Indeed, The Madding Crowd plays satisfyingly from start to finish, like a classic two-sided LP in a 21st century digital format. There are a lot of things on the record that deal with the difficulties of relationships, what everyone goes through in one form or another. They are the stories of being in the madding crowd, not away from it. On stage, Nine Days unleash the full force of their youthful drive and impressive chops. They're not afraid to expand upon the recorded framework of their songs, yet the music never drifts off into aimless self-indulgence.
People respond to it immediately.
Everybody seems to understand that these are just really good songs.