Elijah Johnston has made a name for himself in Athens, Georgia following the release of his four studio albums. On Friday January 14th, Johnston released his fifth album, Day Off and performed it for Athens to hear live for the first time. Here is our review and breakdown of Day Off.
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New Album Release: Vista Kicks
Originating from California, Vista Kicks surprised listeners when they released their third full length album, Chateau Mae Mae on April 10th.
Comprised of Derek Thomas (lead vocals), Sam Plecker (guitar), Trevor Sutton (bass), and Nolan Le Vine (drums), Vista Kicks had the opportunity to write alongside singer-songwriter Audra Mae.
Oklahoma native, Audra Mae has made a name for herself in the world of music. By collaborating with and writing songs beside various musicians, Mae is a very well respected artist.
Spending their summer months writing in Music City (Nashville, TN), the members of Vista Kicks and Mae collaborated to produce Chateau Mae Mae. Combining Mae’s soulful folk sound with Vista Kicks’ classic rock sound, this album caters to all music lovers.
We had the opportunity to ask the members of Vista Kicks and lead singer, Derek Thomas some of our most pressing questions about the release of Chateau Mae Mae.
Open up your windows, allow the sunlight in, close your eyes, and let Chateau Mae Mae transport you to a different time.
How is this album different from anything you have released?
VK: On all of our other releases, we’ve written as a unit- just the four of us. The main difference about Chateau Mae Mae is that we co-wrote every song on the record between ourselves, Audra Mae, and different Nashville writers Natalie Hemby, Madi Diaz, Kerr Harrison, Benjy Davis, and David Borne.
What were some of your main inspirations for this release?
VK: Really, the experience of being in Nashville. Audra flew us out, housed us, and invited people over to write songs breakfast, lunch, and dinner for two weeks straight!
I guess something about lowering our walls and allowing outside people into our headspace…that was the inspiration for this release. A group effort that is something way different and way more than the 4 of us (or 5, including Audra) could have created alone.
How did you meet Audra Mae and decide to collaborate with her?
Thomas: We knew Audra from Los Angeles. She lived nearby and we’d hung out with her multiple times before she moved to Nashville.
A few tours ago, we were passing through Nashville and she came to the show, we invited her to come sing with us because Sam had been sick and he couldn’t sing for a few days. She had to postpone her flight plans and instead of departing from Nashville, she agreed to come with us to Memphis and leave from there.
While listening to songs and talking about life, I suggested it would be cool to someday make a record together. We both agreed and thought the other wasn’t serious, so we let months go by before reaching out again.
In May, I called Audra and said, “Are we doing this thing or what?” She laughed and said, “Hell yes we are.” She took it from there. Sam and I hopped on a plane and stayed with her for two weeks. No plan, no songs written, no real idea of anything. “I guess we’ll see what happens.” I said to Sam on the plane.
What was the process of writing this album and working together with Audra Mae?
Thomas: Every day at Audra’s house was packed with writing songs, cooking food, going out to bars, staying up till the sun came up, and lots of laughter.
We took any and every opportunity to make a song out of this and that. It was an inspiring time. It felt like a magical two weeks. Like a dream come true, writing with Audra and all of her friends who are now also our friends, the experience was a gift.
We didn’t think we were making a record, I think in the beginning we thought it would just be fun to make a song or two. By the end of two weeks, we had written over twenty songs.
What was your experience like writing these songs in Nashville?
VK: It was intense! Writing on the level we did… I think over those two weeks in Nashville, we wrote 20-25+ songs. But like we said, we were writing about 3 a day, one for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That’s how that city works though… they’re songwriting machines out there. In Vista Kicks, we consider ourselves songwriters over singers, musicians, whatever… so you could imagine how inspiring it was for us to be there.
Do you feel that your sound has changed in any way because of this collaboration?
VK: Totally. I really feel a sense of maturity and growth when I listen to Chateau Mae Mae. There’s more confidence in the vocals and everyone’s playing. I think writing an album with other people challenged us in new ways but it was also reassuring and exciting to be working with such great writers.
Since not a lot of listeners knew that you were releasing new music, what made you decide to keep it a secret until the release?
