Quarterlifeparty

(note: if you are reading this from an RSS reader, the actual post has pictures as well)

I was only able to make it to Whartscape Saturday, but that was enough to get my impressions of the DIY baltimore festival. So here are my general thoughts:

• The setup during the day was impressive, three homemade stages with great big speakers and each with a soundboard. When one band ended you moved right to the next stage for the next. Impressively well run, props to Deacon and the Wham City crew.
• The day shows were more fun because it had more of that fresh feel to it. You could get close to the stage and it was a nice vibe being outside. Where as the bands at sonar felt like just another night show.
• Thank god for the building to the west of the parking lot for providing shade the majority of the afternoon.
• The crowd was really into it. Which turned up the energy for sure.
• I waited 45 minutes at the McDonald’s next door, and the double cheesburger was worth every second. So hungry (i normally hate McDee’s)

Now to the bands:

• Ecstatic Sunshine: Only saw the last two songs of this band, but was enjoying their abstract electronic music. Will have to check them out more.

• Bird Names: Not bad, but nothing really exciting to report that I can think of.

• Eyeball Skeleton: The bass player and singer are teenagers who play with their dad and his friend. So the novelty was entertaining, but the music (punk) was actually pretty good. And the bass player was fearless considering this was the largest crowd they have probably played for.

• DD/MM/YYYY: Really good electronic rock. Favorite of the day so far. Cool guys too, i talked to the lead singer for a bit. They are from Toronto. Definitely going to grab some of their stuff.

• The Mae Shi: Holy Shit is what i think I text messaged a couple of my friends halfway through this set. A band that is not to be missed if they come to a town near you. Not even going to try and describe it. Possibly my favorite set of the day.

• Deathset: They lived up to everything I had heard about them. The locals certainly knew how to react to the band’s set: ensure chaos ensued. My only problem is the majority of their rhythm section comes from an iPod.

• The Oxes: I had heard this was a band not to be missed. Consider that recommendation correct: Total rock pandemonium. You would have thought Fugazi was playing…the crowd was in a total mid-90′s era mosh by halfway into the first song. It was also cool that the baltimore police chopper flew overhead and shined the spotlight on the crowd right as the oxes were taking stages…you can imagine what the reaction was. Think metal guitar mega-riffs minus the annoying “satan rules” vocals. During a couple guitar solo’s, Marc Miller jumped into the audience and played the entire solo while crowd surfing, not missing a note.

• Videohippos: I was pretty tired by now, and while the band was good, i couldn’t keep interested. So maybe next time.

• Celebration: The performance was good, but i just don’t think I like their music. It always seems like it’s moving in a direction but then never explodes. Just stays kind of in the middle without any peaks or valleys, which makes it a bit “blah” for me. It was a solid performance, but it didn’t come close to the earlier sets in the day.

The Oxes – Boss Kitty (MP3)

Overall a great day of music. Hats off to wham city for putting it on. Next year i promise to make it to more days.

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