words by Pat Herrera
photos by Rina Movsisyan
Detroit’s rich music history is legendary. The Motor Town, home to Berry Gordy’ pop and soul powerhouse permeated the airwaves for years from its modest beginning in 1959, through its 60s and 70s heyday and into the 80s, Motown’s ripple effect can be heard throughout pop music today.
In 2016, much has changed in America’s musical landscape. But rock and roll, across all genres, continues to inspire today’s artist. Count Empty Houses part of the family. Possibly the best-kept secret in Detroit, the word is out! The band released their debut,Daydream, June 10 and connects to the historic past with a fresh infusion of soulful pop.
The trio consists of vocalist Ali Shea, Adam Mercer on keyboards and David Mackinder holding down the guitar work. The group is on their way to Portland for its West Coast debut June 20 at the Mission Theater.
Empty Houses formed in 2014 and has gone virtually unknown outside of the Motor Town. Despite the short time together, Shea, Mercer and Mackinder found instant chemistry and set out to create a timeless breed of feel-good music that pays homage to the famed musical past of such artists as Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves and the Vandelas, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight and the Pips. Of course, these are just few of the many great artists that contributed that established this iconic American sound.
Daydream’s lead track, “Better of Me” starts things in true 60s pop style with snappy snare drum and horns that make you what to get up and dance right out of the gate. That pop-ervescent upbeat is smartly captured on the songs “Daydream”, “Falling Away”, and album’s final track, “Thunderstorms”. Shea’s sweetly serenades on the doo-wop ballad “Lost At Sea” while shifting into the touching, expressive pop of “All I Had”.
These tightly composed pop gems are just a sprinkling of the musical brilliance that defines their debut. With all tracks clocking in at the pop tidiness of two-and-a-half to three-and-half minutes, you instantly get to relish all the qualities of Empty Houses’ homage, and original song writing. Three tracks in particular alert you that this is a band to watch, starting with the jazzy-blues ballad of “Mercy”.
Shea shows off her soulful side with this lounge number. You can almost hear the ice in cocktail glasses clinking in the background while Shea’s sultry delivery effortlessly lulls the listener into her romantic tale of sadness. Love can be complex and confusing. But when it ends, you wishfully reminisce about the regrets of a love long lost.
The contemporary groove seamlessly lingers with the easy R&B swing of “Hold Your Hand”. And much as the trio has put together a refined effort of tightly wrapped pop tunes, the richness of their bluesy endeavors radiate delightfully and have a timeless quality that makes their songwriting relevant while bridging 1966 to 2016.
The standout track, full of confidence and attitude, has to be “Rope”. Its 60s trebled-echo Telecaster twang intro will infectiously stick in your head all day. As Shea sings of challenges thrown your way, perseverance is the constant that pulls you through. When enough is enough, and there’s no more holding on, you don’t need a rope anymore.
The following track provides a stark contrast to “Rope”. It gracefully reveals the depth of Empty Houses’ range in pop compositions. The simply refined, singer-songwriter piano ballad of “Every Word” is as soulfully consoling as it is sadly bittersweet. It’s simply a timeless ballad.
You’ll have a hard time finding a debut this pop rich that is equally original as it is soulfully reminiscent. Empty Houses makes everlasting pop music in the midst of an ever changing music industry. All the more reason to experience Empty Houses live and let them take you full circle.
Doors open at 7pm, show at 8pm. Tickets are $16 advance, $20 day of show. Minors are allowed with parent or guardian. Tickets available through Etix.