The Helio Sequence

Echoplex - June 16, 2008

Live Review and Photography by Alexis Roberts

The two-man Helio Sequence played to a surprisingly sparsely populated Echoplex. The spring saw the release of their second full length Keep Your Eyes Ahead, from Sub Pop. This album should have put them on the map and made them the band to watch for in 2008, but for some reason, it seems that they are still a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.

The fact that they are a two-man act is what makes them quite impressive to watch on stage. Granted, they have a little help from looping tracks, and laptops The Helio Sequence as a two piece do a damn good job of sounding like a 4 piece, even when you know damn well that there are only two people on stage. Less members = more harmony, it’s a fact.

They played kind of early, and opened up their set with "Lately", the folk-driven opening track from Keep Your Eyes Ahead. They also played a wide range of music from pervious albums, such as the precursor to Keep Your Eyes Ahead, Love and Distance. Judging by the reaction of the crowd the older songs seemed to be lost on them. The pace picked up and dropped off as they played older songs and then followed them up with something new like the catchy and poppy, "Can’t Say No".

Frontman Brandon Summers really doesn’t move around all too much or stray from his position (stage right), but drummer Ben Wiekel sure does go off. Despite the mostly mellow nature of the music, Wiekel hits those drums with the energy and angst of a 15 year old in a metal band.

They wrapped up their set with their single/title track, "Keep Your Eyes Ahead", which, when performed live is significantly more intense, then  finally closed with what is in my opinion the stand out song on the album, "Hallelujah". The lack of a crowd made the show perfectly intimate and an excellent way to spend a Thursday night. Normally I’d say not to fret if you missed a show but if you missed this you should be ashamed of yourself. The next time they come around and you can’t get ticket, don’t come crying to me.