Filed under: Show Review | Tags: Apathetic Critic, Dan Pechacek, DSF, Local Music, Loune, Michigan, Michigan Music, Music
Tonight was just a small little show in the basement of my school, but what better way to spend a Friday night? I’ll try and keep things very short and sweet.
First was Dan Pechacek from the band DSF (myspace.com/fogontheshore). Dan played electric guitar by himself and used a variety of effect and looping pedals to create music that reminded me of a lot of Chris Bathgate. He really knew how to use his instrument to the fullest extent and created a wide variety of sounds that sounded really huge. A lot of times I’ll watch solo artists play and think they need to have a backing band, but I can’t even imagine it with Dan. His lyrics were strong and passionate and you could tell that the music was very personal. Dan was something refreshingly unique and talented and deserves your attention.
Second was Apathetic Critic (myspace.com/apatheticcritic) from Brighton, MI. They brought their blues-inspired rock show to the basement of Snyder-Phillips and played yet another strong set. They played mostly songs from their just released full length and with as much passion as I’ve seen them. They had some trouble dealing with the small PA as Avery’s guitar often drowned out his vocals, but it was still a very good set. They have found a replacement bassist in Wes Black, Avery’s older brother, and he is already fitting in just fine. They even debuted a new song, newer than the one’s on the album, which really impressed me. I felt like it was just a big blues jam that really showed off Avery’s guitar playing abilities. It really impresses me when artists are always writing new music. It shows just how much they care about what they are doing. Another great set.
And finally was local favorites Loune (myspace.com/lounemusic). I’ve heard a lot of great things about Loune as of late and I’m kind of torn as to how I feel about them. There is no doubt that they are talented, but I just feel like they are a copy of other bands from their genre. I right away thought their music sounded like I had heard it before when I hadn’t. It sounded a lot like Mason Proper with a dash of Vampire Weekend, but they hit too close to their inspiration in my eyes. Their sound was really great however and they used the space well, putting on a decent show. I’m just not quite sure what to make of them yet. Check them out for yourself.
I took some photos from the show that I’m happy with, but my Flickr account has reached capacity for the month. So, either when I get upgraded to Pro, or next month, I’ll have some more photos!
-Matt
Filed under: Show Review | Tags: A Letter to You, Audrey, Drawback to Discourse, Ender, Giraffe Attack, Local Music, Michigan, Music, Paper Wings, Tiger! Tiger!
The second half of my weekend of awesome shows brought me to the Hartland Performing Arts Center once again. Originally, The Morning Of was supposed to headline, but they had to drop due to illness in the band. The show was still a lot of fun though.
Unfortunately, I was running late and missed the first two acts, Paper Wings (myspace.com/paperwingsacoustic) and Giraffe Attack (myspace.com/giraffeattackmi), but I heard both were a lot of fun.
The first band I caught was Audrey (myspace.com/audreymichigan). Again, the band played a really great set. They had a lot more space then the last time I caught them at Mac’s Bar and it allowed them to move around a lot more. The energy was super high on everyone’s part; they are always a treat to watch. They did have a few flubs, notably Shawn having some problems with his bass, but the set was altogether solid and as always a lot of fun for both band and audience.
Next was Ender (myspace.com/endermi), one of my favorite Michigan acts and one of the ones that got me into going to shows on a regular basis. The three-piece plays surprisingly fast paced indie rock. The highlight of their show for me is always their drummer, Schyler Binkley. He has more energy and raw talent than most drummers I’ve ever seen and uses every aspect of his set, including a lot of playing on the rims. It’s very cool and very unique. I like that they have started doing more harmonizing between their bassist and guitarist which is giving their sound a really mature, dynamic sound. This band has all the talent to make it; they just need to catch a break. Be sure to check them out first chance you get.
A Letter to You (myspace.com/alettertoyou) was next. Coming off their recent EP release, the band is really riding a high right now. I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect much from this group. Everything I’ve heard told me that they were just generic pop music, but they really blew me away. They are all very talented musicians and lead singer Drew has a very strong voice, even though he said he was feeling really ill. They had some trouble with their samples, but that was largely due to the fact that they weren’t using their normal drummer as he was out of town. They still played a really great set though and did a nice job of getting the crowd into it. Definitely worth seeing again.
