Bucky's 1st Concert of 2015: Romantic Rebel, 3 Years Hollow, Islander and Red at Pov's

Good morning bloggers!

Just getting up and at 'em after my first concert of 2015. Last night I went to Pov's in Spring Lake Park, MN (Twin Cities suburbs, near Blaine) for the show featuring Romantic Rebel, 3 Years Hollow, Islander and Red. I went into the show not knowing much about any of the bands or their music. I had zero expectations and ended up having a great time!

I got to the venue on a spring-like March afternoon about 6 p.m. I ended up talking to a few Red fans before the show. Not knowing much about the headliner, I was surprised by the growing line of fans outside the venue. The doors opened at 7 p.m. and I took my place in the middle of the front row with the fans I'd been talking to earlier.

The first band, Romantic Rebel, took the stage right at 8 p.m. I had taken the time to listen to some of their songs on Spotify a couple of weeks ago, and I was impressed by their stage presence and positive energy. Lead singer KT Paige jumped to the crowd barrier, and I took her hand for a few minutes. Impressed by their show, I made a mental note to pick up their album at the merch table after the show.

The next band, 3 Years Hollow, was the one act on the bill that I knew something about. I'd bought a copy of their full-length CD The Cracks on Amazon last year, and was glad to hear some of my favorite songs on the disc played live. Lead singer Jose Urquiza mentioned that the album was produced by Sevendust guitarist/singer Clint Lowery in the middle of their set, and when he asked if there were any Sevendust fans in the audience, drummer Ryan Bennett Oxendine pointed to me and my Sevendust shirt immediately. Eye Empire drummer Oxendine was recruited for their tour when their regular drummer and bass guitarist left the band (bass tracks were supplied by a tablet computer for the show), and I was glad I got to talk Minnesota Vikings football with him after the show. One of their guitarists gave me one of their set lists after their performance, another souvenir that's now proudly displayed on my rock wall of fame at home.

Third act Islander soon took the stage, and I was surprised their guitarist was wearing a fake dinosaur tail onstage! That's something I've never seen at a show before. The nu-metal band had a kind of Rage Against the Machine vibe, which the crowd fed off of. I had to be careful as some of the band members crowd surfed next to and behind me. At the end of their set, I felt something that I at first thought was a camera strap behind me, only to realize that it was the guitarist's guitar strap, not seeing him having jumped into the audience to my left.

Shortly before 10:30 p.m., headliners Red took the stage. Their rotating lights and fog machines made it hard to photograph and even see the band at times, but the crowd was into their music from the very first note. I thought they did a great job onstage, playing several tracks from their new album Of Beauty and Rage. I did some research later and found out they were associated with Christian rock, which was probably why I didn't know much about them before the show. There were a few references to God during the set, but it wasn't so much a sermon as a musical journey, one that reminded me of 30 Seconds to Mars with their stage presence and pre-recorded symphonic and keyboard elements.

Being in the front row, I was jostled around like a sack of potatoes at times during the last couple of sets, but as always I came out unharmed. I made my way to the back of the venue where I bought a T-shirt from 3 Years Hollow that came with a copy of their new CD. I got to chat with all of the guys and had them sign the CD and setlist that I'd gotten earlier. I also got to talk to the members of Romantic Rebel, bought their new CD that came with a free sticker, and posed for a photo op with the band. I got to interact with members of all the bands onstage last night, so that alone made for a very memorable evening.

Hard to believe my first concert of the year has come and gone already. I can't wait for my second concert, this Thursday back at Pov's featuring The Glorious Sons, Luminoth, Otherwise and 10 Years! Until then, have a great weekend, everyone!