Girl at the Rock Shows

Happy show #100! It’s kind of crazy to think about it. There have been 134 days of the year so far, and my first show of Tuesday night was show #100. I could do the math and tell you the percentage, but honestly, that just makes me realize how insane I am. All of this is besides the point. I wanted my hundredth show of the year to be a special one, and that’s precisely what Tuesday night at the 7th Street Entry was.

Opening up the show was local songstress Bryn Battani. Bryn is one of those performers who just makes me so happy. There’s something so positive about her aura. Add her cutesy pop-leaning singer-songwriter style of music, and you are always left with a dazzling performance. Although Bryn was feeling a bit under the weather on Tuesday, that didn’t dull her shine. Her quick opening set was highlighted by her signature skits and some new ones. After just a few songs, Bryn acted like a nurse looking for a patient- Bryn Battani. It quickly became clear in this skit that this nurse was working at a therapist’s office of sorts, and then went on to explain that Bryn must have been a no-show after calling her name a few times, but nobody approached the stage. A little gimmicky, sure, and I think that Bryn’s energy was a bit low just due to being under the weather, but something about this little snippet of her set really spoke to me. Taking time for your mental health is a hard thing to do. Acknowledging that you need help is even harder. This moment of vulnerability and honesty added an extra sparkle to Bryn’s set that I hadn’t felt before, and it made me feel her music hit me with an extra bit of weight. Joined on stage by her fantastic band, Bryn’s opening set was the perfect way to kick off Tuesday night at The 7th Street Entry.

Following Bryn’s set was a quick set from Ava Levy. Music runs in Ava’s blood. Her father, Adam, is a bit of a legend in the local scene with everything he has done, but especially his work in The Honeydogs. That being said, Ava’s talent stands on its own. Ava’s style felt very 90s alternative-singer-songwriter to me, but there were moments where she replaced her voice with guitar and gave me a full-on grunge moment. These two sounds, although super contrasting, came together so perfectly throughout her set and really highlighted the versatility of Ava’s sound and talent. I feel like Ava was trapped between two worlds- one sweet and one a bit gritty- and she was able to lay both of those sides out perfectly, even with the short time she was allotted on stage. There was a simplicity to what she and her two bandmates were doing, but, like Bryn’s set and the two sets to follow, there was a depth that spoke volumes and left me completely dazzled by her set.

When did you last see or hear a good and deep pop act? I’m not talking about the crap you hear on top-40 radio. I’m talking about pop music served with a side dish of fire and washed down with an undeniable sense of passion? It’s been a hot minute for me, and that’s why Bloodline’s set felt so refreshing on Tuesday night. Although stylistically, Bloodline’s sound is so out of left field for me, I was sold on it. What started as a sibling trio has now morphed into a full-on band. Although I would love to see a more scaled-back version of Bloodline where the vocals are the sole highlight of the set, I loved the lush layers that having the entire band brought. There was definitely that classic and standard pop composition to Bloodline’s songs, but there was also this almost dream-like enchantment that came with it. The vocals of sisters Julia and Eliza Wheaton were so smooth, but, as mentioned, came with a fiery passion behind them. Whether they were playing a flawless cover or just reminding me that all pop music isn’t the devil, Bloodline quickly became a new favorite of mine.

Genevieve Heyward was the fourth and final act of Tuesday night at the 7th Street Entry. Truthfully, she was the main reason I was at this show. I had seen that local musician Cindy Lawson was urging people to check out this show. I’m not one to ignore the advice of someone as amazing and talented as Cindy Lawson, so I was super excited to see what the hype was about. Within just the first five seconds of Genevieve’s set, I understood why Cindy was pushing this show. I was stunned by the vocal power of this Wisconsin-born, Nashville-based vocalist. It reminded me a bit of the power of JoJo Green but came with this grit and slight Nashville drawl that set her apart from anyone else I had heard as of late. I know that not everybody knows JoJo Green, so let me think of a couple of other comparisons for you. I definitely get a bit of a Gayle-styled angst from Genevieve mixed with an almost Meghan Trainor-styled smoothness and a little Kesha-styled attitude. Long story short, Genevieve seems to be in her own world when it comes to trying to describe her sound, but that’s what is going to get this woman’s name in the stars in no time.

Genevieve’s set was unapologetic. Her lyrics were witty but genuine, and her stage presence was like seeing a Goddess right before you. We got to see all sides of Geneieve. We saw her sensitive side with some of her more somber-leaning songs, and then we got to see the grittier side of her with songs that came with just a bit sharper of a tongue and a bit more chutzpah. Regardless of what side she was showing, the modest but mighty crowd that had gathered had their eyes and ears glued to the stage. Genevieve and her band powered through their set like they were on a mission to turn everyone’s heads and grab everyone’s hearts. I think it’s safe to say that that mission was easily accomplished and then some.

And so ends my first one hundred shows of the year. I wish every show could hit me as hard as Tuesday night at the 7th Street Entry did, but I know that that’s just not possible. I also know that I couldn’t have picked a better show to be labeled as my hundredth one of the year. Cheers to a couple hundred more before the year is up!

Line Up:

Bryn Battani

Ava Levy

Bloodline

Genevieve Heyward

Venue: 7th Street Entry

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 28

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 0 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing Noticed

Fights- None Witnessed

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

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

Bryn Battani – 2

Ava Levy – 0

Bloodline – 0

Genevieve Heyward – 0

Celebrity Sightings – Cindy Lawson / Mark or Whiskey Rock N Roll Club and about 284 other bands

Overall Score – 8.6 out of 10

Show on Deck — bôa / Dream, Ivory

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