VK: There was a lot of question on how we were going to release the album. I’m not sure we kept it a very good secret because we played “While we still have the time” on tour the last year or so and had Audra open a show at The El Rey singing tunes from the record haha.. Ultimately, we decided it was such a special piece of music that it just deserved to be out and listened to. This year we signed on with some new publishing and wanted to release it with them and that just happened to fall during this whole covid-19 pandemic.
What do you want your listeners to know about this release and what it means to you?
VK: Take the record as you want: we think the record is great and we’re all proud of it! We think we’ve raised our own personal bar of songwriting, recording, production etc… We took a lot of side steps from our normal tendencies… but that’s what it’s all about! Change and growth. We started recording again this last February for the next VK album — It’s fun to see how the the Nashville record has clawed into us. We’ve definitely learned some new tricks that we’re going to take along the way…
FINAL THOUGHTS
Vista Kicks is one of the very first bands that we ever wrote about on this blog, so this album was a very special and long awaited one for us and for many dedicated VK fans. Chateau Mae Mae is different from previous albums that they have released, but is a work of art nonetheless.
This album offers a perfect blend of heartfelt ballads and textured sounds. It’s a softer album from the “Marceline” band, but the vocals from both Vista Kicks and Audra Mae are flawless and passionate. Audra Mae’s addition to the album is a game changer, and brings an effortless tone to the table.
You can stream Chateau Mae Mae on all music platforms. You can also follow Vista Kicks and Audra Mae on Instagram for updates and other content.
We hope you’re all healthy and safe. Don’t forget to wash your hands and support your local bands!
New Album Release: Paper Daisies
Originating from Clemson, South Carolina, Tayler Bucich of Paper Daisies released his first album In and out the Window on March 30th. We had the opportunity to ask Bucich questions about his new project and this album.
What inspired you to move to this stage of your music career?
I got into music and recording when I was 20 because it gave all of my emotions a very clear therapeutic outlet. Nothing makes me happier than writing and recording, so I guess that would be the inspiration for all of this. Chasing happiness.
With this being your first release under Paper Daisies, what is the significance of this album?
It’s the start of something fresh and new. With purpose. I have a big plan for how my Paper Daisies albums will feed off of each other.
Can you tell us a little bit about your songwriting process for this album? Where did you find inspiration to write these songs?
The songwriting process for In and out the Window was extremely personal. I filled an old black notebook front and back with thoughts, questions, statements, poems, conceptual ideas. I’ve been at odds with myself recently. The last year has really stressed me out and made me feel purposeless. But no matter what I always have music. So I decided to make this project about just that. Having a therapeutic outlet to go to.
A little passage from that notebook says: “These eyes are windows. Press play and listen to my soul. Go in and out the window.” In and out the Window is also a reference to a children’s book that teaches kids how to play music. I liked that because I feel like a child in the world of music.
Major musical influences for In and out the Window?
I found a lot of inspiration from the existentialism that Loving spews out in every song. I loved the raw recordings and genuine lyrics of Elliot Smith. I was extremely inspired by the late 60s sunshine pop movement. And of course, forever and always, Brian Wilson.
How is this album different from anything else you’ve released?
I think there is a conscious effort to present these songs with more concrete structure. I had access to an actual drum kit for the first time in my life. So really, long story short, I had the ability to do whatever I wanted when I wanted. I could truly create with no boundaries for the first time.
How would you describe your music to someone who has never listened to you before?
Hahaaa! I have a lot of practice doing this. I usually say something like “I hunker down in my bedroom and I write songs about being alive, the ups and downs.” And then I usually give a little disclaimer “Could be kinda weird! I don’t know what you normally listen to!” If they need a genre I usually say “Experimental bedroom pop” which sounds like a lot of fun things.
What message do you want to convey to our readers about this album?
I’m always at odds with wanting to tell what my albums are about…but if I had to say something real short and sweet I’d say: You never know what someone is going through, or who they might end up growing into. People have an incredible capacity to change, or to be shaped by their surroundings, both in a positive and negative way. Be kinder. Smile more. The world is like a mirror, you’ll feel it come right back to you. I promise!
