Girl at the Rock Shows

I’ve been to a lot of shows lately and have seen some truly amazing bands, but it’s been a hot minute since I’ve been to Zhora Darling, and I feel like my life has just felt a bit off because of it. Don’t get me wrong, I love every venue I step foot in, and each one feels a little bit like home, but there’s something about Zhora Darling that just feels a bit more like home than anywhere else. It’s not the bar that makes me feel like this, but it’s going through a trendy-feeling bar and finding solace in the darkened back room. It’s where the magic happens and where I feel like I can finally just breathe, and to say that the air was fresh on Tuesday night back in this darkened room would be an understatement.

Why did I say the air was fresh? Because this show was made up of three new-to-me bands, and, truthfully, I was ready for something new, I got absolutely stoked as Larrikins got the show started. I thought I had this local band pegged with their first song. Quirky indie-pop with this almost shoegaze kind of background. It was lovely, and I instantly fell in love with the energy of this band, but after the first song, I worried that this band wasn’t going to give me much more than what they did for the first song. Per usual, I worry too much. As Larrikins moved through their set, I got to see so many sides of this group. Sure, there was that quirky indie-pop meets shoegaze kind of backdrop, but there were also moments that felt almost experimental, mashed into songs that read like a pop-punk anthem without the whiny vocals. From three-part vocal harmonies that sent chills up my spine to moments where you could feel angst dripping from every word and every note, I was hooked and instantly wished that I had gotten my eyes (and ears) on this band sooner.

If I’m being honest, I wasn’t expecting much from hangouts.. Per usual, I did no research on any of these bands before stepping foot in the venue, but the lack of a drummer for the second act made me hesitate. It’s not that drummer-less bands are bad or anything like that, but Larrikins had set the stage for an explosive show, and I just didn’t feel like a duo was going to keep my energy or attention. When I heard the drum machine, I about wanted to crawl out of my skin. Okay, I’m being dramatic, but I just don’t like drum machines. Long story short, hangouts. weren’t getting started off on the right foot for me. They didn’t do anything wrong, but they weren’t fitting the mold of what I had envisioned for my Tuesday night. That’s when they started playing.

It was instantly head-over-heels love at first sound. Even with the drum machine keeping the beat steady and providing the backdrop for what this duo was doing, I found myself hanging on every word from either member and every note they played on guitar and bass. I don’t know what it was, but within just seconds of their set, the charm of these two members and their sheer talent when it came to creating tasty licks and bright jams made me completely forget that there was a drum machine going on in the background. I loved how this group had super playful words and a playful sound, but when you let yourself swim through the songs’ words, you realized just how relatable their glittery sound was. Yes, it felt like all rainbows and sunshine, but there was more depth to be found, and I loved that I could choose whether to dive into it or just have a great, bubblegum pop kind of time.

I’m sure just sitting at home and listening to hangouts. on recording is great, but I think it’s their live performance that really makes them. This band just makes you happy, even if you find yourself lost in the depths of their words. I don’t know how else to put it. From their synchronized dance moves and matching Kwik Trip t-shirts that added just the perfect amount of cheese to the set to the way their beat hits you and makes you want to dance, whether you’re a dancer or not, there’s just such a sense of magic in watching this duo in real life. I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. There was an absolutely incredible dancer in the audience who let loose. There was something so joyous about watching them dance to the poppy beats, as that energy radiated throughout the audience. By the end of the set, not only was I left pleading the concert Gods for more, but I also had a pep in my step because of the energy and love I felt both on stage and in the audience. This may have been my first experience with hangouts., but it surely won’t be my last.

Closing out this fantastic three-band showcase was Minneapolis’ own, Lent. This is a name I have been seeing over and over again. I’m pretty sure I have talked to this band about covering them a couple of times prior to Tuesday night, but it just never worked out. After seeing them on Tuesday, I plan on spending my entire Wednesday kicking myself in the butt for not seeing them sooner. Lent is doing something different in the Twin Cities music scene, and I love them for it. Their sound doesn’t fit the mold of either punk, pop-punk, or indie rock that seems to dominate the scene. It’s more of a weathered psychedelic rock sound, with elements of all the aforementioned genres sprinkled in. It didn’t take me long to feel confused by what they were doing, but that confusion was a good one because their sound made me think. Don’t get me wrong, it’s easy listening and definitely a sound I would like to soundtrack the rest of my life, but there’s something so unique and almost complicated about the elements they put into each track that makes you think.

It doesn’t happen often, but from time to time, I see a band that leaves me so stunned and in love that writing a full review of their set feels impossible. That’s where I’m at with Lent’s set on Tuesday night. It was so enjoyable. So fresh, new, and unique that the last thing I wanted to do was take notes on my phone or even stand there and try to analyze them. I was so in shock to see such a young band with such a strong, unique personality, and it just made me so happy that I didn’t want to miss a single second of it. Unfortunately, this means that I have nothing more to say about Lent. I could apologize, tell you that the next time I see them I’ll pay more attention, take more notes, but, truthfully, that would be a lie. I can’t wait for another night with Lent because I want to get lost in their world again. They challenged and thrilled me all the while giving me a sound that I just can not get enough of.

All shows have something amazing to offer, even if all it is is an escape from your life, but there are some shows that strike you as incredible. Sure, it makes sense that arena shows would be some of those because there’s production value and smoke and mirrors, but when you get to see a small show that has that small feeling without the smoke and mirrors– that’s true perfection. Tuesday night was true perfection.

Line Up:

Larrikins

hangouts.

Lent

Venue: Zhora Darling

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 22

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Dance-ability- 6 out of 10

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

Broken Bones- None

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

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

Larrikins – 0

hangouts. – 0

Lent – 0

Show on Deck – Wicked (the Musical)

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