Then it was Drawback to Discourse, a relatively new pop punk band in the Livingston County scene. They were unfortunately without a singer as he apparently bailed on them to go out to Pennsylvania at the last minute. They didn’t have time to organize how to do the vocal parts, so instead the band just played instrumentally. They had a ton of energy and were all having a great time which helped the crowd to as well. They mixed in elements of hardcore for a more unique sound. I can’t wait to see what this band will do once they get their lineup and organization together. Stay tuned on them for sure.
And finally, Tiger! Tiger! (myspace.com/tigertiger) played a surprise set. The show they had booked apparently got canceled, so the band was added onto the bill last minute. Their set was much the same to the one they played the night before, but they didn’t have any major problems this time, so it ran much smoother. Nick also seemed to have a lot higher energy. Unfortunately, he announced this would be his last show though. Not much else to say besides another solid set from a solid band. They’re slowing down for the rest of the year as they search for a new bassist and are going to be having a lot going on in the new year, so be excited.
That’s it for this weekend. Saturday’s show had much of the same community feel as the Apathetic Critic show from the night before and it was really good to see how the scene came together this weekend. Lots of fun was had by everyone in attendance and there were good vibes abound. Everyone seems really tight in the area right now, and I’m really glad.
Lots of great bands to check out, make sure you take the time to look them up this week!
-Matt
Filed under: Show Review, Uncategorized | Tags: Apathetic Critic, Good Weather for Airstrikes, Jeff Pianki, Local Music, Michigan, Music, Ports of Aidia, Tiger! Tiger!, Underground Music
Happy belated Friday the 13th everyone! I hope you all stepped on 6 cracks, walked under 12 ladders, and spent your day walking in circles around black cats while saying Macbeth on stage. While you were making a fool of yourself, I was at the Apathetic Critic CD release party at the Annex in Brighton, MI. If your bad luck left you alive, read on to hear about the show!
First up was Ports of Aidia (myspace.com/portsofaidia). I was unaware going into the show, but apparently Ports of Aidia’s singer quit sometime between now and the last time I saw them. The band still played the show in spite of the loss however and did pretty damn well, all things considered. There was a notable drop in energy from there normal show, but splitting the songs up the way they did was actually pretty effective. The bass player is also a very good screamer, which helped. I talked to the band and they are looking for a new singer soon, wish them the best of luck with that. A very strong set from some great guys, I hope all works out for them.
By some cosmic chain of cataclysmic events, I haven’t seen Jeff Pianki (myspace.com/jeffpiankimusic) … still. I went and got food during his set. I am a failure.
Third was Good Weather for Airstrikes (myspace.com/gwfaband). They play a very cool brand of post rock influenced indie rock that sounds a bit like a blend of Explosions in the Sky and Death Cab for Cutie. Today was another great set for them and being on a big stage like the Annex was very good for them. The sound was much better than what they were used to and it helped. I did feel like they got off time a few times, but it was still very impressive. They are very passionate about their music and that really came out in their last song as guitarists Joe Hillier and James Radick both went nuts at the end of their last song. They always are a solid show, definitely check them out.
Next was Tiger! Tiger! (myspace.com/tigertiger). I recently had a conversation about how it is hard to come up with bands for Tiger! Tiger! to open for. They play such a unique sound that is so broadly influenced that I find it hard to fit them to a bill really well. In no way is this an insult though. They are another band who is quickly maturing and it’s great to see. They played mostly new songs tonight and the new songwriting is so impressively more dynamic and deep than their previousEP. I can’t wait to hear the new stuff. They played a solid set, even though both the guitarist and bassist broke a string. It did seem that bassist Nick Weigand was a little out of it tonight though; his energy was just a little low. Still, great set from a great band.
And finally, Apathetic Critic (myspace.com/apatheticcritic). I don’t even know where to begin, this was easily one of the most impressive performances I’ve seen in a long time, bar none. The band brought guitarist Avery Black’s brother onstage as a second drummer/percussionist and played their new album from front to back. And blew everyone away. The started their set by playing the first three songs in rapid succession and then slowed the throttle down to give people a chance to breathe. Those that knew the words were singing along at the top of their lungs and moving and having a great time. But when the band got to the last couple of songs, they really showed just how far they’ve come as musicians.
