As we’ve noted numerous times, the local music scene that dwells in Columbus and throughout Central Ohio is vibrant, eclectic and filled with very good bands. Whatever your personal taste in music may be, there is sure to be an artist, band or sound that speaks to you.

Lily in the Weeds is most certainly one of those bands. They incorporate the blues, psychedelia and more into their unique sound. Comprised of Alex Burnsides (vocals), Michael Furman (guitar), Andy Bailey (bass) and Matt Bailey (drums), they raise goosebumps with their bluesy voodoo psych-rock sound.

I had the privilege to see them perform at the Big Room Bar in May, and to say I was mightily impressed would be an understatement.

Opening their set with Don’t Make a Scene, the funk-filled groove of the number filled the venue. Burnsides’ voice was complemented by the distorted, fuzz-filled sound of Furman’s axe. The blues beat of Ask You Twice setup the tone for the next tune, with Burnsides’ emotional yet dirty vocals pulling you in. With the Bailey bothers carrying a solid beat, Furman channeled Eric Clapton with his solo, and it was solidly on fire.

The uptempo styling of High Road carried a blues/classic rock vibe, with the vocals getting deeply emotional and filled with fire. “Back me up into a corner…” sang Burnsides, and you could feel the pain encompassed within the song.

They dug deep to pull a psychedelic groove reminiscent of the Grateful Dead circa 1968 for Brown Liquor. The song was slow and mellow, with smoldering vocals. Baba Yaga showed their depth, as the song’s ethereal, prog-rock sound washed over us with Bailey tattooing an almost train-like beat on the skins. It reminded me of Savoy Brown and Wishbone Ash in their heyday.

The chunky, funky groove of Unsatisfied was next, with dirty sounding guitar work from Furman. Then, the heartfelt vocals of Take Me Home emanated from the speakers, making you wish that Burnsides was saying this to you. The slower, dance-like tempo of the song sounded very much like we should have been at a 1950’s sock hop.

The slow and funky groove of Together for Good became a dirty grinder, as Furman let loose with a nasty solo that had the person next to me exclaiming, “Good grief!”

They closed their set with the classic rock sound of Burn the Witch, morphing into a driving groove throughout the number. Burnsides’ vocals made us feel as if we were immersed in a voodoo delta swamp of aural goodness.

This is a band you need to make time to see.

They’re releasing their new album in early August, but you can see them this Friday (June 29) at Spacebar.

Credit all images: Mitchell Multimedia

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Set List

1. Don’t Make A Scene
2. Ask You Twice
3. High Road
4. Brown Liquor
5. Baba Yaga
6. Unsatisfied
7. Take Me Home
8. Together for Good
9. Burn the Witch