My First Rock Show
Definitely using this experience to prepare to see Paramore live in a few months.
LibCor, Grog Shop
Thursday, September 8th, 2022 was my very first rock/alternative show. The Grog Shop featured Ohio bands: Zuck’s Turkey Farm, Four Times Louder, Prithee, and LibCor. My first live rock experience consisted of seeing all the bands supporting one another, mini mosh pits forming in the tiny venue, and of course amazing instrumentals. I’ve been to the Grog Shop a few times before for rap acts Jack Harlow and JID, but never for a live band.
The first band to grace the stage was Columbus’s very own Zuck’s Turkey Farm. They played about four or five songs, but towards the middle of their set was my favorite, it was at this point I sensed a beautiful pattern within their music; most of their songs from that night start off with a fast and intense tempo, then it simmers towards the end with a slower tempo. I wish their music were on streaming platforms today so I could pinpoint some of my favorite tracks of the night!
Next up, was my new favorite band from Cleveland (with such a sick name) Four Times Louder. They definitely lived up to their title, being the loudest act of the night. The day before the show, I gave a listen to their debut album “Radioplay” which has one of the coolest, most cinematic introductions to a rock album I’ve heard in a long time.
The band consists of lead singer Steven Kager, Gus Jansen on bass, Chris Mitchell on guitar, and Jimmy Reboudo on drums. Some highlights of their set included an amazing Foo Fighters tribute, as well as when Kager shows that he knows how to control a crowd and the energy in the room. I was shocked when he somehow forced everyone out of their seats to come to the front of the stage and then, later on, separates the crowd in half and has everyone jump in the middle and dance.
The chemistry between all of the band members provided such a great vibe in the room and made the night that much more fun. I wish them nothing but luck on their musical journey.
Prithee took the stage next performing songs from their alternative album “TwoWonSicks”-an energetic, wild, and animalistic half an hour experience. Again, I listened to their music before the show to get a taste of what to expect Thursday night. I was pleasantly surprised with how different they sounded, with tracks like Spinabifida, Go Wild!, Apple Seed, and Spanish Rustbucket being my favorites.
The oohs, whistles, and animal sounds sprinkled in their songs add some seasoning to their records. Go Wild! Has some amazing electric guitar in the middle that slows down and transitions into quiet acoustics. The juxtaposition between the high and low voices was mixed in so well. The personality of lead singer Berdt Barrios is so infectious and entertaining to watch live.
Last but not least LibCor takes the stage. I was first introduced to LibCor one August evening through one of my coolest aunts. I was told her boyfriend’s sister, Olivia Lee, was playing at the Grog Shop the following month and I should check it out. I was sent a link to listen to “Less Is More” off of their 2021 EP “Cut The Rope.” I, later on, dove into the alternative record some more. with tracks from their EP, Cut The Rope. The Look Out, and No Exit stood out to me the most.
LibCor consists of lead vocals and guitar, Olivia Lee, Corey Kurtz on acoustic guitar, Mike Deane on bass, and Jake Campian on drums. I did some further research on the group and found that some may describe their genre as “mystical alternative” which I think suits them perfectly. I couldn’t help but imagine their music being a part of the original soundtrack to the video game series Life Is Strange which features other alternative artists like Syd Matters, and Bright Eyes. If I could, I'd submit “Everybody’s Pretty Good” and “Perception” to be in the background of any movie or video game centered around nature and the beauty of small towns. Their music just has a warm and welcoming vibe to it and was a great way to end the night.
Stream LibCor, Prithee, and Four Times Louder all on Spotify
