open-mic night. Common Grounds

For the past few months i have been going to the open mic nights every Monday at Common Grounds in Lexington, Ky. A few of my friends will play acoustic sets, but usually i end up seeing a mass amount of locals doing cover songs, or reading really awkward poetry. I particularly enjoy seeing all of the typical young blonde girls get on stage and sing a terrible version of a 90's love song and expect all of the boys to throw themselves at her when she is finished, which is what happens every time! It's really a hilarious evening.

The coffee shop is usually packed with college aged kids and older war-bashing men every Monday. Everyone either sits around and stares at a laptop, or discusses current politics and argues their points. My friends and i usually go to pass out flyers for upcomming punk shows and to make new friends with people that we enjoy seeing play that evening. Open mic night is a great way to bring people together, have your voice heard, and make new friends.

Rudy Hearts Matilda, Crucial Funhouse

Last night I ended up at an unexpected show featuring Timeshares, and Rudy Hearts Matilda, a pop punk band with a bit of ska, from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. Ive known of their singer, Dylan Sizemore, from his past shows as a solo song writer and performer. But his colaboration with some local awesome highschool kids have created a great band that will surely have every single one of their songs stuck in your head, or the trumpet tunes humming from your mouth.

This was the first big show at the crucial funhouse of the summer. The attic was remarkebly hot, kids were ripping their clothes off and dancing together. People were also slipping on the floors from the amount of sweat dripping down. It was a mess, but very very fun.

After they were finished playing, everyone rushed downstairs to the freezing air of the summer night and collapsed in the yard. It was a refreshing and positive filled show.

The Wild, Crucial Funhouse

It's 12:41am, i just got home from seeing The Wild play at my friend Anthony's house, a.k.a. "The Crucial funhouse," located in downtown Lexington, on KY ave.

This was hands down, the best show i have ever been to in my life. This was the biggest show that has ever been at Anthony's house, people came from miles and miles away to see The Wild, it was amazing.

As soon as the band showed up and set up, everyone piled into the attic and got a good spot next to their closest friends. I leaned to my friend and whispered "Its about to get wild!" Then, the band started and we all began chanting the words so loudly. We danced so unitedly, the heat was rising in that attic, feet were stomping, i nearly thought the floor would cave and we were all going to end up in the living room below.

Then the circle pit began, it became hotter than ever, we were sweating, screaming, singing, linking arms and smiling so big. The girl playing tambourine took her shirt off, my nice friend Melody took her shirt off, and soon enough, mine was pulled over my head and thrown across the room. If the boys can take their shirts off, we can too!

The Wild played lovely songs with harmonica and tambourine and guitar and drums, i especially love the harmonica. It's like folky type, poppy punk music, according to me. I love them so so much, perfect summer-time music. When the last song was comming to an end, the singer jumped up on the bass drum. We all took the cue, ran up in a heap, put our arms in the air and accepted his crowd surfing like it was the greatest gift of all!

After the set was over, we all ran downstairs and collapsed in the yard, gasping for fresh, cool air. The summer night was so embracing to all of us. This show was the greatest way to kick off spring break of 2010. I expect to see The Wild play again this summer at Crucial Fun Fest.

Algernon Cadwallader in Louisville, Skull Alley

This past Saturday i went to see one of my favorite bands, Algernon Cadwallader play in Louisville, KY. We began our journey around 6pm, but first we had to pick up a strange boy to bring along. He said he had his own clothing line, and smoked cigarettes like they were going out of style, but i enjoyed his backseat company.

Before arriving at the venue, we stopped and had falafel at a nicely named restaurant 'Falafel House.' I thought to myself, "kind of like waffle house, but with falafel." I had never had this type of food, it was delicious! The russian waitress also brought me a Coke, made with real sugar, in a glass bottle. "How fancy is that?" i also thought. All sorts of new things were comming my way.

After filling our bellies we drove down to the venue to meet a hoard of kids in tight jeans and band tees, smoking cigarettes and texting quietly. We stood outside in circles, waited on the backseat stranger to finish his cigarette, and headed inside. We paid our 5 bucks to the burly red headed boy and crowded into the main room where the bands played.

A really great hardcore-ish type band played first, Mountain Asleep. They play around the Lexington area a lot, but this was my first time seeing them, it was great! Stage dives were comming from left and right, i loved it. The crowd always seems to make the show a lot better.

Finally, Algernon Cadwallader played. Everyone piled up and waited patiently as the band tuned and made silly remarks into the microphones. Thier drummer was insane, id never seen a person behave so silly. Once the music started, we all became a room full of chanting, happy children. We danced, we high-fived, and we stage dived. It seemed like the set ended just as soon as it had began. I hurried to the merch table, bought my 8 dollar T-shirt and made it outside to join the circles of cigarette smoke again. My cheeks were red, my throat was sore, and I felt stoked on life.

"Stage dives, or GTFO"

Good Luck in Columbus, OH

This past Saturday i caught a ride to Columbus to see one of my favorite bands; Good Luck. Good Luck is a super exciting pop punk band from Bloomington, Indiana. Everyone came together to dance and sing along to songs about love and growing up. We all felt like we became best friends in that moment.

Ive seen Good Luck play too many times to remember, but every time is definitely amazing. You are garanteed to leave the show with a sore throat, new friends, and the most positive feelings ever.

Lemuria in Louisville

Tonight i will be seeing one of my favorite bands, Lemuria. Ive seen them play a few times before, but every time, i am just as excited. They're a female fronted indie/pop-punk band from Buffalo, NY.

We will surely be dancing, singing-along, and yelling our hearts out all night.