The Music Man: Tall Tales and Williker played all-but-casual sets at The Art Factory
January 3, 2016
When I walked into The Art Factory to see Tall Tales and Williker on Saturday, Jan. 2, I was surprised by the room’s casualness. A small art gallery in Overland Park, The Art Factory was dimly lit by a few lights and candles as a nice-sized audience sat on couches and stools and congregated in front of a small stage during the show. Tall Tales and Williker — two bands made up of local teenagers — didn’t match The Art Factory at all, as the bands played energetic sets in the relaxed venue.
Mac Walsh
Before Williker took the stage, its lead vocalist-guitarist, Mac Walsh, played a few original songs on his own. Walsh’s lighter voice sounded very well in an acoustic performance, and playing electric guitar during “For Good” allowed him to show his bluesy guitar playing.
Setlist: “Feel Good Avenue,” “Strangers,” “Chicago,” “For Good”
Alone on stage, Mac Walsh plays his guitar and sings. Walsh played a short solo set before his band, Williker, joined him onstage at The Art Factory in Overland Park on Saturday, Jan. 2.
Mac Walsh sings with a purple spotlight shining on him.
Walsh looks toward the audience as he strums an acoustic guitar and sings.
Walsh closes his eyes as he sings a note.
Walsh accompanies himself on electric guitar as he sings.
Williker
After four solo songs, the rest of Williker (formerly the Mac Walsh Trio) joined Walsh for a short set. I saw the Mac Walsh Trio open for Tall Tales at The Granada in Lawrence over the summer, and Williker’s set at The Art Factory impressed me even more now than then. The band mostly played songs off its newly released extended play, “Built Not Born,” including fantastic performances of “These Nights” and “Landlocked.”
Setlist: “Back and Forth,” “These Nights,” “Come a Little Closer” (Cage The Elephant cover), “Weighed Down,” “Landlocked,” “Level Me”
Comprising lead vocalist-guitarist Mac Walsh, guitarist Paul Freeman, bassist Tommy O’Halloran and drummer Thomas Pribyl, Williker performs at The Art Factory in Overland Park on Saturday, Jan. 2. Williker played music off its new extended play and a cover to open for Tall Tales.
Walsh sings as he plays a note on electric guitar.
O’Halloran holds his bass guitar up as he prepares to play a note.
Freeman looks at his guitar to play a note.
Williker performs for the audience at The Art Factory.
Freeman plays a note on electric guitar.
Tall Tales
This was my third time seeing Tall Tales live, after going to the release party for the band’s extended play, “It’s Just a Game,” and the aforementioned show at The Granada. Of all three, this show was the best by far. The band played with a lot of professionalism and performed some amazing new material, like “Want You Bad” and “Black Cars.” I thoroughly enjoy Tall Tales’ covers as well, and the cover of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” I heard at the show for the first time was no exception.
Setlist: “Don’t Know You,” “Want You Bad,” “Poison Crown,” “Checkers,” “True Colors,” “Suicide Saturday” (Hippo Campus cover), “Thinkin Bout You” (Frank Ocean cover), “Elevate” (St. Lucia cover), “Black Cars,” “Dear Friend”
As he looks downward, Tall Tales lead vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Jack Ingram plays a guitar chord alongside guitarist-vocalist Rylan Fisher, drummer-vocalist Andrew Hosler and O’Halloran at The Art Factory in Overland Park on Saturday, Jan. 2. Tall Tales’ headlining set included newly recorded music, music off the extended play “It’s Just a Game” and covers.
Ingram plays guitar as he sings.
Ingram closes his eyes and sings.
Ingram plays a chord on a keyboard as he sings.
Ingram and O’Halloran lead the audience in clapping during a song.
Ingram sings a note after strumming his electric guitar.
Fisher looks toward the band as he plays guitar.
Ingram looks downward while playing guitar.
Fisher and Ingram face each other as they play guitar.
Hosler prepares to hit a cymbal.
O’Halloran looks toward the audience as he plays bass guitar.
O’Halloran plays bass guitar while looking down.
Senior Justin Curto is an avid music lover whose tastes range from alternative rock to dance pop. He enjoys supporting the Kansas City music scene by listening longer to 96.5 The Buzz, rocking out to local music and seeing artists live at his favorite venues in the area.
