Concert Review: The Pillory with Jordan Thompson

Sunday, May 31st, I had the chance to see two local musicians perform at The Foundry Concert Club in Lakewood. Starting off the night right at 6:30, The Pillory took to the stage, playing with a full band live for the first time.

The Pillory consists of singer/songwriter Jimmy Wilkens. Wilkens began his musical career in 2006, shortly before starting high school. Since then, he has recorded two EPs and four full length albums, all of which are available at his bandcamp.

(pictured from right to left) Wilkens, Grimm, and
McGowan as The Pillory on May 31, 2015

With Wilkens on Sunday were Sam McGowan on bass and Adam Grimm on drums. The three together played a balanced show and proved to hold a decent amount of stage presence to get the crowd pumped.

Opening with "Get Get (Die for Me)", the trio immediately set the tone for this rocking set. A nice highlight of the set was the transition between Gentleman's Club and Not a Saint- it flowed smoother than a fresh jar of skippy.

Vocals by Wilkens and Grimm during the grungy "Elixir" blended well and held a nice balance. McGowan and Wilkens led the audience in a clap for the transition into  a cover of Nirvana's "Lounge Act".

DMF (a personal favorite) seemed to pick up the tempo and grab more of the audience's attention. "Dragonfly" slowed things down a bit more into a surprise cover closer.

Closing with a cover of Blur's "Song 2", Wilkens was able to get the crowd to join in the "woohoo"s. It was a great song to close on, showcasing the group's take on a popular tune.

My biggest critique goes to the vocals of the show. For almost the entire length of the show, it was difficult to understand what Wilkens was saying, especially with his bandmates blasting out tunes.

Overall, it was a high energy performance by three talented musicians. Keep up with The Pillory's future concerts by following him on twitter and facebook.

Appearing on the stage at 8:45 was Jordan Thompson, solo singer/songwriter, who played an acoustic set. This was only Thompson's third show, but he was already at ease on stage, talking to the crowd in between songs.

Jordan Thompson at The Foundry Concert Club

Thompson, still a new musician, alternated between covers and originals for his set. Opening with "Northern Downpour" by Panic! At The Disco, Thompson made his pop/alt influences clear.

Though he played a cover heavy set, Thompson was able to show the audience his talent through his unique take on each song. No cover was identical to the original artists', showing off his individuality.

His originals, though short, showed promise for the future of his musical career. With a smooth quality to his voice, I am eager to see what he will do next musically.

Thompson's closing number was played on ukulele, a combination of "Can't Help Falling In Love With You" that transitioned straight into " House of Gold" by Twenty One Pilots- a common combination lead singer Tyler Joseph does during his shows.

Overall, Thompson's third show proved a success. Keep up with Jordan Thompson on facebook and soundcloud.