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3/7/2018, 7:10pm

Review: Common Deer's performance at Cat's Cradle Back Room was magical

Review: Common Deer's performance at Cat's Cradle Back Room was magical Buy Photos

Common Deer's Graham McLaughlin performs on Tuesday at Cat's Cradle Back Room to open the band's first United States tour.

Rebecca Lawson

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BY Allie Todd

Common Deer opened for Elliot Root Tuesday at Cat’s Cradle Back Room, creating an electrifying energy that stayed with the crowd the entire night. Elliot Root finished the show with that same overwhelming enthusiasm, making the crowd — and me — swoon. 

The self-proclaimed orchestral indie band knocked my socks off Tuesday night. I have never been to a show at Cat’s Cradle, so I didn't know what to expect. As far as the band goes, I knew what to expect even less, as I had only heard a handful of their songs when I Googled them the night before. 

It was also Common Deer's first time playing at Cat's Cradle, or any venue in the U.S. The show also kicked off their first-ever U.S. tour.

The crowd was pretty minimal 15 minutes before showtime. However, as the night went on, the atmosphere heated up. As soon as Common Deer took the stage, their radiating energy swept through the crowd. 

The biggest takeaway from their act was how the drums and guitars worked through the entire performance. During every song, the drumbeat and the guitar strums were in perfect sync with the beating of my heart. I could physically feel the notes throughout my entire body. It might have been my proximity to the stage or just the great acoustics of the Back Room, but either way, it was magical. 


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Common Deer performed their song, “Glass,” which absolutely blew me away with its lyrics, vocals and instrumentals. It was their best song, a true powerhouse bop. It amazed me to watch a couple of the band members switch between multiple instruments during the same song. The group's talent was striking. 



The audience was visibly sad to watch the opening act strike its set, but the anticipation for Elliot Root was almost palpable. By this time, the crowd had nearly tripled in size from the start of the show. With the increased numbers, plus the extremely high energy that Common Deer had just ignited, Cat’s Cradle Back Room was about to be electrified. 

Elliot Root’s first song was right on cue and perfectly matched the high energy of the room. The way the band engaged with the crowd watching their first song made this the best performance of the night.

I had also only recently discovered Elliot Root and was eager to see what it had in store – and let me tell you – it did not disappoint. The band was wonderfully put together and oozed professionalism, but also had a rocky, edgy vibe that set them apart. 

The Carrboro crowd thrived off of the music, and everyone seemed to have a wonderful night. It was amazing to see how each band interacted with its fan base a little differently.

Overall, I could not have asked for a better first concert at Cat’s Cradle Back Room.

@alliebecca

arts@dailytarheel.com


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