Girl at the Rock Shows

Friday night was another one of those nights where the sub-zero temperatures had me wanting to just stay at home but that’s not my style. The headliner of the show at The Turf Club is someone that various people have told me that I just have to see live. The best part? They’re a local band I knew nothing about. So, although a bit reluctant to go out on such a blustery and cold night, I packed up my camera, grabbed the boyfriend, and we made our way to Saint Paul to one of my favorite venues in town.

The stage was set for opening act Services and almost as soon as we got into the warmth of the cozy venue, the band started into their quick thirty-minute set. Although I was still trying to warm up to the idea of being at a show and not being cozy at home with the cats, Services wasn’t willing to give me a moment to come to terms with it all. They instantly had me hooked. The vocals in this band are truly something to be heard and experienced. They are dramatic and epic– no other way to put it. In all honesty, those words could be used to describe the instrumentation of Services as well but it was the vocals that really had me stuck in the palm of their hand. Even after sleeping on their set, I’m not sure I know how to classify this band stylistically but that’s part of their charm. Most plainly, Services is a rock band but I felt a little bit of everything in their set from punk to classic rock to indie pop. It’s a cool blend served on a silver platter that I hope to feast off of again very soon.

I sadly never had the chance to see local group Zippo Man live. There was one night that I was slated to go but then strep throat got the best of me and I had to give up the opportunity. After seeing Zippo Man under their new name Lighter Co., I feel so much regret for not sucking it up and going that night. The band took the stage dressed in suit coats, cowboy boots and one cowboy hat. It instantly had me intrigued but it was their music that had my eyes glued to the stage and my ears glued to the speakers. Although like Services this band is a bit hard to explain as far as their sound goes, I feel like saying that they are a mix between The White Stripes and Led Zeppelin is as close as I can get.

On top of Lighter Co.’s distinct and fun sound was their live show. This band brought so much energy to the stage that I instantly forgot just how cold it was outside and how I was inevitably going to have to walk back to the car and trek back home. I was so enamored by their performance that I forgot to take many notes which makes writing this article difficult. At the same time, I feel like the fact that I spent their entire set with my eyes on them rather than trying to jot down random notes says a lot. Whether you like their music or not, Lighter Co. has a show that commands your attention in a way that many local groups only dream of doing.

The third act to take the stage on Friday night was Extraterrestrials. The members of this group were all wearing jumpsuits giving them a cohesive look that seemed to seep into their sound. This band was tight and each of the songs they played seemed to lean into a different genre. A little punk-influenced track followed by a more indie-rock kind of sound, I loved that Extraterrestrials was a bit all over the place. It was much like the previous two acts while staying completely original at the same time. One of the most thrilling things about Extraterrestrials’ set was the moments where their sound reminded me a lot of The Faint. Although those moments were few and far between, I loved that this band, that I knew nothing about, was able to bring a sound that I found relatable and accessible.

Part of me wishes Extraterrestrials would have played up the “space” theme a wee bit more. Sure, they had the jumpsuits on and there were moments when electronic and other-worldly sounds leaked into their set but that was it. Don’t get me wrong, I hate campy bands that rely only on a gimmick but this band has a sound that is so perfect, I just felt that their live performance was lacking in the energy and excitement side of things. I understand that Lighter Co. had just blown the roof off The Turf Club and were absolutely a hard act to follow and I think that up against many other bands, Extraterrestrials could have held their own but, sadly, I felt they got a bit buried in the strong line-up of Friday night.

Headlining the amazing local showcase on Friday night was FènixDion. “Our hope is to ruin your Saturday!” was one of the first things the band declared to the audience. Although they were not going to ruin my Saturday with a hangover, there were definitely people in attendance that probably had a rough start to their Saturday and for good reason. If you haven’t heard FènixDion, please stop what you’re doing and give them a listen. Their sound is funk but with elements of everything from hip-hop to jazz to rock intertwined within that song. An explosive sound from a huge band is nothing new and, with seven members, of course their sound was going to be huge but it was the moments that this band showed restraint that really highlighted the talent here. The stage was crowded and the speakers could have easily been just as crowded but the musicians in this group are true musicians and respected each other, the beats, and the music. I know this is a bold thing to say but I truly think if Prince was still alive and still sneaking into local shows here and there (as he used to do), he would be a huge supporter of FènixDion.

People had told me I just had to see FènixDion live. I don’t like listening to people because, most of the time, they are wrong. But, in this case, they were right. Not only did I fall in love with FènixDion, I fell in love with three other amazing local groups. To those who say that concerts are too expensive to go to, Friday night’s show was only fifteen dollars at the door. Stop giving money to giant corporations like LiveNation where you get often heartless and over-produced performances. Go to a venue in town and check out a fully local line-up. I bet you’ll be surprised to see just how much talent is in your town.

Line Up:

Services

Lighter Co.

Extraterrestrials

FènixDion

Venue: Turf Club

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 23

Crowd Surfers- None

Stage Divers- None

Dance-ability-3 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- 0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None Witnessed

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

How Irritated I Was With The Audience – 2 out of 10

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Services – 0

Lighter Co. – 0

Exterterrestrials – 0

FènixDion – 0

Celebrity Sightings – Andy of Whiskey Rock N Roll Club MPLS; Colin Bracewell

Overall Score – 8.8 out of 10

Show on Deck — Squirrel Flower / Goon / Products Band

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