Girl at the Rock Shows

I’ve never thrown a birthday show before, but I’ve always wanted to. It just seems so incredible to pull together a bunch of bands that I selfishly want to see, put them in a line-up, and have people screaming happy birthday to me from the stage. Okay, that last part isn’t quite my style, which, when mixed with the daunting task of setting up a show, kills the dream a bit for me, but that doesn’t stop me from celebrating strangers’ birthdays like I did on Saturday night at Zhora Darling. I don’t personally know McKenna and didn’t meet her at the show, but I want to thank her for throwing a truly epic birthday party and letting me be a part of it.

Bouquet was supposed to open this show, but for some reason, they were unable to perform on Saturday night. It took me a hot minute to figure this out, as the band that ended up opening this show never said their name from the stage, but I found out that it was Weeklong Weekend. Honestly, the band’s name really didn’t matter because I was in love instantly. This band was the perfect blend of rage-filled angst and insane emotions. Their overall tone was a bit of a nostalgic throwback to bands like Armor for Sleep, but with an edge that leaned more into a world of bands like Letlive. Sure, I was thrown into a world of nostalgia within the first song of Weeklong Weekend, but it didn’t feel like a wash, rinse, repeat kind of band. There was something fresh and modern about this group’s sound and, when paired with the sheer amount of passion and fire that seemed to radiate from each musician on stage, I was left with a heck of an opening set. I still hope that I get to see Bouquet one of these days, but I was more than happy with this last-minute change.

Following Weeklong Weekend was Internet Dating. Their name is one that I have seen floating around lately, so I was stoked to finally be able to catch them live. Their sound didn’t quite match the intensity of what came from the opening act, but I loved that. Internet Dating’s sound leaned more into an almost singer-songwriter, chill vibe. I mean, don’t get me wrong, the emotion that this band packed into every song they played was not lost on me, and I was absolutely enamored by their overall feeling, but it was definitely a bit more low-key than I saw the night going. Their set felt like fall, which was perfect for the cooler-than-normal temperature outside. It just felt so cozy and calm, the kind of music you put on a chilly fall morning while you get yourself moving. The poetry-like lyrics were just the icing on the cake. Although I only caught a few words and phrases here and there, I can tell that this is the kind of band with words that I want to obsess over, so I can’t wait to dig into their material a bit deeper and really get lost in Internet Dating’s world.

From the super chill set from Internet Dating to the explosion that came next from Cheap Bouquet, I loved the flow of this show because it showed that this scene is not as snobby as other scenes in the country. It doesn’t matter if you’re an emo band, a punk band, metal, folk, country, whatever– good music is good music, and why should we have to limit ourselves to just one genre? I digress, but I just loved the juxtaposition that came as the mood went from the chill, fall-like morning of Internet Dating to the bombastic pop-punk vibe of Cheap Bouquet. This was not my first night spent with this local band, and it surely won’t be my last. Their songs are your typical pop-punk jams that make you want to move, but they bring a little extra chutzpah to everything they do. Some of that chutzpah comes in the form of grit, some comes from moments of tenderness and love. Regardless of what this band is giving you, they give it to you with all they have, and that’s something that will always have me sold on these local rockers.

When I saw Careful Gaze, the final band to perform on Saturday night, in February, I feared it was the end of the band. Their drummer was moving on from the band, and based on how tight the members of the group felt, I feared that they would let this loss bury them. Thankfully, that was not the case, and after a few months of not seeing this iconic local band, it was so great to see them back on a stage, doing what they were meant to do. Careful Gaze is the kind of band that is not for the faint-hearted. Their set and music will make you feel everything that you have been trying to stuff away in the blink of an eye. Their music is absolutely powerful, and the way they convey such an insane array of emotions in any given song is something that has always left me shook about this group. Add in their stunning performance that connects with fans and strangers alike, and you are left with the kind of set that will leave you feeling exhausted, emotionally drained, and oh so satisfied. I heard some familiar songs on Saturday night, but also heard at least one new one, which had me absolutely giddy. From a band that I feared was going to be done just a few months ago, Careful Gaze has come back, and they have come back with a vengeance. There is no stopping this band, and I just can’t wait to see where this ride takes them.

I feel rude for not saying happy birthday to McKenna directly. I did bark at her when her roommate asked the entire audience to (because, let’s be honest, it’s super embarrassing and awkward to have a whole room of people sing happy birthday to you), but that just doesn’t feel like it was enough, so happy birthday, McKenna! Thank you so much for throwing this rager of a birthday (and thanks to your roomie, Hales, for setting this all up and just being one of the most amazing people I’ve ever interacted with), and thank you so much for letting me be part of it!

Line Up:

Weeklong Weekend

Internet Dating

Cheap Bouquet

Careful Gaze

Venue: Zhora Darling

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 24

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 5 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- 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)-

Weeklong Weekend – 0

Internet Dating – 0

Cheap Bouquet – 1

Careful Gaze – 3

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score –7.9 out of 10

Show on Deck — Attack Attack! / Savage Hands / Versus Me

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