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All Photos By Evan Dennis (@evan.c.dennis)
Aurora's Hope
Sweet Spine
All Photos By Brooklyn Tardona (@backstagewithbrooklyn)
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Photos by Brooklyn Tardona (@backstagewithbrooklyn)
Loud, powerful, and nostalgic---sayurblaires mix dreamy, fizzy guitar soundscapes with a raw and emotional vocal delivery, satiating both fans of emo and shoegaze alike. Amidst blue and violet light, I quickly became absorbed in the band's set, pulled in by the sheer pathos and raw spirit of frontwoman Blaire Fullagar's vocals, coupled with the band's poignant and wistful acoustic environment. At times honest, sharp and hard-hitting, at others, mesmeric and lulling- sayurblaires sets itself apart in its versatility and authenticity. I can't wait to see more of this band.
Instrumental virtuosos Brady Kennedy and Cameron Price of Cloutchaser ended their 66-day tour across the U.S. with yet another captivating and impressive performance. Syncopated in a way which at times border on the miraculous, the brothers in rock seem as though they are playing from a place of straight intuition and bliss. Price's fingers glide and flutter across guitar strings at light speed, at once synchronized with Kennedy's hard-hitting cymbal clashes and rolling drum snares which accelerate to terminal velocity and back before your very eyes- something akin to witnessing the musical equivalent of a lightning strike right.
Hailing from New York, The Women's National Hockey League played a set showcasing their melodic and versatile sound. While the beginning half of the set sported a sort of 90's folk-indie feel, keyboard riffs and injunctions accompanied by funky beat and guitar reminded me of The Cardigans album, First Band on The Moon. Showcasing a voice that was at times soft, and at other times soulful, Hockey League's frontwoman delivered an emotional performance in their last song, soulfully delivering the lyrics: "Fame keeps us apart, but T.V. keeps you around".
You can check out songs from WNHL's set on Spotify, like Time and Place, a dynamic and catchy song that fans of tracks like ELO's Mr. Blue Sky are sure to enjoy, or Start Over, Again for a slower, more atmospheric and melancholic sound.
Eagerly awaiting the set of local NC riot-girl punk band, Babe Haven, the crowd quickly transitioned from a softer vibe to one lit up by energy, with fans eagerly jumping up and against each other throughout the band's set. Animated and gutsy, Babe Haven's high-powered, hard-hitting sound is always a favorite in the local scene, with animated riffs, powerhouse cymbal clashes, and engrossing vocal performances from the band's encapturing frontwoman filling up the room and keeping the crowd on their feet.
Babe Haven's latest album release, Uppercut, is available now on Spotify.
Electronic writer/producer Mia Gladstone filled Snug Harbor with a dreamy, groovy sound- fast-track, syncopated drum beats against a whimsical, city-pop-like synth and vocals that alternated between soothing and high-energy. While sporting many characteristics of Electronic, Mia's vocal style lends itself to RnB qualities, making for an interesting genre mix and sound.
You can check out Mia Gladstone's latest album, Loopy, on Spotify.
Dead Senate opened up the night with an energetic set, the crowd wasting no time in getting to moshing and rolling around on the floor. Against the background of the band's bassist electric performance, a charged tempo on beats on the drums, and knife-edge guitar riffs, frontman Mike Smith gave a supercharged vocal performance that opened up what was to be a night full of elbow bumping, stage-diving, and circle pit-ing.
Three-piece punk rock band Sweet Spine played an electrifying show, as made more than apparent by the energy that filled a crowd full of kids who wouldn't stop moving throughout their set. Catchy and funky riffs emanating from the bass and guitar combined with a high-energy performance given by the frontman/guitarist and visceral drummer.
Baltimore-punk band Consumer Culture debuted at the Milestone on Friday, playing their first-ever set in Charlotte. At a peak moment throughout their set, the vocalist invited the whole room to join in a circle pit that filled the space completely, exploding at the chorus. The band's frontman gave a guttural and charged vocal performance, along with a lively and intuitive performance of Culture's guitarist, drummer, and bassist. Given the accolade of applause at the end of their set, Culture shows the potential to be another Milestone favorite.
