Tall Heights bares their soul in the first stop of their “Softly Softly” album release tour at the Thunderbird.

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Wednesday night saw the opening night of Tall Heights’ Softly Softly tour at the Thunderbird Cafe. The show was opened by Dug, a folk duo based in Dublin Ireland. Although only having been a band for around one year, Dug’s sound had the crowd tapping their toes and moving to the music. Their sound, a blend of traditional Irish and American folk, was made all the richer by members Jonny Pickett and Lorkin O’Reilly accompanying themselves with a harmonium on the floor and bells strapped to their feet. Despite being a new band, Dug has clearly had plenty of experience in the music business, entertaining the crowd with stories and a song about the best and worst concert promoters (the Thunderbird, they said, is one of the best so far). After their set, O’Reilly and Pickett greeted fans and sold their hand-dyed Dug t-shirts and stickers. After the enthusiastic reception for their first show, I suspect they’ll need to dye another batch soon.

The main event was the return of Tall Heights to Pittsburgh. Also a folk duo, primarily playing cello and an acoustic guitar, Paul Wright and Tim Harrington played a stripped-down set without frills or fanfare. Wright and Harrington let the music and stories shine, and it paid off in a big way. The music was calm and quiet, reaching directly to the hearts of audience members.

The show also featured the live debut of a number of songs from the new album “Softly Softly.” Despite their claims of minimal practice and nerves playing the new music, their sound was clean and rich, and the vocals a beautiful harmony. It may be 15 years of making music together, it may be shaking off the dust of a break in touring, but the night was a showcase of storytelling and the emotions of the human experience. From the evolution of love with a long-term partner to the loss of loved ones and frustration with the current political climate, this show was more of a collective cathartic experience that reminded the crowd not of what makes us different, but how we are all alike.

The Softly Softly tour continues through January, with Dug providing support through all November tour dates.

​Review/Photo By: Aarika MacIntyre