I got off work at 4:30 p.m. and navigated my way to the Twin Cities suburbs where I was carpooling with another fellow metalhead friend. Despite the usually busy Friday rush hour traffic, we both got to our meeting place at a decent time, and I drove us to Hipps on a cloudy afternoon.
No sooner had we arrived at the club when the first person we saw was my good friend. He's been a fan and friend of Seasons After for a while now, so we knew we were in for a good time. We spent some time catching up and meeting some new friends before the first band, Chippewa Valley natives Frantic Antics opened the show. They mixed in original songs with covers of songs by Rage Against the Machine, Green Day and a punk rock cover of Johnny Cash's "Folsom County Blues" that was outstanding!
The next band was Chicago natives Romantic Rebel. I'd heard the band live at Pov's in Spring Lake Park, MN last month, so I knew to expect an energetic set. It was good to hear them play an extended set of songs from their self-titled album. I also got to congratulate singer KT Paige and bassist Danny Rebel on a great show after their set.
Before Romantic Rebel's set, I wandered over to Seasons After's merch table to buy their CDs and have the band members autograph them. I was a fan of their current single "Lights Out," and before long I saw firsthand why my buddy liked this band. My traveling friend and I were in the front row to witness the powerful musicianship of this Wichita, Kansas-based quintet. The band had the crowd's full attention from the first note of the first song to the very end, as guitarist Jim Beattie played a cover of "In the Air Tonight" and a killer version of the Van Halen classic "Eruption."
My friends and I were duly impressed by the show. My only concern that there weren't more people at the venue to experience such an amazing show. Tickets were only $8 apiece in advance for three great bands - how can you NOT go to this show?
If you're a Seasons After fan, they will be playing at Pov's on 65 in Spring Lake Park, MN with MN rockers Arrows At Dawn and headliners Flaw. I'll see you there! Until next time, have a great week, everyone!