JBNG showcase their impressive live sound on Live at the Biltmore, recorded in their hometown of Vancouver. The act’s alt-rock and grunge intertwining has strongly caught our ears the past year, particularly with the release of full-length Run. The project is led by Jaben John Groome, who we chatted with last month about Run, the songwriting process, and more.
Featuring a performance that spans JBNG’s Run in its original order, Live at the Biltmore is a compelling listening experience, stirring across both grungy fervency (“Barely”), hard-rocking ardor (“Out to Get You”), and emotive introspection (“It’s My Mind.”) The latter is resonating in its dynamic mix, stirring amidst both solemn guitar strums and passionate pushes of grungy. “You better run for your life!” menacing vocals let out on the subsequent “See You in Hell,” another showcase in enthused rock emotion.
One of our favorites from the album, “Brutus” feels particularly energized in live form. Crunchy guitar pulses complement ferocious vocal entries, compelling into the “left right, left right,” commencement and more hypnotic, dreamier twangs; it’s another dynamic, melodically impactful success on this standout live album from JBNG.
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“So Nice (live)”and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