Final Thoughts
Bucich released this album when the world needed it the most. During a time of uncertainty and confusion, the songs on In and out the Window offer a sense of calmness and security about where we are and where we can go from there. It’s like a big hug from someone you love and you know that they’ll never let go. This album is reminiscent of warm drinks, dried flowers, and baked goods. A cozy feeling, ya know. Like everything is going to be alright.
We’ll link the album on Spotify below and make sure to follow @daisiespaper on Instagram for any future updates! Thank you again Tayler!
Stay groovy!
What’s Spinnin’? #6
Hi! We figured that with the new month, we needed to update you guys with what we have been listening to on repeat! We hope that you check these awesome artists out and keep an eye out for some new concert posts in the very near future! Enjoy!
Britt
- Some Place Else- MorMor
- You v. the Breeze- Future Crib
- ‘Tude- Future Crib
- Wannabe in LA- Eagles of Death Metal
- Carolina Lorelei- Illiterate Light
- Goodie Bag- Still Woozy
- I’ll Still Have Me- Cyn
- Turn- Sam Valdez
- Break up Together- Theo Katzman
- Summer Lover- YMA, Gab Ferreria
Jenna
- For Fun- Future Crib
- Yer Movin’- Future Crib
- Late Love- S. Grant Parker
- Florida- Nordista Freeze
- Back Pocket- Vulfpeck
- Vacation Home- Whitehall
- Inferiority Complex- Tom Angst
- In Your Eyes- Wallpaper
- I Can See Your Bones- Apricot Blush
- Joan- Daddy’s Beemer
A Hypnotic Hangout: Illiterate Light
Georgia Theatre 5/9– The Illiterate Light duo ended their set with “Growin’ Down” and walked off the stage while the crowd cheered. Their initial thoughts are filled with excitement and positivity about their performance. We got to sit down and talk with Jake (drums, vocals) and Jeff (guitar, vocals) in Athens while they were touring with Shakey Graves.
Mission Accomplished
Illiterate Light is a rock duo from Virginia and their music has been spread far and wide since we last saw them in December. From recently playing Shaky Knees, to upcoming festivals like Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo, Illiterate Light has grown immensely.
After the show, Jeff described to us that “It’s an interesting feeling to play to hundreds of people who have no idea who we are. You kind of have to win the crowd over a little bit.” They make it their mission to impress the crowd with their set. And we believe that they did just that. After seeing them open for Post Animal a couple months ago, we fell in love with their sound and that encouraged us to learn more about them and download their music. At the end of their set on this night in Athens, the crowd was clapping and in awe of the musical ability that these two people possess.
Illiterate Light makes an effort to hang out by their merch table and talk to people after their set. They relayed to us that they really enjoy meeting new people and spreading their music to others. So, if you ever want to chat with these guys, you know where to find them!
Inspirations
Many different artists, have influenced Illiterate Light’s music. Jeff described that he is most inspired by artists like Flaming Lips, Led Zeppelin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Foo Fighters. Jake explained that he has been listening to a lot of St. Vincent, SZA, Kendrick Lamar, and Big Thief recently. Jeff described that “Artists like Neil Young, Fleet Foxes, My Morning Jacket, and Wilco were my go-to. I really wanted to craft my musical vision based off of these artists.”
Jake told us that he likes to mix aspects of various performers in order to find something that fits with the music that Illiterate Light creates. “I have a really strong love for very weird performers. We like to have the energy for sure and have fun.”
“It sets us apart”
If you’ve ever seen this band live, you have probably seen the beloved floral crop top that Jake wears. One thing that stood out to us when we first saw them, was that half-way during the show, Jake took off his shirt and underneath that shirt, he wore a pink floral top. On this night, we were eagerly waiting to see if the tradition remained and when he showed it off, we were excited to get the chance to ask about the origin of the ritual.
“While touring in another band, while living in Virginia, we used to tour by bike. I wanted to keep the sun off my back while remaining cool. I stopped into a thrift store and was sorting through the racks when I found it. At first, I started wearing it as a joke but eventually it started feeling natural.”
