Mr. Jr.

The Cavern is a great little bar underneath a hostel. This creates a great atmosphere of new ears for bands to play for as well as their existing fans. It’s a great thing that the traveler’s at the hostel were so friendly, as the room is so small that you will end up sharing your table. This led to great opportunities to learn about different places and to promote bands that everyone is a fan of.

Mr. Jr. kicked the show off with their trademark whimsical folk-punk sound. Taking to the stage without their drummer, Mr. Jr. instantly had the standing room only crowd captivated. The set took us on a free-roaming trek through country, punk, folk, Southern rock and East-coast sounds; providing a constantly fresh experience for us in the audience. Lead singer Michelle delivers lyrics that showcase a life of experiences in a deceptively innocent voice. Mr. Jr. writes songs using uplifting chordal progressions that leave the audience feeling happier. Speaking of happy, 19 Days has to be the happiest song ever written to commemorate a break-up. tinyurl.com/gnb9m2x

Next up was Lowfills, a band that I had not heard of before. Instantly, they spoke to me. There is a Spaghetti Western quality to the Lowfills sound – to the point that I kept half expecting to see a tumbleweed blow through the room. To say that Lowfills is strictly a Western band does them a disservice; they also have a spooky and eerie sound that combines perfectly with the lap guitar. The beat of the music synced up perfectly with my interior rhythm, my heart matching with the bass and kick. I was not the only person in the room to be woken up to the intense talent Lowfills showcased, I watched as many of the folks staying upstairs began tearing up the dance floor. tinyurl.com/hcfkrny

London Stone headlined the night. I have had the pleasure of knowing for almost a year and have enjoyed watching as they have musically matured. The four guys gel so well on stage, no single member ever overshadowing any of the others. It was beautiful to re-experience a great show with absolutely zero ego on display. Jordan has added a nice layer of gravel and power to his vocal delivery that is really helping to put London Stone on the right path to what will eventually become their sound. London Stone is a pure rock band, that always reminds me of the musicianship on display in the 60s and 70s where musicians could improv on stage and just vamp – a skill that seems to be disappearing from the modern scene. I have always used the term sensual to describe their sound, but what was displayed Friday was music as sex. They maintained the sensuality, but had added a power to their delivery that invokes images of a strong passionate relationship. tinyurl.com/glmz48q - Shannon Groves