The Strings & Heart trio brought an
"indie Christian" worship night to Richmond, Virginia
on their "Plastic Wine Tour Part III".
4/26/26
Richmond Music Hall - Richmond, VA
By Cody Cooksey
Psalms 42:1
Christian music has proven to be more than just a singular genre. It has overtaken many subgenres, such as Anne Wilson’s country, Katy Nichole’s pop, and Hulvey’s rap. Few have conquered the indie, surf-rock aesthetic. Strings & Heart has made this genre their own, with a unique vibe of vocals, guitar riffs, and lyrics filled with Scripture. They played at the Richmond Music Hall as a part of the "Plastic Wine Tour Part III", giving the city a chance to worship the Lord in a new, potentially unheard of way.
The band, comprised of brothers Angelo (vocals), Michael (bassist), and Eric (drums) Espinosa, began in 2019, and has been on a steady rise ever since. With notable breakout hits such as “flowers dressed in blue”, as well as recognizable collaborations with Josiah Queen, the trio has made a name for themselves. The venue filled quickly with an audience of many demographics. College students, families, and adults alike were sprinkled throughout, showing that this music was reaching many. They began their set with many colorful spotlights, ranging from a sunny orange to a cool blue. “sunset silhouette” was the perfect song to draw everyone in, showcasing Angelo’s raspy vocals and catchy instrumentals.
The band made it clear that they were quite appreciative of the crowd, as they were interactive with everyone during multiple instances. One notable moment was when Angelo was trying to tune his guitar. To buy himself some time to do so, he asked the audience where they are from, which led to many shouts of random cities and states. His guitar would not tune properly, so he asked again… three times! It was a hilarious moment for everyone. Throughout the night, they also made it clear that this was a night of worship to be pointed to God and directed towards Jesus, not themselves. They led everyone in covers of worship songs, filling the room with the Holy Spirit in a way that was pure. It was wonderful to see the band give it their all, as well as give it all to God.
Towards the end of the show, Angelo shared his testimony in a raw and inviting way, which was truly a highlight. His vulnerability made it feel as though anyone in the room could be going through what he did, which showed that they too can get out of it, through Christ alone. Strings & Heart played many songs from their recent album “Plastic Wine”, including notable tracks “oasis for my soul” and “wildfire”, as well as some newer songs like “eyes on Him” and “ily anyway”, which will be included on their newly announced album coming this August. They concluded the evening with a return to the beginning with sunset silhouette. It was a wonderful evening of beach, acoustic, and indie-rock music, all provided to glorify God. We want to give a special thank you to the band for having us at the show, and we cannot wait for the next one!