Shaky Knees: “It was killer”
After recently playing Shaky Knees, Jeff relayed to us that “It felt weird performing on the main stage, the stage where Tame Impala played and then having people come up to us and congratulate us on our performance.” There are a lot of new faces at their shows and the continuous growth of the band has brought them many opportunities and experiences. “Some days we truly don’t know what to do with it, but I think that’s a good thing. It means the timing is right for our band.”
“Have you grown up yet? Does the war make sense?”
The songwriting process is always a very important one. Illiterate Light described for us where they get their inspiration for writing. They try to write songs that are moving between their emotional and relational lives. “Also our observations of our culture and of the world at large. Therefore, we don’t stray away from writing about politics and war. We want to be a part of the conversation.” With the world that we live in today, it’s important that there are artists in the industry discussing these topics.
The Show
Before the interview, we had the opportunity to take pictures of the band while singing and dancing to their songs. They opened with their hit “Nuthin’s Fair” and had the whole crowd bobbing their heads and moving to the music. They played through songs off of their EP, Sweet Beast and played an outstanding cover of “Vampire Blues” by Neil Young. You could tell that the crowd was surprised that two people could create the sounds that they were creating. By the end of their set, you could tell that the audience was impressed and eager to listen to more of their stuff!
What’s next for illiterate light?
The band recently signed with Atlantic Records and is planning to release an album in October! They have an EP on Spotify, Sweet Beast, which you should definitely check out! They actually just released a new single a couple days ago called “Carolina Lorelei.” Illiterate Light (@illiteratelight) is constantly creating new music and they will be going on multiple tours throughout the rest of the year. If they come around to your town, you should treat yourself and go! Seeing them perform live is a great time!
A Hypnotic Hangout: Daddy’s Beemer
‘Time we killed’ before the show
APRIL 19, 2019-We had the pleasure of sitting down with local SC natives, Daddy’s Beemer at the Radio Room here in Greenville. From their Clemson roots to their recent travles, we got some insight on this tight-knit trio. Consisting of Brady Sklar, Dan Fetterolf, and Wesley Heaton, Daddy’s Beemer has made a name for themselves in South Carolina’s music scene.
The three of them met at Clemson University, through a student run radio station. After Daddy’s Beemer took off, they headed up to Charlotte, North Carolina in hopes that it would make touring travels easier. Now, they’re in the process of moving down to Charleston, SC.
When on the topic of moving around, we asked if it inspired their song writing process in any way. Lead singer, Brady Sklar was quick to answer with a simple, “Yes.” He further explained, “A lot of artists talk about how you need to live your life to be able to write songs about it. Otherwise, you’re going to write about things you haven’t done because you haven’t been doing anything.” They believe new experiences, people, and points of view can be useful in their song writing process. Dan Fetterolf, guitarist/drummer, said that seeing bands that he looks up to inspires the actual music part.
Music inspirations play a key role in the band’s sound. Bands like Steely Dan, Otis Redding, The Strokes, and Carole King have had a huge influence on the band and their sound. Last month, the members of Daddy’s Beemer, headed to Texas to play at SXSW. Some of the artists that they performed beside have been great influencers such as, Briston Maroney, Shane T, Big Thief, and Mommy’s Little Boy.
The bassist, Wesley Heaton explained that, “We weren’t sure what it was going to be like, because we had never been. We had been to other festivals like Bonnaroo on our own, but this was completely different from that because it was more of a networking thing.” The band was able to show their music to new audiences and meet new people while attending the festival and touring.
‘Penthesilea’
Sklar describes one of their singles, “Penthesilea” as an eulogy to a parrot that Fetterolf had right before they started the band. Sklar went on to explain that the song is named after the parrot and the lyrics describe the longing and grief that they have for the parrot. Fetterolf went on to show us a colorful tattoo that he got on his chest in honor of his pet.
Final Thoughts
Daddy’s Beemer recently released two new singles, “Indoors” and “Serotonin.” During this interview, they explained that they are writing new songs for a full-length album. Keep your eyes peeled and follow @dadsbeem on Instagram to stay updated with any new releases! This interview was super fun and we want to thank the members of Daddy’s Beemer for giving us the opportunity to sit down and talk with them!
