke Boyea proclaims “I’m gonna climb these castle walls/ I don’t care if I fall/ I’m not gonna die here,” and continues throughout the band’s new material to evoke feelings of determination, frustration, and, ultimately, confidence; there is certainly a palpable sense that these guys have found their stride. And it seems rightfully so: according to the band, singer Luke Boyea has “developed the swag and appropriate ego of a great front man,” and, alongside his brother Eric’s “imaginative guitar playing” and Engler’s “groove-based beats” the trio seems poised for greatness; Bird Rights have settled softly into their newfound niche as not just musicians, but craftsmen: gloriously reviving the lost art of the ballad, most effective on the lovelorn gem “Owl Man,” whose twinkley guitar parts alongside the depth of a striking piano melody makes for a listening experience you won’t soon forget.
     With their feet squarely in the door of Grand Rapids’ music scene, Bird Rights have had no trouble setting up shop as the new band on the block, and will begin playing shows as early as April 9th (at Brewstirs) and May 7th (at the Intersection).

[Editor's Note: look for this review in the April '10 issue of Grand Rapids' Recoil Magazine!]

Addendum: this is my 40th post!! Now go crack a frosty Oberon.