Girl at the Rock Shows

I’m ready for this week to be over. It hasn’t been a bad week by any means, but it’s been a weird one, especially at the office. Everyone there is just a bit doomy and gloomy, which makes sense given the tragedy that struck here. Like everyone else, I’m definitely not over things. It will take a long time for all of us to heal after losing one of our own in such a sudden and tragic way but, honestly, I’m just sick of being sad so I’ve been finding joy where I can outside of work and I found so much joy on Thursday night at Amsterdam Bar & Hall as I watched young kids gather to celebrate three truly amazing local acts.

Kicking things off was Spiderlily. I just saw these local rockers a couple of weeks ago at The Green Room and was so excited to get to witness their magic again. I felt like maybe some of the magic would be gone as I knew what to expect from this group, but thankfully, I was wrong. They instantly took me away from reality and into their world of slightly retro vibes, paired with a super modern, fresh take on music in general. This band seriously refuses to be put into just one box. I know I talked about that last time I saw them, but it’s something that not only has led to Spiderlily stealing a piece of my heart, but will surely lead to a lasting imprint on the local scene and beyond. I really appreciate the fact that, although I just recently saw them perform, I feel like I heard some new songs from them on Thursday night, which goes back to my idea that this band is going to be quickly taking over the scene. If you’re not paying attention to this young, local group, you’re doing it wrong and need to fix it immediately.

Terravision (the next band to take the stage) may be a fairly new band to the scene, but that hasn’t stopped them from making some beautiful waves in it, and I instantly understood why. I’ll be honest: Terravision’s more shoegaze, calm vibe wasn’t quite what I was in the mood for on Thursday night, but they had me sold. Their sounds were soft and tender, but they had an energy behind them that kept them from slipping into the sleepy category. Thursday night’s show was a celebration of Terravision’s latest single, “It Doesn’t Have to End.” I loved hearing that song because it was one of those tracks that instantly hits you as a, well, hit, but I also really liked hearing their other songs along with some covers (including a really solid Weezer cover). Like Spiderlily, this band refuses to be put into just one box. Although their sound is definitely situated in the shoegaze world, some moments seemed to have just a bit more angst, and others that hit a bit more lo-fi than anything else. Regardless of what it was this band was playing, I was sold, and although this was my first night with Terravision, it surely won’t be my last.

Things on Thursday night seemed to move ridiculously quickly, and before I knew it, Dollar Store Cologne, the final band of the night, was kicking in their set. Full disclosure, I was sold on this band before I even heard them. I think their band name is just so stinking clever, and it absolutely caught my attention. That being said, I didn’t stay because of their band name; I stayed at this show because of their sound. It was a dramatic kind of sound with a punk edge and an energy that was absolutely electrifying. Think Sarah & The Safe Words meets The Dresden Dolls with a flair of Panic at the Disco drama and a delivery that felt a bit more like The Distillers than any other band mentioned in this run-on sentence. Long story short, everything about this band was up my alley, and I was in love. Their music was flawless, and I loved the range of emotions and vibes that they laid out throughout their set. The personalities that were on stage were put in the spotlights as much as the music was, and if you know me, that’s a huge selling point. I didn’t feel like I was watching just another band; I felt like I was watching some of my best friends pour their hearts and talents out on a stage right in front of me. I have never met any of the band members before, so how was this even possible? Because they were doing just what I said– pouring their hearts out, and I couldn’t help but leave some of my heart with them as the night came to a close.

I was one of the older people in the audience at this show. Typically, this would be something I complain about. Okay, maybe “complain” isn’t the right word, but something that makes me feel just a bit “off” and, with a birthday coming up quick (ya’ll better wish me a happy birthday on Monday!), the fact that I was feeling my age shouldn’t have been a thrill for me, but it was. There was something about seeing young kids come out of the woodwork for this show. I loved the fact that it seemed like a lot of them had dressed up for the occasion. This wasn’t just a Thursday night show; it was the show of the week, maybe of the month, and I just absolutely loved the charm and excitement it brought to the show. For anyone who fears for the future of music, or for those who say live music is dead, I really wish you had been at Amsterdam Bar & Hall on Thursday night because you would have realized that those statements couldn’t be further from the truth.

Line Up:

Spiderlily

Terravision

Dollar Store Cologne

Venue: Amsterdam Bar & Hall

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 20

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 4 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)-

Spiderlily – 1

Terravision – 0

Dollar Store Cologne – 0

Show on Deck – North Innsburck / Grave Gnaw / Magenta Vice

Shameless Self Promotion:

Join My Patreon Here!

Buy Me a Coffee (Seriously!)

Check out my playlist HERE!