DICE and Ray And Paul Turn Turf Club Into Cozy and Warm Oasis During Chilly Night
Not every show needs to be life-changing. Sure, when a show really catches you or makes you feel something immense, it's awesome, but just as awesome are those nights where everything outside feels so bleak, but inside a venue, things are warm, light, and beautiful. That was my Tuesday night at The Turf Club. It wasn't a life-changing show, but it was a beautiful one, full of amazing music and smiling faces and, honestly, on a cold, dreary day that it was here in the Twin Cities, that was exactly what I wanted.
Kicking off the chill night was the San Francisco group Ray and Paul. Formed by brothers Ray & Paul, this group felt like the California sun. Their sound was fresh and easy to listen to, bringing a sense of subtle heat to the room with the sheer talent that they and the rest of their band showcased on the intimate stage. Stylistically, there's really nothing to write home about when it comes to this band. Their sound was a simple and comfortable indie pop sound, but there was something just a bit extra about their performance. Maybe it was the heart they clearly put into each song they performed, or perhaps it was the way the small audience was eating up every single passing note and letting it show on their faces, or the way they were moving to the infectious but steady beats. Regardless, there was some sort of spark hidden within Ray and Paul's time on stage, and I was absolutely here for it.
The only other band performing on Tuesday night was DICE, an Australian-based band. I had never heard of DICE. Honestly, I had never heard of either band, and I was at this show on a whim, after getting an email from Ray & Paul's PR company asking me to come out. This really has nothing to do with the show, other than the fact that I had zero expectations as the stage was being turned over for DICE. I was just happy to be out of the cold rain that had taken over the Twin Cities and excited to spend some time with some friends and a cozy drink. That being said, as soon as DICE started playing, I left my drink at the bar and felt myself gravitating closer and closer to the stage with every note that this band put out in the air.
DICE is another one of those bands that doesn't have a life-changing sound but does have a sound that commands your attention with ease. Like Ray and Paul, their style was definitely situated in more of an indie pop kind of world, but just when I had Dice pegged as a super cute indie pop band, they hit me with a reggae-inspired love song. Just as cute, but a whole other side of this band's personality. The way they were able to free-float between personalities and genres left me stunned. Not just because I was enjoying every little tangent that their sound took me on, but because everything they did was done with a sense of precision but no lack of heart. This wasn't a band that was out on tour just to try and make money and get their name out there. Although I'm sure that was some of it, it was clear to me that DICE is one of those bands that just genuinely enjoys making music together, so that's what they were doing.
