Most impressive about Schmidt and Belt is that they were both born in Wichita, Kansas, in the same hospital. They formed the band, Heffron Drive, in 2008.
They began their set with the drum-driven “Better Get To Movin’,” and they had their fans jumping along. “Thank you, thank you,” Schmidt said, who is best known from the television show and band Big Time Rush. “There we go, New York. How are you guys doing out there?” he asked.
It was followed by “Division of the Heart,” where Schmidt showcased good control over his voice, and encouraged the fans to dance along. “I like hearing you guys sing,” he said.
Following its warm reception, he said, “Alright. This is fun guys,” and Belt went on to introduce the band. “We are Heffron Drive, and we are from Los Angeles, California, from the West Coast,” Belt said.
They noted that they filmed a music video for their next song in the middle of a desert, and they delivered an infectious version of “Rain Don’t Come.” “Man. Let’s rock,” Schmidt told their Amityville audience.
“Are you guys still having fun?” Belt asked, and the response from the screaming fans was a resounding “yes.” They continued with “Happy Mistakes,” where the stage was graced in green lights.
After throwing guitar picks to the crowd, Schmidt praised his Amityville fans for being “amazing. “This is our third to last show of the tour. Thank you so much for coming out to a lot of our shows,” he said, graciously. He extended his appreciation to several fans that flew in from Brazil specifically for this concert.
Schmidt continued with the nonchalant “Art Of Moving On,” which had a laid-back vibe to it and everybody was clapping along. Belt shared that they just returned from Italy, where they played shows and they joked that they came back heavier, after indulging a lot of pizza, while poking fun at Schmidt. They went on to sing the liberating “Passing Time,” which began as a ballad and built up into an upbeat and energetic tune. They allowed their fans to let loose on this song and dance around, and the band ended it with a neat jam.
Their latest single, “Don’t Let Me Go,” had elements of electronic and pop music, and it was a versatile track. “Ladies and gentlemen. Dustin Belt on guitar,” Schmidt said, extolling his band-mate. “That was a sexy moment you guys were giving us,” they said.
After Schmidt switched guitars, Belt noted that their next song was about a country, as opposed to a country song, and they immediately broke into the catchy “It Had to Be Panama,” where Schmidt’s gentle vocals were as smooth as silk.
They picked up a pace with a “song that melts faces,” which was “One Track Mind,” which Schmidt sang with minimal melisma towards the end, as he displayed his wide vocal range.
Heffron Drive decided to continue with love songs with the spitfire “Nicotine,” and Schmidt joked that within a matter of a few songs, he had “a quarter-life crisis.” “You guys are amazing by the way. This may be our favorite show of the entire tour,” Schmidt said, and introduced their drummer, Mat, and bassist Christian.
Belt revealed that they started off as an acoustic band, and they went on to sing the highlight song of the evening, “Everything Has Changed,” where Schmidt began the opening lines a cappella. For anybody who has never heard Heffron Drive sing live, all they need to do is hear them perform this song in concert, and they will be instantly hooked on their music. The crystalline “Everything Has Changed” ought to be enjoyed for its beauty, heart-warming lyrics and simplicity.
For their encore, the duo returned to the stage, and Belt sported a new T-shirt, which illustrated his awesomeness. Schmidt went on to fulfill a fan’s request by singing “Time Wasting,” which they rocked in an acoustic fashion, as Belt sang the backing vocals. After they blew a kiss to their audience, they closed their set with their final song, the vivacious “Parallel.”
The Verdict
Overall, Kendall Schmidt and Dustin Belt gave it their all at the Revolution Bar & Music Hall in Amityville. They are two of the most underrated and hardest-working musicians out there. Kendall Schmidt shines on lead vocals, and Belt nails the lead guitar each time. They interacted extremely well with their fans, by shaking hands during their performance, throwing guitar picks and acknowledging them during their set. It is evident that Schmidt and Belt were born to entertain. One thing’s for sure. They are not in Kansas anymore. Heffron Drive is highly recommended seeing live in concert. Their show in Amityville garnered an A+ rating.
Digital Journal sat down and chatted with Heffron Drive prior to their show.
To learn more about musical duo Heffron Drive, their music and touring schedule, visit their official website.
