Water Liars are a mystery. They’re one of the most incredibly talented, tightest bands around with three records of powerhouse songs that read like intricate Southern literature, yet they still somehow fly under the radar.
While their albums tend to be a little quieter overall than their live shows (where they rock out with loud drums and thrashing guitars), both are brilliant and worthy of a thousand times more attention than they get. Their recent Friday show in New York City was no exception, as the trio filled the Mercury Lounge for their late night set, playing songs from all their records and even a few new ones
Coming off a short tour for his new solo record This is the Life, drummer and singer Andrew Bryant played with fervor, never missing a beat on his kit. He and front man Justin Peter Kinkel-Schuster are two musical peas in a pod, playing off each other perfectly in sync. They seem as though they were meant to play music together, with their hauntingly beautiful harmonies and back and forth guitar and percussion. Along with the stoic bassist GR Robinson, they’ve created a well-rounded sound that shifts seamlessly between dark folk and loud garage rock, all with a Southern tinge.
Songs like “Swannanoa” and “Linens” were slightly sped up at this show, played more like rock songs than the quiet, vocal-centric versions on their recordings. Hailing from Mississippi, there’s always a dark, Southern gothic tone to their lyrics. The place is such an integral part of their identity as a band, and you can feel it when you hear them.
Though Kinkel-Schuster has a magnificent voice, the Water Liars’ songs reach a whole other level when Bryant joins in with his deeper backup harmonies. They sounded truly stunning this night, as always.
Kinkel-Schuster seems to have warmed up a bit, and was more talkative than usual, engaging the audience with sarcastic charm as he tuned his guitar between songs. Their fans were eager to hear specific tracks, and would shout their requests throughout the night. One in particular that seemed to be the favorite was the softer, more romantic track “Let it Breathe”, which Kinkel-Schuster finally gave into for the encore, playing it solo on his acoustic.
The best moments, though, were the louder ones, like “Cannibal”, “Fake Heat” and “Dog Eaten”, and the two newer tracks they played were intriguing, and definitely held the crowd’s attention despite being unfamiliar. Considering how great *Phantom Limb*, *Wyoming* and their self-titled latest have been, it’s exciting to know they’re working on new material. Water Liars have put out a new record once a year since 2012, so it’s probably safe to say their next one is coming in the near future.
