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Heads Will Roll, Charlevoix, Speakeasy,
Karate for Kids, Latterman
Fort Totally Awesome
7-11-03
Recently in Cleveland there was a club
that had really bad business practices with bands. At this club things
like increased ticket prices from prices advertised, fewer bands playing
than advertised, canceling bands for not selling tickets, and having
overly-aggressive security were all the norm. On July tenth this club
went out of business for good reasons, but never told two Detroit bands who
had booked a date there on their mini-tour that shop had closed up for good.
On July Eleventh said Detroit bands went to their scheduled show and were
just locked out. No explanation, nothing, so someone brought up a
place where they could maybe play instead: Fort Totally Awesome. The
Fort, being what it is, added the bands no questions asked to the Karate for
Kids farewell show with Long Island DIY staples Speakeasy and Latterman.
Heads Will Roll got things going with their
own solid set of hardcore songs. The songs were well done and had
contagious riffs on top of solid backups, something you don't see too often
from a three-piece Hardcore act. Halfway through the set they reminded
everyone that "Never ever call Detroit, Detroit Rock City! If someone
does this, kick their ass! Only kids from the suburbs call it that.
Which we are, but we have friends who are (finger quotes) urban and they
wouldn't stand for it."
Charlevoix took up the floor next with some
melodic female made rock that impressed in every aspect. Someone said
one of the members was related to someone from small brown bike, but I never
figured out who. Regardless of the differences between HWR and
Charlevoix, Detroit should be damn proud of what it has going on in these
two fine bands.
Next on the stage was Speakeasy and their
Blues influenced take on punk rock. Think the Pogues meets Blues
Traveler, but kicks a little more ass. The ball was already rolling
and this four piece kept it going full force as 90 percent of the crowd knew
all the words. ("Crowd" at FTA usually is 20-30 people which isn't bad for a
house basement). I believe numbers surpassed eighty people in and out
all night.
Finally the band I went to see, Karate for
Kids, took the stage playing punk favorites like "Attention Ms. Pacman
There is a Warrant out for your Death" and some new tunes they were showing off on tour.
By the time they were done everyone was singing along or at least pretending
to. Expect a split with Caligula from these kids sometime soon on D.S.
records.
After all the good bands that had already
played, Long Island's Latterman definitely had their work cut out for them.
But in true headliner fashion they shined through playing a more melodic
take on punk rock that complimented everything already seen in the evening.
The songs were catchy, fast and upbeat in their messages, really a
refreshing listen after the popularity of dark, depressing music that isn't
even that good like thursday, from autumn to ashes. (The Nate)
For pictures click
here.
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