Pickle Park Playlist

I went to G.B. Leighton's Pickle Park music venue last Sunday to support my friends in local bands Ashes from Stone, and ended up hearing great sets by them, locals Life Tragic and Whither the Tide and New Zealand natives Like A Storm. Got to hear some great music, a little didgeridoo and electronic drums, and hang out with some good friends. Oh, and I got to see the Vikings win the first preseason football game of the year, too!

The show started with MN natives Life Tragic. They had a heavier Alice in Chains and Soundgarden kind of vibe to their music, which was about a half-dozen originals. I dug this band, and appreciated the fact that they interpreted the Prince pop song "When Doves Cry" into a metal composition uniquely their own.

Next up were my buddies in Ashes From Stone. They played a shorter set than I was used to, but they still carried on with their usual style and flair. Frontman Andrew Allen Owens broke a guitar string during their very first song, but still soldiered on with a strong performance. If you haven't heard these guys, I'd strongly recommend that you catch a show and pick up a copy of their debut album Riots and Riddles. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

The final opener were Minnesotans Whither The Tide. This was my third time seeing this band play live, the last time being at the Totally Fukn Awesome Fest at the Skyway Theater in downtown Minneapolis in June. I was impressed by their original songs, kind of a mix between nu-metal groups like Saliva, Live and Tonic with some strong electronic elements and a good video show behind them. I was glad that I got to talk to the lead singer after the show about some of his antics, like walking into the crowd during the middle of a song.

I didn't know anything about the headliners, but some of my friends assured me Like A Storm would put on a good show, and sure enough, they were right. I was chatting with some of my friends in the back of Pickle Park near the merch booths when we heard the sounds of a didgeridoo. That made me curious, so I walked towards the concert stage to see what was going on. It was the start of a great rock song, and they really got the crowd into their show. While I couldn't stay the for the whole performance, I definitely liked what I heard, and made a mental note to myself on the drive home to check them out later.

Well, that's all for now, folks - next show will be Nonpoint and 10 Years at the Wicked Moose Bar & Grill in Rochester, MN on Thursday night. Until then, have a great week, everyone!