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When does summer begin? I am going to go with the tidy meteorological seasons on this one. On Friday, June 7th, I saw Tomato Flower play with Melt Banana at Metro Gallery. babybaby_explores opened. The Flying Lutenbachers were along for this leg, Tomato Flower being in the midst of extensive national touring. I looked forward to their return to Baltimore. When they did return, members began letting folks know: “I am moving to New York City.” So it goes. It has been a pleasure to have them as a local band!
When does summer end? Based on the astrological calendar, that would still be a ways away (the Autumnal Equinox is Sunday, September 22nd). As of this column, my last concert was on Saturday, August 24th. My band Burden of Dreams played their first show as part of the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Current Space. In another era, this would be a troubling development. How can I continue to write about the Baltimore underground in an unbiased and truthful way if I have a band out there making its way? In the new era, the map is too tiny for these things not to overlap.
I don’t think this way. I have attended so many concerts. Each one is its own experience. Things go wrong, right, up, and down. It is all happening live. Call it a cop out, but it is a way of thinking that is hard for me. To go “worst” is to put a black eye in the game and that is not to be done often or lightly.
I saw Make-Up play at The Ottobar on Tuesday, July 2nd with support from Tchotchke. Getting to a packed show at The Ottobar is a careful journey for me, years of habits that have lead to a good concert made concrete. I have a spot I like to be in. I got there! I soon realized I had forgotten my earplugs as all the seats around me filled up. So, this show was the loudest (to my ears) by default.
I saw Snooper play at The Ottobar on Monday, July 15th with support from Pyrex, Music Mouse, and Pearl, earplugs at the ready. I have no problem praising a bill like this as “best concert” as it was the work of Unregistered Nurse Booking, who works tirelessly to bring excellent national acts to Baltimore and consistently pairs them with great local openers.
Coconut July was celebrated once again on Friday, July 13th at The Ottobar, providing a chance for me to see bands I have put in my regular rotation and some I was checking out for the first time. My rule is simple: is Muscle playing? Then yes, I will do my best to be there.
I saw Heavenly Blue, Blind Girls, andGrudge play at Metro Gallery on Thursday, July 25th. The band that surprised me was opener Choking Boys as I had yet to check them out. Even when you seem to have seen and heard it all, a local group will sneak up on you and move you in a new direction.
After a long pursuit, seeing Music Mouse play the music so captivatingly captured on their demo performed live was a small victory and a great set. I can get driven in odd ways, but I try not to question it. I just keep going, and the itch was scratched. If I missed your band this summer, please know I will keep at it (gotta catch ’em all) and hope to see you perform soon.
I am a very Baltimore-bound person, but I do leave town from time to time. To be away the weekend of SubScape was a major bummer, considering the hard work of all involved to make it happen. To have the end of The Crown, one of the venues involved, announced right before the fest added to the bummer. I know I have already listed more shows than many attend in a year just from the past few months, but I always hope to make it to more.
Shiny Fest 3 will be going down this Saturday, September 7th, and I plan to attend. Many of the bands I mentioned above (and many more) will be performing with headliners The Death Set returning to Baltimore. See you there? I will be sitting in my usual spot, earplugs at the ready.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Come by the BRUISER table at Shiny Fest for zines, shirts and used books!]
