Foxtide and hallpass Usher In New Week With Perfect Sunday Night Show
I don't know if or when the high I got from the Yungblud show on Saturday night at The Armory will ever wear off. It was just one of those truly spectacular kinds of shows and really set the bar for all bands. That being said, I'm not naive. I know that the majority of the shows I go to do not have the budget that Yungblud does and, quite frankly, just do not have the same amount of energy. Although Sunday night at the 7th Street Entry felt super mundane when compared to Yungblud, there was something just as special about seeing two up-and-coming bands lay it all out on the small stage of the Entry as if their lives depended on it.
Athens, Georgia-based hallpass wasted no time helping the audience dive into an indie rock world that felt as standard as it did unique. I'll be the first to admit that indie rock and indie pop music don't do much for me the majority of the time. It's the kind of music that I put on during a hard day at work because I know it will keep me going, but also not distract me. hallpass distracted me. Sure, it was a standard indie-rock kind of vibe, but there was something extraordinary about the connection between the members of this band. I couldn't quite put my finger on it as it was subtle, but there were these glances shot between members, and these very subtle head nods towards each other that told me everything I needed to know about this band. This wasn't just a band playing music; this was a group of friends laying their hearts on the stage for all to see, and that's what made their opening set really dazzle on Sunday night.
The only other band on the bill on Sunday night at the 7th Street Entry was Foxtide. I had never heard of this band before this show, and was honestly at this show on a whim and because there wasn't much else going on in town. You can call it an accident, call it a fluke, I'll go ahead and call it fate. Like hallpass, Foxtide's sound is very well situated in the indie-rock, indie-pop world, but there was a glitter of something extra when it came to this band's music. They had this almost retro hue to their sound that instantly reminded me of The Strokes. Although not as in-your-face or amped up as The Strokes, I loved that this little influence really set Foxtide apart from other bands in the scene and made the night feel like so much more than just two indie-rock bands.
Like hallpass, Foxtide has this energy about them that reads like a band that has everything to prove, nothing to lose, but, at the same time, everything they did on stage felt so effortless. They didn't have to try to get the audience involved; that happened organically and within the first song. They didn't have to really concentrate on what they were doing on their respective instruments because, clearly, they knew what they were doing. It seemed that everything came so easily to this band on Sunday night, but I know that's not the reality. The reality is that Foxtide (and hallpass) are grinding their way to the top. What does "the top" look like for a band like this? Honestly, it's hard to say, but I could tell from Foxtide's set that there is no stopping this band and, eventually, they will get there.
Sunday night wasn't a poorly attended show or anything like that, but it also wasn't a sold-out show. Why? There was very little going on outside of this show. Sure, the Timberwolves were playing just a block away, but I know a lot of people don't really pay attention and just use sportsball games to have a few drinks. You can have a few drinks at a show. Although Yungblud's show on Saturday night really set the bar as far as live performances go, it also reminded me why I do this night after night and why I go to shows like this one that may not be 100% up my alley. Seeing something new keeps life interesting. Hearing new music keeps me creative and keeps my heart full. Seeing some young bands as they grind to the top fills me with motivation. What I'm trying to say is that you may not know what you're going to get by going to a show you know nothing about, but I promise that you will get something. Whether that's a new favorite band, a new item or merch, or just a new song to help you get through the hard days, you will get something, so stop spending your evenings at home on the couch. Get out there and enjoy some live music. There's something for everyone out there, and there are truly no excuses.