Mystic Truth Tour 2019
“Away We go”
Our first concert since we got home from Texas was Bad Suns… and we were pretty excited about it. I (Britt) spent all of high school listening to their album Language & Perspective and was stoked to see them live for the first time. We left Greenville around 4:30 and made our way to the Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta.
We arrived at the venue while the opener, a very talented 18 year old from Wisconsin, Carlie Hanson was performing. Hanson’s music can be described as pop punk and alternative. She was assisted by a drummer and a guitar/keyboard player and had amazing energy as she was jumping from side to side on the stage!
feels like home
The lights in the venue dimmed and the members of Bad Suns made their way to the stage and opened with “Away We Go”, the first song off their newest album, Mystic Truth. They played through songs off of their other albums, Language & Perspective, and Disappear Here. After performing “The World and I”, the lead singer Christo, approached the microphone and asked “Who’s been here since our first record?” Half of the audience put their hands up and shouted. “Thank you guys for being here for that long! Now who’s ready to fucking dance?” The band then proceeded to play “Rearview” off of their first record. Christo encouraged the crowd to dance and jump along as he sang the lyrics.
The continued playing through their set and then… “Cardiac Arrest” came on. This song is super nostalgic to me because it is the first song that I listened to by them and it introduced me to their music. It was one of my favorite songs to listen to throughout high school and hearing it live felt insane. Jenna and I jumped around and belted out the lyrics with the crowd. Before ending the song, Christo yelled into the microphone, “This feels like fucking home tonight!” And it sure did.
“away we go” Part 2
Unfortunately, after this song, Jenna wasn’t feeling well so we had to cut the concert short and head home. We were thankful to hear some of our favorite songs like “Violet”, “Rearview”, “Daft Pretty Boys”, and “Cardiac Arrest” though! We made our way to the merch table and I bought a record and Jenna bought a t-shirt (per usual). We gathered up our things, took some pictures outside of the venue and made our way back to our car with blisters on our feet from dancing and messy hair.
Overall, we had a great time at this concert. Bad Suns sold out this show and put on a great performance! If you ever have the chance to see them on this tour, you definitely should! The energy and enthusiasm that this band puts into their stage presence and songs is super dope and you can feel the love and gratitude that they have for their fans. 10/10 would recommend!
Texas Travels
About two weeks prior to our spring break we saw an ad for an upcoming music event with some of our favorite artists. The only problem was that it was in Texas. To be quite honest, the distance was never the issue at all, it was the getting there part that seemed a little hazy.
It became clear to us that we were going to go, despite the distance and everyone’s thoughts against our plan. So, I (Jen) began to plan out every detail in order for this to work. Our cars were in no shape to drive across the country, so I asked my biological father if he wanted to swap cars for a week. It took a while to get an answer but he willingly agreed.
Now came the saving up part. This trip was not going to be cheap. Fortunately I have a lot of relatives that live in Texas, so no hotels for us. Our expenses would mostly be food and gas, mostly gas though.
The most difficult preparation was the packing. We both struggled in this area, but what do you expect from two indecisive girls? I (Jen) packed two bags, my 16 y/o cousin brought one, and Britt brought 4. In Britt’s defense, her main suitcase wasn’t as big as ours were. We somehow managed to fit them in the back of our Honda Civic.
On Thursday, March 15 we drove away from Greenville at 4am, and rode into the sunrise. Britt drove first, just like we planned, and then we switched four hours in when it was time to refuel. We kept this up for 14 hours. The ride was filled with music, and naps and our silly “song roulette” game. As we passed through states, our minds were filled with the desire to travel and live our lives on the road. We counted down the hours until we would be in the Lone Star State baby!
We arrived in Burleson, TX around 5:30pm and were greeted by my grandparents. This would be our home for the next week, and we couldn’t contain our excitement about the adventures to come.
VIsta Kicks, but as cowboys
On Saturday, we drove an hour to Denton, TX for the first show of our trip. We got lucky with this show, it wasn’t apart of the plan at first. We decided to leave Burleson around noon so that we could do a bit of exploring, which turned into shopping (watch our vlog to see a full haul of our purchases). We ate, and then headed down to the venue.
