Holy Ghost Tent Revival gets crowd dancing at Motorco

All photos by Kevin Norris

With storms rolling through the Triangle all day Wednesday, Holy Ghost Tent Revival's Duke Gardens performance was moved to Motorco Music Hall.

By the time the Greensboro band took the stage and launched into "Lovinman," the room was packed to the back. The band noted that the crowd was the largest they'd ever played for in the Triangle.

The band's energetic live show, similar to that of The Avett Brothers and Dr. Dog, blends swing and jazz with classic blues, soul and rock and roll, for a sound that connects with the masses.

Highlights of the set included "My Heart is Yours" and an amped up version of "Cardinal Directions." The latter included solos from each band member, including dual trumpet solos, one by frontman Stephen Murray.

Murray took a mic and wandered into the crowd during one song, singing directly at fans and even put his arm around one fan as he sang. It's clear that they're a band who appreciates their fans.

The band rocked on well past sunset, which they wouldn't have been able to do at the Gardens.

The band is certainly a hit in the Triangle, and they're banking on that, because they're playing three more shows in the area this summer. They'll play Wallace Plaza in Chapel Hill on July 28, the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on August 13 and the Back Porch Music Series in Durham on August 19.