The Head and the Heart Celebrates 15 Years of Their Debut at Thompson’s Point in Portland, ME [Photos]

Seattle indie-folk mainstays The Head and the Heart celebrated the 15th anniversary of their beloved self-titled debut with a packed performance at Portland, Maine’s Thompson’s Point, joined by Houndmouth and regional opener Center Mid on August 2nd. It has somehow been 15 years since The Head and the Heart released their self-titled debut, introducing listeners to the soaring harmonies and earnest folk-rock sound that would eventually propel the group from Seattle coffee shops to some of the country’s largest stages. To commemorate the milestone, the band recently hit the road for a run of anniversary shows, ending their first leg with the stop on this night in Portland.

Boston-based Center Mid began the festivities as the crowd continued filtering into the venue, grabbing drinks and staking out patches of grass. Those who arrived early were rewarded with an engaging opening performance that eased the growing audience into the evening.

By the time Houndmouth took the stage, Thompson’s Point had filled considerably. The Indiana rockers’ bluesy, rough-around-the-edges sound provided a lively contrast to the polished folk music that would follow. Their loose and energetic performance felt equally suited to a crowded club or an open field beside the Fore River.

As the sun began to fully set, The Head and the Heart emerged to a roar from the assembled crowd. The stage had been decorated like a cozy living room, complete with a couch and an assortment of mismatched lamps scattered around the musicians. The band opened by performing their debut album in full and in sequence. Songs like “Ghosts,” “Down in the Valley,” and “Lost in My Mind” have remained staples of the band’s live performances, but hearing them returned to their original context together with a few thousand others felt special.

During “Lost in My Mind,” The Head and the Heart invited members of Houndmouth and Center Mid back onto the stage, along with their children, to help sing the song. The resulting crowd of musicians and families provided one of the evening’s most genuine moments, turning an already celebratory anniversary show into something resembling an end-of-tour gathering among friends.

“Rivers and Roads” predictably inspired a full-venue singalong, with Charity Rose Thielen’s voice carrying across the waterfront as thousands of fans joined her. The band completed the album with “Heaven Go Easy on Me” before returning to the living-room setup for a more intimate trio performance from the couch.

The remainder of the set moved through the following 14 years of the group’s career, pairing favourites including “All We Ever Knew,” “Another Story,” “Honeybee,” and “Missed Connection” with newer material such as “After the Setting Sun,” “Aperture,” and “Arrow.” The abbreviated second portion kept the evening moving while showing how naturally the band’s newer songs sit alongside the material that first established their sound.

As it was the final night of this leg of the tour, the band took time to thank its crew and the people who had helped bring the anniversary production to life, while noting its fondness for visiting Portland and returning to Thompson’s Point. “Shake” closed the main set before the group returned for an encore of “Glory of Music,” a fitting conclusion to an evening devoted not only to one successful album, but to everything that record allowed the band to build.

The Head and the Heart have visited Thompson’s Point several times over the years, and the waterfront venue remains an especially natural setting for their music. Against the backdrop of the water, passing planes, and a sprawling crowd singing into the night, the group’s songs felt every bit as communal as they did when they first arrived 15 years ago.

Tour Dates:

Aug 14 – OC Fair & Event Center – Costa Mesa, CA
Aug 15 – Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions – Napa, CA
Aug 16 – The Mountain Winery – Saratoga, CA
Aug 22 – Sandy Amphitheater (Ron McBride Benefit) – Sandy, UT
Sep 01 – Spectrum Center (with Brandi Carlile) – Charlotte, NC
Sep 03 – Gas South Arena (with Brandi Carlile) – Duluth, GA
Sep 05 – Dickies Arena (with Brandi Carlile) – Fort Worth, TX
Sep 06 – Moody Center (with Brandi Carlile) – Austin, TX
Sep 20 – Borderland Music Festival – East Aurora, NY
Sep 27 – Oceans Calling Festival – Ocean City, MD
Jan 07–10 – Noah Kahan’s Out of the Blue Festival – Cancún, Mexico