Before they played Vernon, Apathetic Critic announced that this would be Jeremy, the bassist’s last show. AC has been a big part of the Livingston County scene for a long time, so all were sad to see he was going. The song was very emotional for everyone, especially best friends Avery and Jeremy who came together to sing parts of the song. After that, Avery said that he was dedicating their next song to a friend of his who recently passed away. He was a Brighton High School student and good friend of many in attendance. The song was very emotional and had everyone in tears as Avery quietly played guitar and sang alone. It was an incredibly moving experience and the whole room was very connected to what was going on. They finished their set with two much more upbeat songs and left the song to resounding applause. They were asked to do an encore and played the fan favorite You Don’t Stop and invited the audience on stage to help them sing the song. The tears were all smiles at this point as everyone sang and danced in absolute bliss.
I can’t even begin to do this night justice. Shows like this are why I started this site. All the bands were friends, all the fans were friends, and during Apathetic Critic’s set, we were one big community. It was the tightest I’d seen our scene in a long long time and it was a truly magical experience. There is nothing like that feeling and it only comes around every once in a while. Thanks to Apathetic Critic for playing an incredible set and writing one of the most incredible records I’ve heard in a long time. They’re keeping this scene alive and deserve all the praise in the world. They are definitely one of the best bands in Michigan right now, and I reiterate that they are only 16 years old.
There are a few photos up on Flickr with more to come soon. Please check out all the bands listed above. And have a great day!
-Matt
Filed under: Uncategorized
Hey guys,
Just letting you know that we’re still alive over here at Save Our Scene. It’s been really busy for us and we’re trying our best to get some new content out. We really appreciate those of you who have been keeping up with us and visiting the site regularly. Please continue to do so, I promise there is more fun stuff to come!
-Matt
Filed under: Uncategorized
This weekend I checked out my first ever hip hop show, something I thought was pretty cool. I really had no idea what to expect, as I’ve never even really listened to much hip hop music, but I had a lot of fun and was really really impressed.
There were just two acts tonight. First was DJ Virus, a turntabilist from Ann Arbor. His set was very cool and very interesting. The stuff he played was mostly pretty chill, but he did some really cool trick mixing and scratching. He made a few mistakes, but he was also super impressive at moments. It was altogether really cool, I’d definitely check him out again.
And then there was Rebel Diaz (rebeldiaz.com). To be quite frank, this was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Rebel Diaz is a trio of indigenous artists that play extremely politically motivated music. The members of Rebel Diaz are revolutionaries to the truest extent of the word. They have a clear and distinct message and use their music as a weapon to get that message across. They perform to inspire change and I can really get behind that. I’m glad that music like this exists and that there are people out there trying to get this message out and do something positive with their music. There set was altogether very tight and they never missed a beat. The crowd was small, but they effectively worked the whole audience and made sure that everyone was involved and having a good time. There was a lot of crowd participation and they were often right up in people’s faces. They had problems with one of their mics cutting out, but they handled it very well and continued to play an awesome set.
Like I said, this was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. Rebel Diaz has opened up for some incredible bands like Rage Against the Machine, Public Enemy, and Dead Prez. Their music is incredible and motivated by powerful motives. Please please please check them out, they deserve all the credit and respect in the world.
I was dead center for most of the set so I got some pretty cool photos too. As always, check those out on my Flickr.
–Matt
Filed under: Album Reviews | Tags: Album Review, Apathetic Critic, Livingston County, Local Music, Michigan, Underground Music
Why yes, they are still in high school. I imagine in the coming months, many people will be asking how Avery Black, Parker Munson, and Jeremy Head, three high school students, have managed to create one of the best albums to come out of the underground Michigan music scene. Talent, determination, and a lot of hard work are clearly their secrets to success, and all the work they’ve put into Finding Home make it well worth the wait.
The album opens up softly with the sounds of Black plugging in his guitar and the trio opening the studio, but from the first riff, the album starts a journey for the listener that is all the while diverse and passionate. The first two songs are a fast paced blitz led by alternating vocals and harmonies between Munson and Black, who both have found where they fit comfortably vocally after playing together for a few years. By the third song, the band throttles back and lets Head lead the way with smooth bass grooves in “No Idea.” The disc opens with these three songs that showcase how the band can go from a happy jam session, to a raw and angry emotional trip, to a smooth and heartfelt slowdown. The band uses all of these on the rest of album, effectively mixing elements of rock, punk, indie, and blues that sounds reminiscent of bands like Manchester Orchestra, Brand New, and the Hard Lessons.
