The Head and The Heart performs must-see set

It was very clear that Jonathan Russell and his bandmates weren’t from around here when he exclaimed during their Austin City Limits set that it was really hot.

“That’s ‘cause you’re from Seattle!” yelled someone in the crowd behind me.

That’s probably true; as an Austinite, I have to disagree and say the cool breeze this weekend did not fall under the “really hot” category. It was more under the “nice ACL weather” category.

And The Head and The Heart’s performance fell under the “incredible show” category.

Opening up with “Cats and Dogs,” The Head and The Heart immediately captivated their ACL crowd. Without missing a beat or a note, the band performed crowd favorites including “Ghosts,” “Let’s Be Still” and “Lost In My Mind.”

Russell, Charity Rose Thielen and Josiah Johnson alternated and combined vocals throughout the set, while Thielen also played the violin and Johnson and Russell played the guitar. The band also included drummer Tyler Williams, keyboardist Kenny Hensley and bassist Chris Zasche. Six seems like almost too many people for a single band, but it’s obvious after watching them perform that The Head and The Heart’s success is truly dependent on the collaboration of all six members, leaving no room for more or less; it takes those six to get it just right.

By the time they played their second-to-last song, “Down In The Valley,” the crowd clapped along and sang clearly. The Head and The Heart are an immersive band, with a committed fanbase that knows every word to every song. This is a reflection of the success of their album as a whole, and not of just of a few popular songs.

The last song the band performed, “Rivers and Roads,” was the perfect ending to a great set. The Head and The Heart is one of those rare bands that somehow manages to sound even better in person than they do through headphones. Thielen’s vocals, which wrap up the song, were my favorite thing to witness during my entire weekend at ACL. And if I had to recommend one must-see show during ACL this year, The Head and The Heart would be it.

Watch The Head and The Heart perform Saturday on the Samsung Galaxy stage at 4:30 p.m.

Follow Lyanne on Twitter @lyannealexia