Tilly and the Wall, March 19, First Unitarian Church
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| Photo | Danielle Reicherter |
I’m currently suffering from a the rare condition known as Confetti Lung, along with an acute case of Glitter Eye. These are the afflictions common to enthusiastic, prop-happy Tilly and the Wall fans. But, like a proud crowd surfer sporting multiple bruises, I consider the occasional sparkles I cough up proof of an eventful evening.
It was Philly’s Bee Team, and not the heat of the packed Church basement, that encouraged attendees to take their shirts off. Though most tend to ignore opening bands, the locals won over the crowd by convincing everyone to sing "Happy Birthday" to drummer Joe Reinhart’s over the phone, from there kept everyone’s attention with charming, Moldy Peaches-esque songs about love and vegetables.
Capgun Coup (who, like T@TW, hail from Omaha) suffered som bad sound ju-ju, making all of their keyboard-rock songs come across too loud and mishmashed. Several folks, hands clamped tightly to their ears during the set, erroneously exclaimed the band was terrible, when they would probably be adding them to their iTunes right now had their sound not been cranked to 11.
After a wait that included dozens of balloons and "Push It," "Lose Control" and (for some odd reason) Hannah Montana, Tilly finally came onstage in animal masks. Somehow, all five members, plus a temporary drummer and an additional bassist, managed to find room among the space cramped with whimsical tsotchkes like a pinwheel flamingo and a coconut pirate. Almost instantly, the audience was following orders to "let that beat control your body, baby" and dancing wildly. That’s right — not moshing, not arm flailing, not standing and bobbing their heads. Honest-to-goodness dancing. Probably because they wanted to join in with ever-smiling, ever-tap-dancing percussionist Jamie Pressnall.
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| Photo | Danielle Reicherter |
Bubbles and balloons floated along with the constant shower of confetti poppers during fan favorite "Bad Education," and "Nights of the Living Dead" is probably the happiest I’ve ever felt while screaming obscenities. Taking a breather to wipe brow sweat off with a stuffed unicorn, singer Neely Jenkins sat down with co-singer Kianna Alarid to perform "Pictures of Houses," a calmer, acoustic song accompanied by guitarist (and, sorry ladies, Jamie’s husband of two years) Derek Pressnall. Then it was Tilly’s time to get back, performing new songs from their upcoming album and ending with a personal favorite, "Sing Songs Along."
With a giraffe mask given to me by keyboardist Nick White in hand, I left the First Unitarian with a bit of a crush on Tilly and the Wall. I find myself inspired to incorporate more tutus, brightly colored ’80s leotards and golden dresses into my wardrobe, as well as vow to never again be afraid to dance at a show. That, my friends, is a testament to the power of a little band from Nebraska that’s named after a kid’s book.