One of Charleston's most enduring bands, The Specs, made their triumphant return to the Tin Roof last week in front of an enthusiastically packed house.
Blending the effects-laden, progressive sound of their earlier days with the more straight-forward indie songs of recent years, The Specs captivated the crowd from the first notes of their opening tune, "Spirits". Singer Eric Galloway sat behind the keyboard, wearing an unassuming, plain white t-shirt and a meek grin on his face, only to unleash one of the boldest and most controlled voices that I've heard in this town.
"Lights will fade into the darkness / where your soul will escape out of your eyelids," he sang, veins crowding his neck and sweat soaking through his shirt. He seemed almost possessed by the music, and rightly so.
The veteran musicians that make up The Specs work with a range of dynamics that is often lost on less experienced bands, gliding from gentle to crashing all within one beat of a measure. Shawn Krauss navigates the drum kit like a true professional, adding texture to each song with his steady tempo and tactful fills, yet knowing when to drop back and let the carefully crafted tunes speak for themselves. Guitarist Steve Tirozzi has a cache of effects that he used throughout the set, allowing him to move fluidly from the finger pickings of "Those Eyes" to the more cathartic sounds needed for songs such as "Infinity", while bass player Brett Nash - the newest member of the band, but by no means a newcomer to Charleston's music community - was the constant of the night, guiding each song with his even pace and creamy tone.
The rich vocal harmonies provided by Tirozzi and Nash cast a nostalgic veil over The Specs' lush sound, which only felt appropriate for a band that has sustained itself for more than a decade in the often fickle and sometimes turbulent Charleston musical climate. It was exciting to experience a band whose members are visibly moved by the music that they create together, and who still clearly enjoy playing with one another. And while Galloway, Krauss, Tirozzi and Nash have become increasingly busy with multiple other projects, work, and that little thing called life, The Specs are working on a new record and have earned their place as a fixture among Charleston's musical fabric, and should serve as the lodestar for which up and coming bands can learn.
Once upon a time, John Lennon said that "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." Sometimes, it appears, heartfelt music and an enduring legacy happen, as well.
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