Rounding out a sweaty, energetic, and visceral night, Charlotte- favorite hardcore band Jiu-Jitsu closed out the show with their crowd-stirring set. The frontman's emphatic, growling vocal performance collided with the booming blast hits of the drums and a strident, die-hard sound on guitar and bass. The band even closed their set out in a spur-of-the-moment sing-along cover of Sugar, We're Going Down , the audience climbing on stage and singing along with Jitsu after enjoying a great set from the band.
*******One of the most energetic, sweaty, and fun shows I've been to in a while- this was a KILLER lineup, for sure!
Absolutely LOVED this set from The Sketch at Snug Harbor- blasting pure, authentic, good-old-fashioned punk sound, I was tapping my feet and bobbing my head to every song. Catchy, fast-paced, disorted, and loud, Sketch's rhythm and riffs have an infectious energy and “classic” punk feel that echo punk favorites like Misfits and The Clash, while retaining a bit of a more modern feel. Couldn't keep my eyes off the drummer's performance- every member of the band radiated energy and viscerality in their performance. Based in Austin, Texas, I definitely hope we'll get to see more of Sketch here in Charlotte!
I've heard Secret Shame hailed many a time as a must-see here in Charlotte, and I'm glad I finally got to catch their set in person. Let me tell you- the band's vocalist knows performance. Delivering a seriously powerful, striking, and emotional performance, Shame's vocalist combines technical talent with evocative delivery and presentation. If you want a band you can headbang and jump to, while at the same time, offering something deeper and cathartic through their art- check out Secret Shame. (Couldn't even get a picture- Shame's set had my hands full either dancing or getting absorbed in their performance!)
Was very pleasantly surprised by this show's line up consisting of everything from ambient-punk, to math-rock, to experimental. Despite the genre-distinctions in style, all three bands created beautiful, atmospheric sounding music with the nostalgic and dynamic elements beloved by ambient and math-rock fans alike. I highly recommend checking out Cuzco, Catholic's, and Pretty Baby on Spotify- I personally binge-listened to Cuzco's first album, A Medicine For Melancholy, and Catholic's EP, Guilt, that following Sunday. If you're a fan of bands like Basement, Elephant Gym, and Modern Baseball, give these bands a try!
True Lilith gave an incredibly spirited, energetic performance on Saturday at the Milestone, with a set that had everyone up on their feet and dancing, whether it be bobbing their heads or rutting up against each other in a make-shift mosh. The band played some of their most slam-dance worthy tracks like Calypso, The Tower, Graveyard of Stars, and Trash.
True Lilith showcased their impressive instrumental ability in their performance of The Tower, with an instrumental breakdown featuring mounting tempos built up by rolling snare hits accompanied by crescendo-ing, arpeggio-like guitar riffs skillfully played by frontwoman Chloe James. The group's rendition of Graveyard of Stars filled the Milestone with a haunting, melodic sound, the track's euphonic guitar riff echoing against mystical scales played on keys and a steady rhythm resonating from the bass and drums.
The band's set also featured a performance of No Exit with it's memorable spoken-word intro, drummer Jared Stone opening up the song with its emergency-center voicemail recording:"If your safety is at risk, ask me to call emergency services, or someone you trust" before promptly knocking over his mic stand as the song spirals into quick, heavy snare-hits and a cycling guitar-riff. In between songs, the band kept the audience entertained with a bit of impromptu comedy, keyboardist Anna Spurrier playing out the McDonald's beep-do-beep-do-beep sound effect in a tremolo on keys, sending bassist Clay James and drummer Jared into an impromptu drive-through monologue that had the audience cracking up.
True Lilith finished up their set with an extended rendition of Trash (my favorite True Lilith song at the moment), blasting out powerful chords on guitar and bass that were echoed by accompanying scales on keys, and a drum-heavy, upbeat, punky tempo that featured rolling-thuds and sharp snare hits. The band's performance of the song had everyone in the room jumping up and down, or even moshing at some points throughout. It was a treat getting to hear the iconic duo-ing chorus and backup vocals in the song live: frontman Chloe James' resounding "Fuck it up!"'s echoed by bassist Clay James' jokingly dissapprovingWoah, woah, woah's, a catchy chorus with a fast-beat tempo like something off of a the Garden track.