One of the highlights on the album is the second song, “Dig Your Grave,” which is probably the darkest and heaviest song on the album. Munson showcases his talent by really letting loose on the drums and pulling out all the emotion he has into him as he belts from behind his drum set. It is one of the most honest vocal performances I’ve heard in a long time. Aside from that, another track to play very close attention to is the title track, “Finding Home,” a six and half minute exploration of where home exactly is and what it means. It truly showcases just how far the band has come on a personal and music level. The lyrics show an astounding level of maturity, especially for musicians so young.
Finding Home is something that is truly remarkable. There are musicians that have been playing for years that have not been able to impress me as much as what this three-piece has put together. This album will definitely be getting a lot of plays for a long time and I hope it does for all of you. Make sure you pick it up the first chance you get. They album officially releases next Friday, 11/13, and you can get a copy with admission to their CD release show. Check out their Myspace for more information.
The Bottom Line: Buy it.
Filed under: Album Reviews | Tags: Album Reviews, Local Music, Michigan, Music
Hey guys! Thanks for checking out the site, I’m proud to say we’ve gotten a fair amount hits as of late and we’re just setting. I really want this to take off by providing you guys with new content on a regular basis. So, I want to try and start doing album reviews as well as show reviews.
Shoot me an email at SaveOurSceneMI@gmail.com and we’ll start from there. Whether it’s a new full length, an EP, or just a couple of songs you’re putting out as a demo, I’d be more than happy to review it. It’ll get your name out to more people and hopefully generate some buzz for you.
We’ve got a link to our email to your left if copy and paste isn’t your style. Hope to hear from you soon!
-Matt
Filed under: Show Review | Tags: Audrey, Chase Pagan, Elliot Street Lunatic, Local Music, Michigan, Music
I’m finally going to catch up with my show reviews. Yay!
First of all, happy November everyone. I picked a great way to start the month off as this was a fantastic show. Only three artists, but that meant fairly lengthy sets and time for me to get home and work on “homework.” Or just dick around. Anyway. Music:
Audrey (myspace.com/audreymichigan) was the first band tonight, an awesome quintet from Muskegon, MI. I’ve seen this band a few times before and they get brownie points for being some of the nicest fellas I’ve ever met. They played a much longer set than I am used to today, which was very refreshing. They opened up with older songs that I hadn’t heard before and finished with playing a bunch of songs off their just released EP. They play some really cool upbeat pop-rock that has a lot of lyrical depth, something a lot of bands in the genre can’t say. They are led by vocalist Everett Parks whose is always impressive with his range and how much he moves around on stage. He is truly a great frontman. The best thing about this band is seeing how much fun they are having on stage. The crowd at Mac’s was probably 20-25 people, but the band was still running all over the stage and singing along to their own songs. They were all smiles it was a great site to see. They played a super solid set and look poised for a big end of 2009 and early 2010 with an EP under their belt and a fine tuned live show. Keep an eye on them this year.
Next was Chase Pagan (www.myspace.com/chasepagan) from Mountain Home, AR. Chase came on stage with a guitar around his neck and a piano on the other side of the stage, but he played all the songs by himself. Some he used the piano, which had a strange almost old-Western sounding tone that reminded me of a saloon, and acoustic guitar songs that he played with a lot of reverb for a very cool, unique tone. I enjoyed his guitar playing a lot more than his piano, as I felt like the latter got repetitive and over simplified at times. He was a very talented guitar player though for the brand of folk rock that he plays. However, I felt that lyrically he was a weak songwriter on some of his songs. I felt like the songs were cheap imitations of folk classics or unoriginal, repetitive, and distant from the person he was. It just seemed like his songs didn’t really deal with anything personal or important to him, but were just songs. Consequently, I couldn’t really get into his music, and found myself just looking forward to the next band.
Wrapping up the set was Lansing locals Elliot Street Lunatic (myspace.com/elliotstreetlunaticmusic). This 4-piece plays a spacey brand of 60s inspired rock and roll. Another band that looked like they were having a great time on stage, ESL did a lot of interacting with the hometown crowd and had people singing and dancing along all through their set. They played mostly songs off their new EP as well as a cover of The Beatles’ Twist and Shout and The Pixies’ Where is My Mind? that were both a lot of fun for audience and were played very well. They didn’t try to do anything too special with them, but they were fun breaks from their original music and gave people that hadn’t heard their music a chance to sing along as well. Their set was very solid with good sound and no real mistakes and they made sure everyone had a lot of fun. Certainly another artist to watch in the coming months.
