Pistols up

Two words: Flint Eastwood. Selfdescribed as “a Spaghetti-Western cooked in the ovens of Detroit,” this outlaw-country-tinged indie-dance band is igniting a spark across the country with its powerful tunes.

The band made a stop in Lansing Friday night at the Loft. Opening acts were Tidal, Marvels, and East Lansing indie-rock band Lights and Caves.

An energetic crowd filled the Loft for the concert, which doubled as a 25th birthday celebration for MSU’s Impact 89FM. The bands played their part, providing an upbeat soundtrack for the party.

Lights and Caves brought the local fan base to the birthday celebration and delivered an all-original set list. But it was headliner Flint Eastwood that was the icing on the Impact’s birthday cake. The Detroit band made a wish, blew out the candles and served a hearty slice of rock ’n’ roll to everyone in attendance.

Regardless of Flint Eastwood’s oddball “spaghetti-western” bio, this band has a clear mission statement at its live concerts: have fun and dance (your ass off) as if no one is watching. Chances are, they’ll call you out if you’re not showing signs of having fun.

The band took the stage wearing all black, but what followed was anything but somber. The floorboards were bouncing, the clapping resonated to the rafters and the crowd came alive as Flint Eastwood delivered a scorching set of energetic dance music.

Flint Eastwood’s female lead vocalist, Jax Anderson, can be described as frantic, energetic and perhaps a bit spastic. Enticing extra crowd participation, this front-woman definitely knew how to work the concertgoers into a frenzy. The feel-good dance vibes were contagious. Unlike the flu, this was a good germ to catch.

Anderson urged the crowd to take a moment to forget about jobs, significant others, stupid bosses and any other worries, and just exist in the moment.

It was just moments after that the dance party fully commenced. Persuaded by the banter and beats, the crowd crouched low to the baseboards, then bounced up and down with finger guns in the air in Flint Eastwood’s signature “pistols up” gesture.

After a 40-minute set by the fiery foursome, the band returned to the stage for a rambunctious encore, a gritty song reminiscent of the Beatles’ classic “Helter Skelter.”

Despite the low lighting of the Loft and cold temperatures outside, Flint Eastwood managed to ignite Lansing’s flame.

Flint Eastwood returns to The Loft this summer with Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness and X Ambassadors on June 23. Tickets are on sale now at fusionshows.com.