Softly, Dear “Portico” EP Release Show
The Volume One Gallery
205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire, WI
7:00 PM / FREE / ALL AGES

If you’re in Eau Claire tonight, you better have a good excuse not to see Softly, Dear release their new EP.  Portico is the debut effort from the band, who formed late summer 2012.  After brewing for a while, it’s ready to breathe.

Softly, Dear is made up of Tyler Hart, Josh Frederick, Alex Adkinson, Ben Possi and Addie Strei.  Even though Addie joined after the EP was recorded, I think she’s going to be a great addition to the band. Addie’s previous work (most notably as the driving force behind Adelyn Rose) has always been top notch, and Softly, Dear is quickly climbing to the top of my list of favorite Madison bands.

Softly, Dear has a very ‘Wisconsin’ sound, and I was lucky enough to check out Portico before it’s release tonight.  The band has a pretty wide stylistic range, but Portico never falls apart because of it.  Beyond all else, it just feels like guys you’ve known forever playing tunes for you.

Check out a stream of Better Times below, the first single taken from Portico.  I’ve also included two recent press quotes in case you need any more convincing.  Don’t miss it!

Softly, Dear is a fairly recent indie-folk addition to the already rich Eau Claire music scene that loves jam sessions, exploring their stylistic range, and refining their sound. Their musical influences range from a broad variety of acts such as Miles Davis, Radiohead, and The Avett Brothers to local ones, including Laarks and Meridene. – VolumeOne.org

Better Times starts off as all good US guitar bands do. Jangly, distorted guitars backed by an angry synth and a disco beat. It’s nothing new but perfectly pleasant. If these chaps hailed from Camden this would sound a whole lot less cool. It’s indie rock by numbers until the song takes a squealing left at the lights. Banjos descend, group vocals wail, honky-tonk piano, plinks-and-plonks and suddenly we’re drunkenly swinging from the chandeliers. – GoldPaintFlakes