That’s it for the weekend folks. Gave you plenty to check out for self for sure! I’m going to start trying to do album reviews soon, so keep your eyes and ears out for that. Leave a comment, let me know what you think!
-Matt
Filed under: Show Review | Tags: Halloween, Koji, La Dispute, Local Music, Michigan, Music, Ports of Aidia
For Halloween this year, I decided to drive out Frankenmuth, MI for an event called Hallowfest. It was a night of music and ridiculous costumes and one of the most fun shows I’ve been to in a very long time. The crowd was much more in the Halloween spirit than those at the previous night’s show. But let’s talk music.
First up was a band called Take The City (myspace.com/takethecity). They played pretty standard pop music led by keyboards and harmonizing vocals. It reminded me a lot of Beneath the Medicine Tree-era Copeland. I felt like the music was really uninspired though. The artists didn’t seem too terribly invested in what they were singing about and it sounded too much like things I had heard before. I just felt sort of bored the whole set.
Next was the return of Koji (myspace.com/kojisaysaloha). It was a privilege to be able to see him play two nights in a row, though his set tonight was not as good as the previous night. Much of the crowd was at the back of the venue talking and enjoying the festivities while a small handful of people were up front listening intently. Koji played just as well, but he wasn’t as comfortable with the audience and did a lot less talking, which is a big part of the set for an artist like him, especially with the message he tries to spread. Still a solid set however.
Finding Clyde (myspace.com/findingclyde) came on stage next dressed as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. They started off with trouble as the guitarist couldn’t get his pedals working properly. His set up was very impressive; he had a lot on his pedal board, so I was disappointed that this wouldn’t be their typical set. The band opened with a cover of the classic Beatles song, which was a lot of fun, but I was pretty unimpressed from there. They played soft alternative rock that I just found really boring and again not very original. It put a bit of a damper on the show in my opinion, but the band looked like they were having fun all the same.
La Dispute (myspace.com/ladispute) took the stage next still dressed in their Star Wars costumes from the night before. I have never seen the band play on a stage before, so this performance was sure to be interesting. They opened again with their version of the Imperial March and started into their set with New Storms for Old Lovers from their newest album. Right away, the performance was much better than the night before. The band actually had room to play, but Jordan was still close enough to interact with the audience and sing with them as he usually does. The sound was much better than the night before and you could hear all the intricacies of their songs. This band is incredibly impressive and is easily one of the best in Michigan and this set proved that once again.
Finally, hometown heroes Ports of Aidia (myspace.com/portsofaidia) took the stage. They hail from Birch Run, just down the road from Frankenmuth, and brought with them a huge fan base. They also were in costume for in honor of the holiday and they get points for having some of the best I saw all weekend. The whole band was dressed as luchadores, including full masks and underwear outside their spandex. The costumes were no distraction from their playing though. They play a fast paced, heavy mix of metal and progressive rock full of spacey tones and weird instrumentation. They launched into their set at a blistering pace and never slowed down. They had the whole crowd singing, moving, and moshing. It was really refreshing to watch another crowd that just got along great. In the pits, if someone fell, there was a handful of people picking them up right away. It was another one of those nights that make you feel good about the scene that we’re in. Ports played a great set once again and never missed a beat. Now that they finally got their full length out, they will be turning a lot of heads in the music scene and deserve a lot of attention.
Lots of fun to be had on Halloween, hope everyone had fun and was safe. I got a few pictures from this show as well. You can once again find them on my Flickr.
-Matt
I ended up having an extensive weekend of show going, as I promised in my first post. So be prepared for an onslaught of musical knowledge as I review the weekend in the next few posts.
Friday night some friends and myself went to the PAC in my hometown. I’ve been looking forward to this show and this weekend for months as La Dispute is one of my favorite bands. But they played last, meaning we have other things to attend to first.