VISTA KICKS was still doing sound check as we waltzed in. After they got off the stage, we were quickly greeted with hugs and how-have-you-beens. It was exciting to stand aside and watch all of the new and young fans that they had gained since we saw them last.
Their opener was an energetic band called Jonathan from Croatia. We stood to the side with Sam and Trevor and watched them rock out on the stage.
When it came time for the boys to go on, we made our way to the front so we could get some good shots of them. They played through songs off of their albums and included some songs that we’ve never heard live before like “Mona Lisa” and “Circles”. They put on a great show as usual and we were looking forward to their showcase in San Antonio.
stay bad showcase
We arrived at The Paper Tiger around 6pm and stayed around to explore the venue. The venue was outdoors and had string lights and murals to decorate the area. We sat on one of the a picnic benchs and waited for the show to start.
The Shakes came on around 6:30 and played through their set with a relaxed and mellow vibe. Their song “Golden State of Mind” is super calming and easy to chill to. The next performers were a group called Gymshorts based out of Rhode Island. They jumped onto the stage with high energy and an angsty sound. The lead singer kept the crowd engaged by handing off the microphone and leaping off stage.
The next performer was a solo artist named Derek Ted from California. His music is mainly acoustic and is weirdly reminiscent of summer and old lovers. His sound can be described as being soft and nostalgic. If you’ve never checked him out, you definitely should!
Arms Akimbo was the next band to perform. They had everyone bobbing their heads and tapping their feet to the sound of their music. Based out of California, Arms Akimbo brought the ultimate alternative and rock sound. These goofy guys put on a great show and continued smiling throughout the whole thing.
Hate Drugs came onto the stage around 10pm. Also hailing from the Golden State, they brought the dream indie sound. These guys were so into the music they were playing and it showed. They had the whole crowd engaged and no one took their eyes off of them for a minute. They recently released a new album, Tsunami Soul I, so they played the majority of their set from this album. These dudes are extremely talented and you should check them out on Spotify or any other music platforms!
Vista Kicks were the last set that was scheduled for this show. They came out and opened with “Million Dollar Seller Pt. 1” and played through some of the same songs from previous shows, with surprise performances of “Work for Me” (Thanks Trevor!) and “Love & Paranoia”. We can honestly say that these guys never put on a bad show! The energy and effort that they put into not only their songs but into their stage presence and performance is unlike any we have ever seen. We’ve said this plenty of times before but if you EVER have the chance to see Vista Kicks live, please do! We have a feeling that these guys will be big very soon and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to see them in an intimate environment!
Back to reality
In between concerts, we spent our days exploring nearby cities, going to Target way too many times, and ultimately just living it up while we had the time. This trip was nothing short of amazing and it was a great way to spend our spring break and to get away for a little bit. We already have some new adventures planned, but for the meantime, we will be saving up some money for our next venture! We hope you guys enjoyed this travel post and make sure to check out the vlog that we made regarding this trip! Also make sure to check out the pictures that we took while on this trip on the gallery on this blog or on our instagram @hypnoticbolt! Stay groovy!
What’s Spinnin’? 4
Welcome to the fourth edition of What’s Spinnin’? We’ve been on the hunt for some new tunes and we hope you’ll find these worth the listen! Oh, and guess what? Adding these songs to your playlist just got a whole lot easier, you’re welcome! We have a Spotify, and we have added all of our editions onto their own playlist! Happy listening!
Jen
- Not What I Meant (ft. Lewis Watson)- dodie
- break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored- Ariana Grande
- Fingers Crossed- COIN
- I Want It All- COIN
- Make Me a Robot- Tessa Violet
- Bad Ideas- Tessa Violet
- Wings- The Jacks
- Olivia- The Jacks
- She’s A Mystery- The Jacks
- Kinky Toe- Baby Boys
- The Start of Something- Voxtrot
- Heart Made of Metal- Post Animal
- Dirtpicker- Post Animal
Britt
- Kill the Medicine Man- Ron Gallo
- Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me- Ron Gallo
- Wild Coyote- The Nude Party
- Sway- Duncan Fellows
- You Were Not There- Post Animal
- Goggles- Post Animal
- The Breeze- Dr. Dog
- Even In My Dreams, I Can’t Win- Bad Suns
- Moonage Daydream- David Bowie
- Forest Gum- New Madrid
- Magnetoception- New Madrid
- Just a Little Bit- The Jacks
- Heart Eyes- COIN
United Steaks Tour 2019
Part I
Athens, GA February 27, 2019- The first show we went to was at the Georgia Theater. We had seen Post Animal at this same venue back in December and were excited to be back.
