Crave Magazine » Content » Crave Northwest - Live Reviews - 2008

Western Aerial…Summer Crush
By Chelle Beck and Jacob Wilson

The boys of Western Aerial relentlessly trudge through the music industry with tenacity and motivation. That they absolutely love what they are doing is obvious, and the fans keep coming back for more. This summer, Western Aerial presented a brand new, 3-song CD to their fans at Dante’s in Portland, Oregon, performing the new songs to a crowded house. The new CD, dubbed Summer Crush, is yet another entertaining compilation of Western Aerial’s witty and raunchy style. The first song, “Whores and Housewives,” my favorite on the CD, will surely start some interesting conversation at the dinner table. Track three, “Saturday Night (This is Sunday Morning),” is more ballad and anthem-like than their usual stuff, but I admire the band’s willingness to slow things down and offer something different. The second track, “Long Way to Go,” touches on women and sex, emulating their well-established style and sound. The CD release show seemed more like a party than a typical rock concert. This 3-piece band goes well beyond their musical talent. Their songs have solid beats and catchy hooks, enough to get and keep the crowd dancing and singing along with lead vocalist and guitarist Geoff Metts. Metts, with his rough and unique vocal style, was entertaining in his own right, simultaneously chewing gum, strumming the guitar, and singing the lyrics with ease. Jimmy Richards, bassist, added even more than low end and rhythm. His back-up vocals, energetic stage presence, and crowd interaction were a winning ticket with the audience. Drummer Anthony Tripp also assisted with back-up vocals, on top of his powerful stage presence, and never missed a beat. To throw a little flavor into the night, the band began the show with a grand intro into “We Will Rock You!”

There is no doubt a majority of the crowd had heard Western Aerial before as they sang along. It’s the wild side of the songs that seemed to bring out the wild side in the fans, and this crew was crazy for Western Aerial. Kevin Hahn, who produced, mixed and mastered Summer Crush, joined them on stage, showing his guitar prowess and adding a great dynamic to the end of their set. Western Aerial has done what it takes to get ahead in this town, proving as their motto states, “Rock ‘n’ Roll is always in fashion.” For more information on Western Aerial check out www.westernaerial.com.