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| Swearin' by Rose Lamela |
End of the Week
Words and Pictures by Rose Lamela
If there is one thing I have learned this year it is this; the best thing to do after a rough week is to hit a show with my cameras. Jersey City, my prefered destination, was where I was headed. I can get in the car, swirl my way through the confusing one ways, blast some Long Neck, and get a good parking spot.This time the parking spot was a bit rough as I might have jinxed my constant praise to the parking gods; but, because of my crazy parents with their punctuality lectures, I was early.
I sat in the car and did a rough Spotify browse of the bands I'd never heard before that were on the bill: Soft Center, Dark Thoughts, and Swearin all at WFMU’s Monty Hall. Long Neck, of course, didn’t require any browsing. Due to my show hopping earlier this year, I was already hooked.
It was exactly 8pm, and I walked a few blocks in the cold December air over to "The Old Monty." There was a ticket waiting for me, and I was one of the first listeners there. I chatted with a few people I know on the video crew and waited for the music to seep through my ear plugs.
Soft Center started us off with a very mellow flow, and I was particularly surprised that this was their second live performance. They sounded like a seasoned band and were very unified in their sound. Gina Pensiero's voice stood out to me. Her voice seemed different in a world of voices coming out of the indie world. It was refreshing. They played songs off their new album No Pattern. "The band is Gina Pensiero and Sean Lango," the bassist told me at the end of the set. "We are part of the live band," he said with a proud smile.
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| Soft Center |
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| Soft Center |
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| Soft Center |
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| Soft Center |
The next band to hit the stage was one of my favorite bands I have had the opportunity to see live this year. I have had the pleasure to see this native Jersey City band three times. This was the first band I covered for the blog, so I am very biased. Oh, and they kick ass live which might be another reason to be biased. They came on board with tons of energy as this was their last show of the year.They opened with the song "Elizabeth" which has become one of my favorite tunes. Deep down I always think Lily is singing about Exit 13 on the turnpike. Just a little wishful thinking. Or am I right?
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| Long Neck |
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| Long Neck |
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| Long Neck |
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| Long Neck |
Dark Thoughts came a-blazin' with some down and dirty punk. The three piece band from Philadelphia sped up the show, and it filled me up with something I've been missing. They have an authentic punk flavor to their songs that had me feeling like I didn't quite miss out on the 80s punk scene. It was happening now, and didn't matter that my ears would shatter if i didn't have my ear plugs on.
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| Dark Thoughts |
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| Dark Thoughts |
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| Dark Thoughts |
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| Dark Thoughts |
Next up was the headliner, and I could't help but notice the lead singer. She seemed familiar. I didn't realize it was Allison Crutchfield which a quick search later that night made the old light bulb go off. They brought the shy crowd closer to the stage, and the music rang. I love Allison's voice and stage presence. It was great that this band reunited so I can be a part of their nostalgic musical gathering.
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| Swearin' |
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| Swearin' |
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| Swearin' |
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| Swearin' |
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| Swearin' |
After the show all the anxieties of the week seemed to leave me. It's all in the experience of feeling the bass in your body, hearing words from the heart, and seeing music lovers come out in the cold. As I rode through one of my favorite Jersey locations and off into dark Route 7, I jammed out to "Elizabeth" for the gazillionth time. The week was finally over.
All of the pictures from the evening are in Rosi's Flickr galleries. Also, maybe give her a follow on Instagram at @rosi_music79.
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