When I typically think of The Ballroom Thieves I think HUGE harmonies, throbbing and very upfront percussive arrangements that pulses the life of the song along. Its striking how they create this atmosphere, drummer Devin Mauch isn’t merely playing a drum set, there is a much deeper and thoughtful process on the majority of percussion included in their songs. I suppose why “Sea Legs” off of the bands latest record Dead Eye struck me so much is the absence of a well defined drum part up until about the 3 minute mark. 

Those harmonies, oh they are there, but the openness of the first 2/3 of the song is what really draws the listener in and that release provides an incredible amount of impact. The sprightliness with which Martin Earley picks is a cascading of notes that is evocative of the emotion that is engulfed in the lines of the song. Hope and light is what I feel in his playing, but a general sense of self awareness. As the line “these sea legs tend to ache, whenever I stay in the same place” is delivered there is a sense of the trickling guitar notes being movement, momentum to keep you from becoming complacent, perhaps. And the textures and atmosphere adding by bow slaps or creaking courtesy of Calin Peters’ cello is spooky and injects a bit of mysteriousness to the tune.

There is an undeniable energy that is infused into the songs of the Thieves. Their passion for their music bleeds from their voices and instruments with each note and you can’t help but think “this is what these three humans were made to be doing in the world”. That is again realized on this album.

Dead Eye from the Thieves is out now and they are seemingly on tour forever, so check out their tour schedule and get out and see them when they are passing through.