Girl at the Rock Shows

We finally made it to the end of the week. I don’t know what’s going on in the world, but this week has felt weird, and I’ve felt off. I’ve been a ball of stress and anxiety all week, and although shows have given me a slight relief, every day when I woke up, it was back to being that ball of stress. I told myself that, once I left my day job on Friday, I was going to put that all behind me. We all know that that’s easier said than done, but when you have a show featuring Amythyst Kiah and Larkin Poe to help you achieve this goal, it’s honestly not that hard to do.

First Avenue was packed as Amythyst Kiah took the stage. All the way from Johnson City, Tennessee, Amythyst Kiah instantly soothed my soul and brought a hush over the audience. Although that hush didn’t last long (by the end of the set, I found myself in the back of the club, and the chatter easily overpowered the beauty of Amythyst’s voice), the way that Amythyst caught everyone with her voice at the beginning was stunning. There’s depth and heart to her voice, but there’s also a smoothness and a slight hint of brightness that makes it feel like one of the most confusing, albeit beautiful, things you’ve ever heard. You could call her sound bluesy Americana, but that just doesn’t do it justice. Amythyst has been quoted as saying that her style is “Southern Gothic,” although I don’t have context for that quote, I can tell you that that’s the perfect description. It felt dark and had a bit of a drawl, but it was artistic, it had life behind it, and the way that Amythyst seemed to let every note and word breathe for the perfect amount of time was stunning.

I loved that, although Amythyst was all business when it came to her sound, she let the audience into her mind a bit as she explained what some of the songs were about. I was surprised as she started bringing up a few TV shows (of which I had only heard by name and know nothing about because, at the end of the day, I always choose live music over TV shows). I liked how this brought something a bit more real about this larger-than-life voice that I was hearing. It highlights the integrity and heart I was getting from her music while reminding me that creativity can come from anything and everything.

As if that wasn’t enough to give you a little insight into just how amazing of a person Amythyst was, right before she was to start her final song, something happened in the audience. Everything stopped, and she waited until the person who was having a bit of an emergency was helped out of the crowd by the venue staff. Obviously, this was the right thing to do, but it’s something that doesn’t always happen. Sets are short, and concerts are typically on tight schedules. Stopping everything for a couple of moments could mean losing your chance to play a song, but it was obvious that Amythyst didn’t care. She was more worried about this person in the audience than anything else, and that was just the cherry on top of a gorgeous set that highlighted this amazing songstress.

A lot was happening on Friday night, with a pop-up show at Memory Lanes on the other side of Minneapolis featuring The All-American Rejects. I would be lying if I said I didn’t think on bailing on this show at First Avenue to go check that out but, at the end of the day, I wanted something new and honestly just didn’t want to deal with the hassle that comes from a pop-up show from such a big and nostalgia-fueled band (among other reasons that I won’t get into). My phone was blowing up with people making sure I saw the news and wondering if I was there. I picked and chose what texts to respond to, leaving the rest for the morning. One of those I responded to was from my ride or die best friend that I don’t get to see much anymore. I explained why I wasn’t at The All-American Rejects. She didn’t push me (she knows that when I make a decision, it’s done) and asked where I was instead. I told her that I was at Larkin Poe. “I like them a lot lol I don’t think you will, but you might surprise me.” That was her response. Had I made a mistake? Was checking something new out going to turn around and bite me in the butt? Should I have just sucked it up and gone to Memory Lanes? Well, Nikita, prepare to be surprised.

I’ll be the first to admit that the music of Larkin Poe is not for me. It’s very southern and roots rock and definitely seemed to draw a much older crowd than I’m used to, but within the first song, this band, led by sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell, had me dazzled. Although their sound was not part of my regular listening, there was something about it that I instantly found comfort in. The vocals and instrumentation were smooth, but a more fiery energy came from the stage as the entire band blanketed the venue with their unique sound. I quickly caught onto lyrics that felt like home and swiftly found myself lost in the bright flower pattern of the backdrop. I don’t know what it was or if this was just what my mind and soul needed after my crap week but Larkin Poe was hitting the spot.

From an electric set to a couple of acoustic songs and back to a full electric set, Larkin Poe thrilled the audience for more than whatever the cover charge was. I loved that I got to see so many sides of this band within such a short time. I heard the more country-leaning songs juxtaposed with the more rocking ones. Although obviously, some of the slower songs got featured during the acoustic portion of the night, I loved that, even then, there was an undeniable sense of energy and joy that radiated from the stage. I also loved that, although definitely a bit more mature than I tend to go for and with an older crowd than what I’m used to, the interactions between the band and audience were not far off from what I felt on Thursday night during my trip down nostalgia lane with Mayday Parade. The way that both Rebecca and Megan would go to the very edge of the stage as if trying to get as close to the fans as they possibly could without risking missing a note or a word of their songs made my heart flutter. On top of that, five minutes before the band took the stage, a voice came over the PA urging people to text in what songs they wanted to hear. There was something about this moment that not only highlighted the attachment that this band has with their audience but also the sheer talent behind this group. With eight full-length albums, lots of EPs and other releases, there was a lot to choose from, but this band was ready for whatever the audience wanted to hear.

Larkin Poe and Amythyst Kiah were definitely a bit out of left field from what I typically listen to, but when it comes to a live performance, I don’t care what kind of music I hear. I just want to feel heart and passion because, ultimately, that’s what keeps me going through this thing called life. I got heart and passion and then some from these outstanding performers, and I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else on Friday night.

Line Up:

Amythyst Kiah

Larkin Poe

Venue: First Avenue

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 47

Crowd Surfers- None

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

Fights- None

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 1

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

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

Amythyst Kiah – 0

Larkin Poe – 0

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score – 9.1 out of 10

Show on Deck — Mallrat / Anna Shoemaker

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