Hovvdy - St. Patricks Sweetness

Picture this: official St.Patrick's night on a Monday, after the first of many sunny springtime weekends in Montreal. Everyone came alive these past few days, eagerly crawling out of our winter cocoons. Spring welcomed us back with the classic Irish cheer they speak of, and this energy was palpable as ever outside of Bar le Ritz, a reliable spot for weekday shows. The crowd was a melange of people, loud with conversation after a seemingly long day of celebration. Impatiently watching the band set up, it felt as if a song was being communally held in. 

Casually, they walk onstage they, Hovvdy, indie pop/rock duo, a long way from Texas. Fronted by Charlie Martin and Will Taylor, the twang in their voice immediately catches my ear. Their humility fills the room in a comforting way as they settle on stage. Starting off with some songs from their most recent self-titled album, vibes were immediately picked up. With “Make Ya Proud”, the crowd came alive. In a brief moment of silence as they tune their guitars, Taylor says, “You gotta rock… in order to roll” followed with a laugh; it seemed to be as much of a surprise to him as it was to us. 

Along with the energy, the music was just really a wonderful listen. I think there’s something about hearing it live, but their country roots were really distinct. The guitar riffs and classic melodies felt as if they held decades of delight behind them. The piano was especially notable; it felt like the heart of the songs. Hovvdy manages to feel simultaneously generational and innovative, heard especially in “Bubba” as Martin puts down the guitar for a moment and meets the microphone head on. Playing with voice distortion, while subtle, it felt almost ballad-like; the haziness allowed for another level of vulnerability to come through. Many moments basking in this fresh sound and all of a sudden the percussion shakers come back in. I really noticed their versatility - keen ability in combining different aspects of genres in such an artful way. This same sense was felt watching Martin and Taylor as the charming duo they are. Their synergy on stage was seamless; as they switched back and forth from main vocals, harmonies and adlibs, you could hardly tell when one began and the other stopped. With the drawn-out and echoed vocals reciting heartfelt lyrics, I can only really describe it as sweetness. I only built as the night carried on; Martin motions back as we sing along, smiling with some especially eager fans in the crowd. As they played their hit song and album title “True Love”, the repetition of the line; ‘do you believe what I say, that I’m the man I say I am?’, reverberated throughout the room. As many of their songs are, this one was especially romantic, sincere and effortless. 

I found myself transported to what I imagine a small southern town to be like. Reflecting on memories that weren't my own, I felt elusively nostalgic. Chatting with fellow showgoers later that night, it is agreed that that is the magic of this duo. They have such a distinctive emotional effect that was felt even more viscerally that night. From their candid lyrics and instrumental story building to the chemistry with each other and the surrounding space, Hovvdy’s creation and sharing of music is, to put it simply, loaded with love. 

Closing out the night with “A Little”, the album closer felt only right and made even more perfect with the extended instrumental finish, one last touch of melodies, leaving us uplifted. Since then,

as the cold eases up, I’ve found that music follows foot. There is lightness in the air and in my headphones, particularly with their most recent release with Runo Plum, “Shooting Star”.