Still Have Courage
September 16, 2015
Courage My Love returned to Houston as a supporting act for Burn Halo’s Wolves of War tour. The band performed at Acadia Bar and Grill on Sept. 14 to a small crowd of about 20.
The set list included a mix of old and new songs. Because they were a supporting act, the stage time was only 30 minutes. The new songs were all off the upcoming album, which already has six songs finished and produced, and features songs that are a couple years old as well as brand new.
The first new song, Drowning, is one that Phoenix Arn-Horn, drummer and supporting vocalist, says is close to her emotionally.
“So it kinda just means, long story short, it’s just about mental illness and trying to not give in to those dark thoughts and just rise above it,” Arn-Horn said. “I guess some of my favorite lyrics from that song are: ‘When the water comes rushing in, it’s not easy to know if you’ll sink or swim. When the water comes rushing in, don’t let go. Don’t you know it’s much better than drowning?’”
Next was Animal Heart, a favorite by Mercedes Arn-Horn, twin sister to Phoenix and lead singer and guitarist for the band.
“That’s kind of a sexy one. It’s like, when you’re really into someone and you just wanna tear them apart. Like you love them so much you just want to tear them apart,” Mercedes said.
She particularly enjoyed the first lyrics, “I wanna tear you limb from limb just so I can touch your skin, and feel all of the places that you’ve been.”
“It like, embodies the weird jealousy you feel when you’re with someone else and you don’t know why you’re like, you don’t even want to think about the other people they’ve been with but you kind of do,” Mercedes said.
Mercedes also described the last new song, which even included vocals by bassist Brandon Lockwood.
“We don’t really have a name for it yet, we just call it “Walls”. It’s kind of a breakup song, but it’s not like, a typical breakup song. It’s more like, post breakup when you’re trying to move on, but you can’t move on. Like, you’re trying to. You’re like, rebounding, but you’re still thinking of the person.”
The band loved coming back to Houston for this their third time after Warped Tour 2014 and the Lost Causes tour.
“It’s cool. We’re never sure what to expect or how many people will come out,” Phoenix said. “It feels like a community.”
Mercedes, who also made sure to get in a “The stars at night, are big and bright” right before the night ended, had more to add.
“It’s awesome because you see sick familiar faces, and your love for the fans that are coming out just keeps growing. And the weather here’s awesome. And you have Whataburger, so that’s great.” Mercedes said.
The older songs also included We’re Not In Kansas Anymore, Kerosene, Lost Cause, Skin and Bone, and Dark Wood, Dark Water, which the twins dedicated to their dad for his birthday.
The sound quality was amazing, everything very clear and easy to hear. The lighting was also quite bright considering the venue being so dark otherwise.
The band’s upcoming album, whose title cannot be released yet, is set to come out during the first trimester in 2016, more likely late February or early March according to both Mercedes and Lockwood. The band also said that they plan on coming back after the new album is released.