True Lilith delivered a smooth, in-synch, and impressive performance from all members, blaring out the band's vampy, acid-rock sound through the speakers that kept Milestone audience members on their feet.
(P.s.- special thanks to Jared for gifting me the band's set list, made my night! :-) )
Great Wide Nothing gave a spectacular performance at the Milestone that truly blew me away, and everyone else in the audience, for that matter. The indie-punk trio from Atlanta gave talented performances from all members, and the group's keyboardist captivated the room's attention with beautiful, classically-inspired piano solos that featured electric, rolling arpeggios and thundering, powerful scales which blended beautifully with the drummer's quick-paced, dynamic, tempo and the lead-vocalist's/guitarist's pleasing voice and coordinating guitar chords. The resulting blend of talented instrumentalism and harmonizing sound, which still maintains each members respective unique and compelling style of playing,is a sound and performance of Electric Light Orchestra proportions.
Great Wide Nothing'scombination of echoing, smoky vocals, a dynamic and powerful tempo, and mind-blowing technical skill from the band's keyboardist/pianist, creates a coordinated, well-put together sound that blends classical, experimental, electrical, and rock sensibilities. The band's vocalist possess a versatile sound as well, with the ability to switch between an echoing, powerful delivery in the style of performers like Billy Idol and others of the 80's-90's New and Punk Wave, and softer, smoother tones.
Their discography, which is on Spotify, is notably well-produced. Check out Viper for a feel of the band's unique part-rock, part- classical, part-experimental-sound they treated us at The Milestone to on Saturday, and Inheritor for a more upbeat, synthy, track that echos the style of New Order's best known tracks like Regret and Bizzare Love Triangle.
I am truly blown away by Great-Wide-Nothing's unique, well-concocted, ear-pleasing sound and versatility, and I am looking forward to discovering new favorites as I listen to Hymns for Hungry Spirits Vol. 1 and 2 this upcoming week.
Alternative rock band Physical Digital played The Milestone this Saturday, treating it's audience to a sound that blends post-hardcore, emo, noise, and punk-rock sensibilities. The band provides a wide arrange of sound within their set, with everything from up-beat, punk-y, danceable songs like In The Night, to quieter alternative tracks like Tavern. In The Night features a catchy, funky, melody from the bands' keyboardist, which blends pleasingly against the surf-rock guitar riffs and tempo in the song. I especially loved Little Tents, which reminds me of a blend of Teen Suicide and the Pixies, with it's quiet-loud-quiet shifts and vocals that echo both Black Francis's style and still incorporates what some would call the "mid-west emo" style. Talented instrumentalists on drums, guitar, and keys, you can definitely tell the group enjoys playing with each other, exchanging looks and grins throughout their set. I really appreciated the bands incorporation of keys into their sound, not only as the typical synth-sound we all know and love, but with keyboard melodies and breakdowns echoing the sound of songs off of Pencey Prep's self titled album. It's always refreshing to hear a band do something just a little bit different, and I appreciate how much the band's sound varies from song to song. This group definitely hits on all of my favorite sounds, emo-noiseish at some points (don't rope me into a debate on what emo really is) and surf-punk at others.
Against the backdrop of black and white silent film Nosferatu rock band Powder Horns blasted through their set with songs like Unlovers and The G.O.M.s. With a sound that blends post-hardcore with alternative and sometimes even surf-rock sensibilities, Powder Horns pumps out energetic, on-your-feet music that will have you jumping up and down and wanting to mosh. Mind Games and Divorcee had to be my favorites. Divorcee bursts out a high-vitality sound with recognizable punk and even surf-rock tendencies, that had me very much grieving the lack of a visible mosh throughout the song. Mind Games features catchy riffs accompanied by a chorus of "You always think too much, and you're never enough." Overall, I really enjoyed this band's sound, and would recommend any fans of bands like Thursday, Frank Iero, and Brand New to check them out.