“Fresh Squeezed”
The first performers were a group from Austin, Texas called Duncan Fellows. They played through songs from their album Both Sides of the Ceiling. They had the crowd bobbing their heads and tapping their feet. Their music is reminiscent of summer and reminded us of sunshine even in the dreary February weather. Playing through hits like “Coffins”, “Fresh Squeezed”, and “Sway”. Duncan Fellows introduced their music to the Georgia Theater and gained new listeners.
Flame Impala
Post Animal made their way to the stage around 9pm and opened with “Gelatin Mode”. If you’ve never listened to Post Animal before, we recommend starting with this song. The upbeat sound and heavy guitar that eases into slower parts only to pick back up makes for a great song to dance your butt off to.
They played through songs off of their recent album, When I Think of You in A Castle and older songs like “You Were Not There”, and “When I Get Home”. They created the same dreamy psychedelic experience that you hear in their songs. They ended their set with “Dirtpicker” and gave the crowd something to remember them by.
Who Are You? Point To It!
Ron Gallo entered the stage around 10pm. Jenna and I had been studying his music and we were excited to see him perform live. He and his ensemble put on an incredible show. He incorporates a lot of pedals, instruments, and uses effects like an echo on his mic to give him that grungy, kaleidoscopic sound. He played through songs off of his albums HEAVY META, Really Nice Guys, and Stardust Birthday Party. He kept the crowd engaged by running across the stage, passing the microphone to people in the crowd, and inviting Post Animal back onto the stage to sing one last song. Great guy and an even greater concert!
Part II
Asheville, NC February 28, 2019- The next day we headed up to our favorite place, Asheville for round two. We arrived at the Mothlight and got our spot right in front of the stage. The Mothlight’s atmosphere was a lot different than the Georgia Theater’s. The stage was lower to the ground and it made for a more intimate and insane show.
Duncan Fellows
This show was way different from the first. Duncan Fellows had a bigger fan-base in Asheville and it was enjoyable to jump around and sing along to the lyrics with the members of the band. They were surprised that people knew and listened to their music and we could tell that it meant a lot to them to have people dancing to their music in a confined space. Their set was energetic and uplifting and if you haven’t checked them out, you definitely should!
Ron Gallo
Ron came out next at this show and brought the fire! The whole crowd went crazy when he started playing and the energy of the crowd only intensified as the show went on. When he started playing his crowd-pleasing song, “Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me”, the audience went crazy. Everyone in the venue was jumping and bumping into each other and slowly started forming a mosh pit. Ron finished his set with “You” Are The Problem” and left the crowd giddy and ready for Post Animal.
Everyone Hit “Gelatin Mode”
The members of Post Animal came out shortly after Ron Gallo. We want to preface this by saying that this concert was something we have NEVER experienced before. Once Post Animal started playing “Gelatin Mode”, the crowd went wild! Everyone was jumping, head banging, throwing their fists in the air, and crowd surfing. We have never been a part of such an intense and reckless environment. As the show went on, we became immersed in the crowd and continued screaming the lyrics along with everyone. They absolutely KILLED this show! The raw energy in the Mothlight was indescribable. They were feeding off of the crowd’s energy and the mixture of the vibrating floorboards and sweaty bodies made this show memorable.
“Tire Eyes”
These past two days have been amazing even with our lack of sleep, empty stomachs and our hearts racing from all of the energy drinks we have been consuming. Post Animal always puts on a great show and these shows have introduced us to new music such as Duncan Fellows and Ron Gallo. If you ever have the chance to see any of these bands live, please do, they will not disappoint!
Hypnotic Bolt 