The Division Avenue Arts Collective (DAAC) proves to be Grand Rapids premier intimate venue for locals and others to see exactly what they were hoping for. Without the distractions of large crowds, age restrictions, alcohol and drugs, it holds up the reputation of being a place to enjoy whatever entertainment is gracing the stage. Volunteer run with completely transparent operations, The DAAC is an obvious choice for the whimsical, feel-great Michigan native story-folk act Breathe Owl Breathe. The group, consisting of Micah Middaugh (guitar, vocals), Andréa Moreno-Beals (cello, vocals) and Trevor Hobbs (percussion), combines master storytelling with uplifting musical ventures using more instruments than they can fit on the stage. This is not a band that plays their songs back to back in a rush to leave. 

Breathe Owl Breathe will take you on a journey through time and fantastical realities, engaging the audience with dialogue and laughter before playing each song. Those wishing to sit back for the ride were welcomed to sit up front as close to the stage as possible, leaving plenty of room in the back of the one hundred person venue to dance as they please. Breathe Owl Breathe captivates their audience unlike any other band. Whether you are a newcomer or an old fan, each song resonates as a masterfully woven story combining underlying themes of mature story/songwriting with childhood fantasies such as a dragon pen-pal.

Simillar to the story spinning skills, their well developed sound is on another level. Moreno-Beals' crystal clear vocals stimulate the serebellum, ranging from the lightest touch on supporting background vocals to all out microphone free opera style singing. Hobbs is a master of tasteful drumming, only playing the necessary beats to give the drive to the song but never too much. Middaugh treads the waters between lackadaisical and refined while singing his stories, providing the audience with the sense of carefree childhood bliss. This trio knows how to get under your skin and make you feel the music- and it felt good.