Girl at the Rock Shows

There are many words I could use to describe Sunday night at The Fine Line in Minneapolis, but the one that stayed constant throughout the three-band show was “beauty.” It wasn’t beauty in the standard sense, but if you are into music and were at the show, you were surely wholly captivated by everything happening and left emotionally exhausted due to the sheer beauty each band brought to the stage.

Getting the night started off right was Shy, Low. Hailing from Virginia, Shy,Low has a very post-metal sound to them. The biggest thing about this group that caught me was the fact that it was an instrumental act. I mean, that’s nothing new, but the fact that they had me completely stuck with my eyes glued to the stage and my ears glued to the speakers says a lot. Being a true lyrics lady, instrumental bands don’t typically significantly affect me. I know when I like the music, but beyond that, I struggle to connect to music on a deep level without lyrics. That wasn’t the case with Shy, Low. Their dynamics were epic, and their attention to detail and intricate lines of notes had me falling deeper and deeper in love with every passing track.

Although Shy, Low was new to me, and it felt like new to the rest of the quickly growing audience, they are not a new band. They have been around since 2011, but Sunday night was their first visit to Minneapolis. I’m not sure where this band has been hiding or why they have been avoiding Minneapolis like the plague, but I know that the next time they come up here (and I genuinely hope there is a next time), I will be in the front row for them. Their set impacted me in a way that words can not describe, and I am already impatiently awaiting a re-do where, instead of trying to take notes (although that failed miserably), I can just stand there and take in the beauty and power of their sound.

Following Shy, Low was the one band on the three-band line-up that I knew about– The World Is a Beautiful Place To Live and I Am Not Longer Afraid To Die. Okay, I’m not going to write that out every time as that is a lengthy name, so from here on out, I will be referring to them as “The World Is”. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let me tell you about this band. The World Is has been around since 2009, and they have never gotten quite the attention they deserve. You could call them indie, post-punk, or whatever you want- this group has a powerful sound that soothes and excites the soul. From epic instrumental breaks to soaring vocals that cast over you like a weighted blanket, this band knows how to make you feel something– anything– it doesn’t matter what you feel as you listen to their music– what matters is you feel it.

Seeing this band live will never get old, but it’s been far too long since I saw them last. The last time was back in October 2017 at the Triple Rock (RIP). Because it had been so long, I was a bit shocked as their music hit me down to my bones. Although there are moments of intensity scattered throughout their set, this band focuses more on the intricate beauty behind their sound. It makes for an atmosphere that is thick with attentiveness. What I mean here is that all of the conversations happening around me before their set seized as soon as the house lights went down and the band started their set. Instead of just beginning those conversations back up after a song or two, people remained silent as the music of The World Is seeped into the soul. It was a powerful set from an influential band that continued to drain my emotion tank but in a gorgeous way.

Although the two opening bands were great, it was apparent to see that people were most excited to see the headliner. You could see this by how people started shifting closer to the stage. Bodies replaced pockets of air, and the usual chatter turned to pure excitement about what would happen. Much like when The World Is took the stage, all conversations stopped the second German post-metal band The Ocean took the stage. I may not have known what was about to happen, but everyone around me did, and I quickly found myself lost in the anticipation.

The Ocean has been around the longest of the three bands, having formed in 2000, yet this was the first time I had heard their music. I had seen their logo around town here and there, which intrigued me, but beyond that, I had no clue what to expect. What I got was just as powerful as the first two sets while remaining completely different stylistically. Sure, I’m calling The Ocean post-metal, and I know I have used that phrase already in this post, but their sound leaned more into an almost avant-garde metal sound. It was intense and powerful but wasn’t the kind of metal where a band tries to fit as many notes as possible into one beat. Instead, this band showed a sense of restraint and elegant delicacy with every note that passed.

Part of me was expecting to see a pit open up or something to happen in the crowd, but instead, everyone around me just stood there. Although this would typically irk me as I like to watch excited crowds move the way the music makes them move, I understood the need for just standing there. It was almost overwhelming trying to see and feel everything that was happening during The Ocean’s set. Part of me wants to say that The Ocean is a musician’s band, meaning that this is the kind of music that other musicians geek out on, whether it’s the composition or the gear that band members are using but the other part of me knows that the reason for the stillness in the crowd was the sheer power with which the band hits you with through the speakers.

All three of the bands that performed on Sunday night at The Fine Line brought a sense of beauty to the stage. They also brought a sense of sheer power and talent. Long story short: my night spent with Shy, Low, The World Is, and The Ocean was the perfect way to kick off what will surely be another insanely busy week.

Line Up:

Shy, Low

The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die

The Ocean

Venue: Fine Line

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 39

Crowd Surfers- None

Stage Divers- None

Mosh-ability- 2 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 – 0 out of 10

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

Shy, Low – 0

The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die – 1

The Ocean – 0

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score –8 out of 10

Show on Deck — Squid / Water From Your Eyes

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