Photo by Layla WrencherIf you went to Syracuse in the past 5 or 6 years, you’ve probably heard of the band The February. The February was an active indie rock band made of Brady Oh, Liam Farrell, Dan Herrick, Ryan Raichilson, and our very own Liz. They were a great rock band with a warm string sound provided by Liz’s upright bass. Since graduation, the second generation of the February has fully formed into Hunters & Runners. Hunters & Runners maintains the core writing and singing duo of Oh and Farrell with drummer, Raichilson. They no longer have an upright bass, but an electric one with Zach Rubenfeld, and Oh plays a Nord keyboard on a majority of the songs. While the three out of four members might be the same as the February, they are not the same band.
On Of Classic Renown*, Hunters & Runners’ debut album, you still get the well paired team of Oh and Farrell trading vocal lines and harmonizing, but the overall style of their songs is much more eclectic then the February was. If asked to classify Hunters & Runners music in one music style, I would be hard pressed to pick one. Certainly they are a rock group, but rock is such a general term that it doesn’t do their music justice. It’s leans on the indie rock side, but one song on the album has a heavy southern rock, Allman Brothers sound (“Father’s Porsche”), while another song has an unmistakable dub reggae influence (“Baby’s Eyes”). The band plays so many different styles well, it might be nice to hear them explore one style more fully, but at the same time that’s part of the band’s unique song writing style.The band’s two singers are used to further explore their different songwriting styles. While Oh and Farrell harmonize and pair very musically together, their voices are distinctly different. Farrell has a more traditional, smooth vocal style, likely influenced by his classical vocal experience, while Oh sings with more grit. His voice is rougher around the edges, but no less engaging. They both shine on their individually focused songs, but blend like they were always meant to when they come together. My favorite that they share would probably be “The Sims.” On the song they trade versus, but come together on a beautifully harmonized chorus.As a whole the band’s sound has become very cohesive and tight, which is key when changing musical styles on almost every other song. From one song to the next you almost hear the band reinvent their sound, but it’s always fully formed, and not half-baked. The rhythm section of Rubenfeld and Raichilson, always make sure the group is centered and strong. They allow Oh and Farrell to give leave their mark, giving it their full sound.If you have an open mind when listening to music, and appreciate variety and musicianship, then you’ll be a fan of Hunters and Runners. Listening to Of Classic Renown*, is almost like listening to the progression of a well established band’s long career. It has a couple of those songs that are thought of as typical of the band’s style (“Bring Your Own,” “I Used To Be Lonely,” “Sociology,”) and then different songs that show how the group’s style and influences have evolved over the years (“Father’s Porsche,” “Baby’s Eyes,” “Soon,” “Badman”). Instead of this being a retrospective compilation of the band’s multiple albums, it’s all found on their first. It makes for an interesting idea when you think about what could come from a group like this. Will they continue to explore all types of musical genres? Or will they find more focus in the future? I’m not sure which path they will take, but that’s part of the fun. Their music keeps you guessing a bit. Keeps things fresh, and looking towards the band’s future.
*It should be said that I am friends with all members of the band. We went to college together and remain close friends today, so as much as I might like to think is an impartial opinion, this is probably not a 100% unbiased review. Never the less, this is still my opinion, biased or not, so take a listen to the album and decide for yourself.
