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Northside Band Crushes

Vanity Project

In a criminally under-attended show at Black Bear Bar on a Sunday afternoon, I sipped on a Bloody Mary and watched Vanity Project surround the dark, empty venue. Just outside, the light from the patio shown in, and gradually more people shuffled in to hear the band. Vanity Project, a duo based out of New York, absolutely rips on the drums and croons with romantic vocals. Not unlike Silversun Pickups, Vanity Project brought a Karen O-on-a-surf-rock-bender vibe straight through Northside and onto Wythe.

Big Quiet

Like a shot in the night, Marisa Cerio blared furiously on the guitar, while her vocals projected the confidence and badass appeal of Joan Jett with just a single wail. A bit of jingly-jangly punk rock mixed with indie pop, Big Quiet is bouncy with electricity, to the point where Cerio was out of breathe in between every song. Though the back room of Black Bear Bar isn’t particularly big, I have no doubt that Big Quiet could cause quite a ruckus given the chance in a large, packed-out venue.

Holy Tunics

If you’ve read any of my interviews, then you’re familiar with my penchant for surf-punk rock and rollers. Thankfully, I happened upon Holy Tunics and quickly found what I was looking for. This handsome band, of seemingly nondescript origin, works a crowd like professionals, and as I sat back in the bar, I watched the many heads in the crowd bop up and down. I was particularly taken with the drummer, who mouthed along to all the songs and complained, out of breath, that he needed to quick smoking. Holy Tunics possess the panache of newcomers Twin Peaks, and if their trajectory counts for anything, I foresee packed gigs for these boys.

Against Me! 

Against the hot asphalt on McCarren Park on Saturday afternoon, my organs boiled over as I stood in the center of the crowd, anticipating a band I had always heard about but never actually listened to: Against Me! I remember “hardcore” friends of mine in high school (those who *really* wanted a tattoo and whose parents let them have parties) loved Against Me!, and after having seen the band, it’s not hard to understand why.

Fronted by commanding voice of all-around badass Laura Jane Grace, who wore a timely “Gender is Over” tank, Against Me! didn’t take long to rally the troops of tenacious fans; quickly, I felt as if I were in a small Irish bar with everyone singing the same drinking songs. Grace’s long, thick auburn hair flew across her face, and, completely unfazed, she rocked on with the band behind her, leaving everyone absolutely electrified. Though I could have done without the malevolent heat of the sun, Against Me! conquered the park and brought a little stability to the waves of new bands at Northside.

Review by Eva.



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