Because I could never be so vain as to write about my own band (I draw the line somewhere) and because she is eager and capable, this blog post was written by the awesome and talented Imelia. I'll still butt in to say that this was a fantastic show--and that Feed is proving themselves worthy to fill that itchy, indescribable void in the Flagstaff scene. If you would like to contact Imelia, she can be reached at [ imelia.saunders@gmail.com ] or on Instagram.
-Foster
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| photos courtesy of friends in the audience. |
The cold, bitter, February night felt anything but in the midst of the electric anticipation of the crowd waiting outside The Hive. The location was one which I'd grown rather accustomed to over the course of the past year. The three bands featured that night were also familiar favorites of mine, supporting Feed for their debut album release.
By the time Keegan Halvorsen and the Woke Mob took the stage, the single room of The Hive was packed almost shoulder to shoulder. The crowd was less of the familiar punk scene and more a mix of eager, new faces. The lights shut off revealing vibrant patterns in a continuous dance behind the stage. The Woke Mob has never disappointed with their collected yet spontaneous energy and psychedelic, hard-hitting riffs. The crowds at these more intimate shows usually begin with folded arms and head nods, becoming progressively more involved with the music as the night continues. This expectation melted away as Keegan played. The crowd was dancing, shouting, and pushing into one another with a liveliness that the music had certainly awakened within them.
Josh’s powerful snare spiked and pushed its way through the songs in subtle jabs, while each member skillfully manipulated the sounds of their instruments. Keegan experimented with his guitar while maintaining perfect harmony with Spencer’s methodical bass. Justin brought the most entertainment with his expressiveness and humor, introducing the final song Spinal Tap with a disclaimer that it had “nothing to do with spines." They closed their set with Scalp, chugging rhythmically like a train until erupting in an energetic rush, throwing every member of the audience in motion.
The next band of the night, Washed, built an anticipation of their own as they picked up their instruments. I can only come close to describing their sound with two words: melancholic hardcore. Their soft melodic riffs were followed by Kaden’s heavy distorted guitar and Kiva’s pounding drums. Avid fans recognized their second song, an older fan-favorite. Their aura was darker and gloomier, but heavy and energetic nonetheless. At one point during their set, someone from the audience took to the stage and leapt into the crowd.
Their electric energy came to a halt in the middle of their set, slow and steady beats on Kiva’s kick building in speed and strength and ending in an explosion of squealing guitar notes and Foster's wailing vocals. The band maintained a perfect balance between softness and pure noise--calm and chaos. Stream Washed (Demos).
Finally, Feed began with a powerful opening that demanded the crowd's attention. The visuals in the background were interrupted by the silhouette of an inflatable horse. Someone held it up in front of the projector and simulated a gallop through the first song. Alex violently slammed on the drums, never breaking the rhythm. Quinn’s performance was entertaining, needless to say, with his sporadic movements and ever-changing expressions that seemed to perfectly compliment the music. Every member of the band seemed contrasting in energy at first glance but, when observed individually, it became apparent how concentrated they were in their own unique approaches.
Though the crowd thinned out slightly, the audience made up for any absence tenfold with their excitement, slamming into one another and rocking back and forth wildly. During the last song, Quinn got down from the stage and started playing within the crowd, leaving behind his guitar for the members of the front row to strum relentlessly, a perfect ending to an exceptional and lively local show. Stream And the Pony.
-Imelia
Continuing Dead Mothers Collective's live series, check out Garnak's new video on Youtube.
See Keegan Halvorsen and The Woke Mob with Moon Tsunami and Naming Our Monsters on March 16th at The Hive.
See Washed with Blue Evening, Mildred, and journal on March 9th at The Nile Coffee Shop.
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