Spirit Animal is an up and coming rock band from Brooklyn, New York. The band consists of Steve Cooper (vocals), Cal Stamp (guitar), Paul Michel (bass), and Ronen Evron (drums). This band has been tearing up the indie rock scene, and their big break is just around the corner. I’m here to tell you five reasons why Spirit Animal should be your new favorite band.
1. The Music
Of course, whenever we talk about bands, the top thing to consider is the music. Cooper, Stamp, Michel and Evron come from very diverse musical backgrounds, and their diverse influences are evident in their sound. The band flawlessly blends rock, pop and funk into every one of their songs. The band’s debut album, “Born Yesterday,” is an 11 track collection of hit after hit, that’s perfect for dancing to or hyping you up at the gym. My personal favorite song is “Big Bad Road Dog,” a song about the ups and downs of touring. With heavy baselines and strong drums, the song is one you can feel in your chest.
2. The Live Shows
Once you decide you like a band, the obvious next step is going to see them live, and this band never disappoints. Seeing Spirit Animal perform live, while they were opening for The Struts, was actually my first introduction to them, and I have been hooked ever since. The band always starts the show by promising to play only easy songs, and then they help teach the lyrics to the crowd so they can sing along. A power packed song “The Truth,” is how the band kicks off each show, and they don’t slow down until they leave the stage.
3. Fan Interaction
Speaking of leaving the stage, few bands spend as much time interacting with their fans as Spirit Animal. Before every show, and as soon as they leave the stage every night, Cooper is back at the band’s merch table, and the rest of the band usually makes their way back to the table to meet fans at some point during the evening. The band is also incredibly active on social media, always responding to fan shout-outs on Twitter and Instagram, and frequently going live on Facebook to take fan questions. At the end of 2018, Cooper even made mini personalized playlists for any fan who wanted to learn about some new artists from him.
4. They Tour With Other Amazing Bands
The first time I saw Spirit Animal, they were touring with one of my very favorite bands, The Struts. In the past, they have performed with acts such as Fitz and the Tantrums, Biffy Clearo and Red Sun Rising. The band is currently on tour with Dorothy. At their show in Philadelphia, which I was able to attend, Dorothy and Spirit Animal were joined by a Canadian rock band called The Damn Truth, who absolutely rocked their set. If you decide to see Spirit Animal live, it is certain that you will also be finding other awesome bands to add to your playlists.
5. The Fans will become your new “BST FRNDS”
Some bands have fan bases that can be hard to join. I mean, Twenty One Pilots’ fans literally call themselves “The Clique.” That kind of thing can be intimidating, but Spirit Animal’s fans, dubbed “Spanimals,” are one of the most welcoming fan bases I’ve ever experienced. They don’t care how long you’ve been a fan. They just want you to love Spirit Animal as much as they do. At the Philadelphia show, fans from across the country met up for what they called “the First Annual Spanimals National Conference.” Fans came with stickers and bracelets to share with each other, and they passed out lighters for everyone to raise during the last minute of “Survival,” Stamp’s favorite song. The moment was magical for both the fans and the band, and Michel even said that the moment nearly brought a tear to his eye. The fans of this band will welcome you with open arms and make you feel like a part of the family.
This band has brought so many people together, and their music is some of the most fun music out there right now. Forget the same old Top 40, and check out Spirit Animal. I promise you won’t be disappointed!