I first learned of Say Hi to Your Mom from a WBAR podcast, when the DJ said: “The next song is from Say Hi to Your Mom, which is hard to take seriously….but you can take their music seriously.” Since then, the “to Your Mom” has been dropped. He (Eric)/They are actually one of my favorite bands at the moment — I really haven’t been disappointed by a single song. But having seen him play live four times, I can state with confidence that his shows are proportionally better based on how many people he brings onto stage with him.

I’ve seen him four times in four different configurations. The first was at the Echo, featuring a drummer and a keyboardist. The second was at Spaceland, all by his lonesome. The third was at the Troubadour, with three additional members, including a girl that contributed vocals. And the fourth was on Friday at Spaceland again, where he only brought along a floppy-haired, cheerful drummer (presumably his occasional partner Westin Glass).

The show was opened by a socially conscious songwriter from Brooklyn, Kevin Devine. I wish I had arrived in time to see his entire set. Clad in a sweaty t-shirt, Kevin managed to elicit a terrific reception from the crowd, and deserved it. His songs built to energetic crescendos, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing him play again. (more…)