Oliver Hazard lights up The Wharf (with lots of tiny lamps)

If garage rock and folk revival had a baby, it would probably be Oliver Hazard.

For their second-to-last show on the"Wild Eyed Tour," indie-folk band Oliver Hazard made a stop at Washington D.C.'s Union Stage this past Thursday, October 24.

Double bassist and inventor Scott Mulvahill kicked off the show with an unorthodox pairing of the standing bass and raw vocals. Each of his opening songs revealed more of Mulvahill's creative spirit, before unveiling a musical contraption of his own creation, which he dubbed the "databass."

As the headlining trio strolled onto the stage, Oliver Hazard felt right at home and looked like they were ready for a casual jam session. The stage was scattered with small lamps, paying homage to the band’s "Living Room Tour," during which the indie-folk band played in over 60 living rooms across the United States. With the audience being only arm's length away, the scene resembled more of a friend’s gathering than a concert venue, creating an intimate atmosphere where every lyric felt personal.

Playing both old tracks and new singles, the crowd of Capitol Hill millennials sang along to songs like “Hey Louise,” “Oh Mama Won’t You Write Me,” and, of course, “Wild Eyed Blue,” that talk about love, longing, and the ups and downs of relationships, capturing the feelings of nostalgia and the everyday struggles of connecting with others.

Oliver Hazard has a refreshing sense of vulnerability with their fans. Deadpanned anecdotes from lead singer and guitarist Michael Belazis (no, his name isn't Oliver) revealed charming stories about how the band and their misfit instruments came to be—a four-string guitar (since Belazis originally didn't know how to play six) and a homemade kick drum (a vintage suitcase that "sounded the best" when they tapped it in the thrift store).

In that same style, Belazis admitted they were still figuring out the whole "encore thing," since they've seldom been on a big enough stage to ya' know, get off.

Their first of three encore songs debuted their week-old single, "The Morning," to which fans already knew the words. The heartfelt lyrics show the all-too-human uncertainty that comes with love and trust. And while the morning can bring change, it seems DCers were happy to have spent the night in the home-y atmosphere of Oliver Hazard.

Scott Mulvahill came back for a surprise appearance (on a smaller instrument this time) during "Bloodhound Blues," before the band closed out with signature hit, "Dandelion."

As fans left cheering for more, Oliver Hazard promised to keep coming back as long as they do. As the band continues to churn out new releases, their wholesome, down-to-earth artistry will undoubtedly continue to spread for years to come.

Setlist