REVIEW: Dutch Interior: Live at The EARL - ATL

The LA alternative folk collective bends genres and jams for fans

Dutch Interior performing at ATL's The EARL (Photo by Magali Rivera)

Dutch Interior are a band that describe their music as “freak Americana.” I’m not sure I would have ever expected those descriptors to be paired together, but I also feel there is no better way to explain the Los Angeles-based group’s sound. Every song of theirs brings a new flavor to their discography, as each of the six members of the band contribute their own writing to the entire project’s work. This differentiation paired with a genreless approach to creating their music makes listening to Dutch Interior appealing to all. They oscillate between alternative, folk, and indie rock, all so seamlessly, and with that, they completely rocked their crowd at The EARL on November 12th.

Dutch Interior in Atlanta (Photo by Magali Rivera)

The band’s third studio record, Moneyball, was released in March of this year and is country rock beautifully balanced in both its reserve and expressiveness. During their set, they played stand-out tracks from this album including “Wood Knot,” “Canada,” and, my personal favorite, “Fourth Street.”

Dutch Interior playing a variety of different instruments (Photo by Magali Rivera)

Each song, they swapped between several singers (as there was no lead), which was refreshing and quite astonishing for that level of talent to be characteristic of one group. Along with the silky vocals from at least four of the band’s members, there was bongo hitting, maraca shaking, harmonica blowing, and guiro scraping. Dutch Interior are a true collection of seasoned singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists.

Though the majority of their set was dominated by the new record, the band also dipped into some of their older hits, much to the satisfaction of their audience. “I’ll Be Damned” off their second album, Blinded by Fame, is sonically close to a country standard with lyrics like “‘Cause I gave the word a shot / But then the devil brought me pot / And the two of us really hit it off,” echoing the sentiment of indulgence and lost faith that the title implies.

The six members of Dutch Interior all bring their own charm to the music (Photo by Magali Rivera)

Dutch Interior’s performance flowed nicely, keeping the crowd enticed with their country twang then leaning more into hum-ridden alt rock. They played “Cannibal Song” directly followed by “Oscar, Please?” to close out their set with a jammy conclusion that left everyone entranced. There was never a dull moment because as the genres bent and the singers changed, listeners were kept on their toes for what was to come. With their first record having just been released in 2021, Dutch Interior are swiftly growing their talent and audience, and they assuredly have a bright future ahead of them.

Thank you so much to Dutch Interior, their team, and The EARL for an incredible night and making this review possible!

Dutch Interior on the rise in Atlanta (Photo by Magali Rivera)

Dutch Interior's newest album Moneyball is out now via Fat Possum Records.

Article and photos by Magali Rivera. Please credit @magliriver or @art.seen.atl if reposting on social media.