The Head and the Heart – Every Shade of Blue

As The Head And The Heart walked out to a sold-out crowd to begin their first of two shows at the Sylvee in Madison Wisconsin, every corner of the stage was lit in blue hues. Opening with “Every Shade of Blue”, the title track from their latest album, as well as the title of their tour, it felt like there could not have been a more proper way to launch into the evening.

After canceling a tour at the height of the pandemic in 2020, the band spent that time and the year that followed recording an album instead. The Seattle-based indie folk sextet released their fifth album, Every Shade of Blue, on April 29, 2022 via Warner Records. Shortly after the release, the band set out on a tour spanning six months.

The Head And The Heart got their start back in 2012 after a few of the founding members had a chance meeting at an Irish pub. Since that time, they have gone on to become a band of six, putting out songs such as “Rivers and Roads” and “Lost In My Mind” that went on to be featured in hit television shows and movies, including New Girl, The Good Doctor, and Silver Linings Playbook.

The Show

The shows felt like not only a celebration but a reflection of life post-pandemic. The sextet performed a plethora of hits as well as deep cuts, intermittently telling stories about what life has held for each of them as they spent some welcomed time at home with family. Vocalist/Guitarist Jonathan Russell commented on the pandemic, noting about the song “Tiebreaker” specifically, that spending so much time at home was a big adjustment when they are typically on the road nine months out of the year. The band as a whole also spoke about their fondness for The Sylvee and Madison, stating that they played one of the very first shows at the venue, and how they have always loved walking around the town. Matt Gervais, one of the vocalists/guitarists, even noted that he and Charity Rose Thielen, his bandmate and wife, found Madison to be “idyllic” and stumbled upon a street with the same name as their recently born daughter Francis when walking with her before the show. The pair even told the crowd that they planned to head to a local pumpkin patch the following day, saying, “You’re all invited!”

Conclusion

All in all, The Head And The Heart’s two nights at The Sylvee could not have made for a more joyful, captivating time. The impressive, illustrative lighting, intricate harmonies, and earnest storytelling melded together for a beautiful experience. To stay up to date with the band’s latest news and to catch them out on tour through the end of October, check out: www.theheadandtheheart.com.

The Head and the Heart Setlists

Set List (10/3):

Every Shade of Blue
Don’t Show Your Weakness
All We Ever Knew
Rhythm and Blues
Another Story
Tiebreaker
Let’s Be Still
In The Orchard (Matt Gervais cover)
Missed Connection
Hurts (But It Goes Away)
Honeybee
Same Hurt
Ghosts
Down in the Valley
Shake

Encore:
GTFU
Virginia (Wind in the Night)
Rivers and Roads

Set List (10/4):

Every Shade of Blue
Don’t Show Your Weakness
All We Ever Knew
Paradigm
Another Story
Tiebreaker
Let’s Be Still
Lost in My Mind
Love Me Still (Live Debut-Jonathan Russell solo)
GTFU
Missed Connection
Honeybee
Same Hurt
Ghosts
Hurts (But It Goes Away)
Down in the Valley
Shake

Encore:
Shadows
Virginia (Wind in the Night)
Rivers and Roads