The first band to play was Apathetic Critic (myspace.com/apatheticcritic). They were thrown onto the bill last minute as other bands canceled due to illness, but they managed to pull together a great set, something to be expected from them. I have seen them many times over the past few years and have had a privilege of watching them grow as musicians. The three of them are some of the youngest people in any of the local bands I listen to and are easily some of the most talented. They play very simple rock and roll with a bit of blues influence, but it is beautiful in its simplicity. They are set to release a new full length album soon and played songs off of that at the show tonight and really showcased how good of songwriters they have become. Their lyrics are much more mature now and song structure has become more complex. It is great watching them play, especially in their hometown as you can tell they are having a great time on stage. Lead singer Avery Black’s brother Wes was filling in on bass as their normal bassist Jeremy couldn’t make the show on such short notice, and consequently there were flaws at times. Wes normally plays drums though, so some mistakes were certainly acceptable. Apathetic Critic played a super tight set and both Avery and drummer Parker Munson were on par both vocally and instrumentally, though I would have liked to see Avery get more creative with his guitar playing. I’ve seen him play some great improv guitar solos that showcase just how talented he is, but they were missed today. Regardless, a great set, especially given the short notice and lack of normal bassist.
Next up was Tiger! Tiger! (myspace.com/tigertiger) who also hail from Brighton, MI. Tiger! Tiger! truly embraced the Halloween spirit as each member was dressed up. The highlight was seeing guitarist Devin Kirby play dressed as Teen Wolf, complete with a full mask. They’ve been playing pretty much the same set each time I’ve seen them recently, a good mix of songs off their yet-to-be-released full length and from their EP, which was released when they first formed.Today however, they played a longer set and included a few songs I haven’t heard recently which was very refreshing. Tiger! Tiger! plays a good blend of pop and punk, though they’re newer songs have gotten heavier and showcase the influence bands like Gatsby’s American Dream and Forgive Durden have had on them extensively. They once again played a tight set, not missing a beat even in ridiculous costume. Many friends were at the show and it was great to have everyone singing along as they played. It was a very fun, fast-paced, high energy set, which is to be expected from them.
Koji (myspace.com/kojisaysaloha) was next, a change of pace for this show as he is a solo acoustic artist. Koji is one of the most interesting and enjoyable shows I’ve seen. He works very close with a group called Colormake from his hometown of Harrisburg, PA and creates a show that entails all forms of artistic expression, not just music. I’ve seen his show include person sized paintings and light boxes and his merch booth as a lemonade stand. It’s truly a unique experience every time he comes to town. Today, he had an audience of over 150 sitting on the floor of the PAC with all eyes on him. He was sick, but managed to still pull together a very strong set. The troubles he was having with his voice were only noticeable a few times. As usual, he included lots of storytelling, conversation, and audience participation in his set and he had the entire room listening to and working with him, something that is refreshing to see in a scene so often plagued by people being disrespectful and inattentive. His music is upbeat and fairly fast-paced for acoustic music and all the while the music is very uplifting and positive. This was the first time I’ve got the chance to really watch Koji, and I was thoroughly impressed. Definitely worth checking out on your own.
And finally, La Dispute (myspace.com/ladispute). I’ve seen this band countless times and have been blown away every time. Tonight, was no excuse, though it was not the best performance I’ve seen. In honor of Halloween, the band dressed up as Jedis and Siths while lead singer Jordan was dressed as Han Solo. They proceeded to open with a cover of the Imperial March down as a slow paced, sludgy breakdown that got everyone excited. As usual, the audience was taking over the stage area, giving the band little room to move around and play. They made due with what they had though and did a great job of interacting with the crowd all throughout their set. They played a few songs off of their first album and a bunch off of their newest, all at a blistering pace. Their blend of experimental, rock, and hardcore is unlike anything I’ve heard today. They have so many varied styles in their sound from Western slide guitar to riffs that fit in perfectly in songs from bands like Have Heart. Jordan’s voice was it’s usual perfection of pure emotion and energy that cannot be truly described as singing, screaming, or talking, but a blend of all three. The crowd was screaming every word and loving every minute of it. They band was incredibly tight once again, something I continue to find remarkable as they rarely have any room to play or hear what they’re doing. As always though, they didn’t disappoint.
Tonight was a very special night for music as I felt like for once the whole scene was really together in what they were trying to do. Both Koji and Jordan from La Dispute gave inspired speeches about the importance of keeping the independent music scene strong and together and about looking out for the people around you. I felt like all the bands and fans tonight really believe in that message as well, something that is hard to find. Tonight was just one of those special shows that only happen every once in a while and I wish everyone could get a taste of that. Nights like this one are why I started this site and want to stay involved with keeping my scene alive.
Just a few pictures from tonight. You can check them out on my Flickr.
-Matt
