Concert review: Colony House w/ Happy Landing | 09.18.25, Delmar Hall

Photo of Caleb Chapman of Colony House by Laura Jerele

Colony House is a total good vibe band, full of positivity, and they certainly turned Delmar Hall into one big singalong last night. It was impressive to see that from the very first song it was clear they were on a mission to connect with every single person in the room. Lead singer Caleb Chapman wasted no time: he literally jumped into the crowd right off the bat, weaving through fans while still singing like it was the most natural thing in the world. And that was just in the second song! That move set the tone for the entire night. This wasn’t going to be the kind of show (or band) with elements of holding back; they were there to meet us face to face and make the show personal and way beyond memorable!

Chapman was a total whirlwind on stage, constantly throwing his guitar around like it was an extension of himself. One moment he was holding it high in the air, the next he was back at the mic playing it.  Here to support their latest album 77, you could tell there was a ton of excitement with this being show one of the tour. They opened strong with “77” and the setlist included their songs “Looking for Some Light,” “Silhouettes,” “El Capitan,” and “Cannonballers.” The energy was a lot of fun to be a part of and things totally felt full throttle. “When I Was Younger” was one of those moments where everyone seemed to lean in, like the rest of the world melt away, but then it was right back to in your face raucous! They sprinkled in newer stuff and old favorites so smoothly and I couldn’t sense the lull that new songs sometimes induce when people don’t know them like you can catch at some shows. There certainly wasn’t a lull, and there wasn’t a ton of phones out either. It was very interesting to see how people were present, sans device in hand.

The band as a whole sounded fantastic, tight, and full of energy, but it was that connection with the audience that made the night so memorable for me. I really enjoyed seeing such a positive show with fun and generous interactions. Every song felt like it really came from the heart, and damn if everyone there didn’t sing along to almost every single word!  Colony House didn’t just play Delmar Hall, they owned it and worked the room in a way that made sure everyone there felt a part of it, which I found to be as much impressive as it was endearing.

Opening act Happy Landing has a touchpoint with family here in Saint Louis, but even beyond the fam that was in the crowd, this is very much a well-known band. So much so, that it felt more like a double bill because this band has headliner written all over them. Taking a page from The Lumineers with amazing vocals, violin, and a warm presence, this band truly impressed me with songs that are alt-folk-indie-ish. Decked out in custom flight suits (the story to the name gets this nod), they have a cool vibe check.  Don’t sleep on them when they come back through town, that’s for sure! | Laura Jerele