Back in 2008, we teamed up with Viva Radio to follow the indie elite to and from Austin, TX. It might be a full two years later, but we're thrilled to finally let everyone in on this.
Nate Dorr:
Baltimore. City of crabs and Utz and ubiquitous National Bohemian beer. Also of Dan Deacon & co's Wham City art collective (between homes at the time of our visit) and classic loft performance space Floristree. A floor-spanning converted warehouse space, Floristree has to be the city's largest DIY spot, and
it operates with an inviting casualness that suggests concerts are just
a time to round up all your friends and hang out. (And shouldn't they
be?). Ecstatic Sunshine was literally right at home (all three members
live in the space), spinning languidly buzzing static riffs out over
the nodding crowd.
Double Dagger, also native Baltimoreans (Maryland
Institute College of Art alumns) turned out another set of driving
post-hardcore, with singer Nolan Strals tearing all over the stage (and
audience, catching legs with his cord like a Doberman wandering on the
end of his leash), spewing political fervor (and at one point falling
into Denny Bowen's clamorous drum kit),while Bruce Willen spewed heavy bass lava in all directions, sometimes over his own looped-back noises.Floristree
hospitality continued unabated after the sets, when there was pizza for
bands and friends, and an incomparably comfy easy chair for me to sleep
in. A family of adopted stray cats with names like “Friendship” and “Weekend” opted to to sleep on top of me, eventually leading to an adorably weird breast-feeding-on-my-stomach scenario when I awoke in the morning. How many other venues can offer that?
Ted Shumaker:
Got in pretty late to B'More. The venue was pretty sweet. A large loft space full of cats, dogs, and too many vegans. Another great name for a hardcore band: Too Many Vegans. I prepped some questions for Parts and Labor and got ready to roll in front of the camera with the band in the second kitchen area of the venue/space. As I'm going over my notes right now of questions prepped for Parts and Labor it looks like I didn't prep any questions. I hope that interview went well.
It was a pretty fun show. I also had a great interaction with another Baltimore band, Ecstatic Sunshine. I asked them if we could all play Canned Heat's “Goin' Up the Country” together for a little promo blurb. I don't think they understand what I was trying to get at. I don't think I understand what I was trying to get at. Needless to say, I only know about one line in that song and the band wasn't helping me out either. I think we got some pretty funny footage of that on tape.
The show went on and there was a wicked thunderstorm that night. Glen and I went down the street to a very strange hookah bar and attempted to get some food. I sat back up in the second kitchen area and watched a group of nice vegan lesbians eat dinner while the show was going on. A young man on his bicycle stumbled into the kitchen later and was bleeding pretty badly from a bicycle accident. Thank god those girls knew what to do. I was in no position to get near blood at that point. I drove back to my parents' house in Annapolis, MD safely. Wheww. Two day voyage was over for Teddy.
Neil Molitoris:
PRO: Food from the Lexington Market.
PRO: The Floristree space.
