Girl at the Rock Shows

I know that I only took a few days off from shows last week, but something about walking into Zhora Darling felt almost new to me. It was the same bar, the same people behind the bar, and the same person working the door into the venue side of Zhora Darling, but still, something just felt almost foreign. It’s crazy how taking just a couple of nights off from shows can make you feel like you’ve never done this before but I loved that as soon as I got that paper wristband got slapped on me, I felt at home and I was ready to experience four new-to-me-acts– bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Getting the night started off right was Alaska Jules. Instead of taking over the stage, Alaska set up on the floor just in front of the stage. There was a long, skinny table littered with electronic equipment, and next to it was a small stool with even more equipment on it. The only thing that made sense to me was the turntable, and I was instantly thrilled to see that it was playing records — real wax spinning around and around to create sound. Beyond that turntable, I have no clue what Alaska Jules was doing up there, but I know that I was absolutely and utterly captivated. The music that Alaska was making just a few feet in front of me definitely had an EDM influence to it, but I wouldn’t call it EDM. Alaska seamlessly mixed textures ranging from rock to pop, with heavy beats being the only constant. There were horns, infectious lines of nonsensical words, but at the forefront was Alaska’s impeccable way with timing. I watched as Alaska flipped switches, scratched on the record, and hit buttons in perfect synchronicity to create seamless transitions between thoughts and phrases in the music. Again, I’m sure I’m using all of the wrong words here, but that doesn’t change the fact that I was absolutely in love with Alaska Jules throughout her opening set.

Following Alaska’s set was a super funky set from Chicago-based Pretoria. I mean it when I say funky. This band’s groove was infectious and absolutely inescapable in all of the right ways. Some of the guitar tones reminded me a bit of Vampire Weekend as did some of the more whimsical lines of notes and words but, overall, Pretoria came off as just a super solid and unique indie rock band (as least that’s as plainly as I can put it without sounding completely insane when trying to describe their sound). Although I had never heard of this band before the show, a good-sized group of people had clearly been waiting for the band’s first-ever visit to Minnesota. As much fun as I was having watching the band clearly do what they love to do, I found myself watching the audience more. Something about seeing people singing and dancing along to every word from this band, which (no offense) is super tiny and unknown in the grand scheme of things, took me back to my teenage years when I didn’t care if other people around me knew a band at a concert or not. If I were in love with them, I was going to dance and sing my heart out, and that’s precisely what the crowd was doing throughout Pretoria’s set.

I honestly find it hard to believe that I had never seen local rockers Haze Gazer before last night, but after scouring my blog and some archives, I think I can positively say that Wednesday night was my first time with this band, but it certainly won’t be my last. Haze Gazer brought the edge to the night. Bassist Mia Pariseua seemed to joke about this a few songs into the set, joking with the audience by saying, “And you thought you were at an indie night!” It’s true, Haze Gazer’s sound was definitely much more abrasive and in-your-face than that of the previous two sets and the set that would close out the night, but it still fit. I think that’s due to the joy that I got to see this band display as they powered through their chaotic yet controlled songs. Although their sound was intense and sometimes even a cacophony of metallic sounds, there was something tender about this band that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I’m sure it had to do with the emotion with which each song was drenched, but it added a layer to this band that left me so satisfied and in love, yet also wanting so much more.

Closing out the Wednesday night show at Zhora Darling was Milwaukee-based Diet Lite. This band brought the vibe back down to a level indie-rock kind of mood after the insanity of Haze Gazer, but they did not let the night go out quietly. The amount of energy that this trio brought to the stage can not be put into words. They were all over the place, both physically and musically. There were moments throughout their set where I got a very garage-punk sound, and others that came with a more vintage hue behind them and an almost doo-wop kind of attitude. Regardless of what type of indie rock tone Diet Lite was giving me, they were doing it with a sense of electricity that brought a smile to my face. The guitarist and bassist of this group could not stand still, yet they never missed a beat. Something about this added that extra chutzpah to this set that I needed, as I saw the clock ticking past my bedtime (okay, it wasn’t ticking past my bedtime, but I knew I still had photos to go through, and it was getting late). Diet Lite not only brought a super fun sound to the night, but they also brought this super special energy that absolutely put them on the map for me. Milwaukee isn’t too far from here in Minneapolis, so here’s hoping they find their way over here again soon.

It felt so good to get back to Zhora Darling on Wednesday night. I know it sounds so dramatic, as it really hasn’t been that long since the last time I was there, but something about being there on Wednesday night just felt right, and it absolutely helped me get back on the horse as far as going to a show night after night is concerned.

Line Up:

Alaska Jules

Pretoria

Haze Gazer

Diet Lite

Venue: Zhora Darling

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 34

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Dance-ability- 3 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $.37

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None

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)-

Alaska Jules – 0

Pretoria – 0

Haze Gazer – 0

Diet Lite- 0

Celebrity Sightings – Anita Velveeta (for a hot second)

Overall Score – 8 out of 10

Show on Deck — Unattractive Giant Monster / Cut Rate Clones / Littleton

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