An affordable Friday night concert with lots of variation: what more is there to ask for?
Later today, Peabody’s introduces a sharp lineup of 12 local bands, including headliner Affiance, a Cleveland favorite. This concert, presented by BravoArtist, is a CD release show for Affiance, whose second album, The Campaign, will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
The 11 other bands are Wilson, Sirens & Sailors, Skies of December, Along Came a Spider, Envoi, Cinema Sleep, These Reasoning Animals, Visionaries, Reflections of a Ghost, Strangers to Wolves, Of Myth and Legend, Motives, and Lakota de Kai. Though this long list is quite a mouthful, each band has a different taste to add to the concert’s platter.
These Reasoning Animals guitarist Kevin Nielsen believes “this lineup consists of almost every band that has successfully made a name for themselves in the Cleveland scene.”
What I would call “varied metal music” is going to be shown not only by Affiance, but also Skies of December, Sirens & Sailors, Visionaries, Of Myth and Legend, and Along Came a Spider. If one thing’s for sure, metal lovers will adore this concert.
All of the music is on the heavier side, but the concert offers more than just metal. Different types of hardcore music will be performed by Strangers to Wolves, Motives, and Reflections of a Ghost. Each provides a different take on the genre, twisting in flares of indie and rock.
Cinema Sleep brings in alternative rock with steady beats and some light synth effects. Their music is packed with emotion, changing with its catchy guitar chords and layered vocals. Wilson, a different band that currently showcases many bearded musicians, performs heavier rock, landing hefty guitar chords against excited drum parts and screeching vocals.
I never knew there were so many different flavors of rock, but even more join in the Believe in Cleveland lineup.
With a female singer and a sound reminiscent of Paramore, Envoi’s melodic punk-ish music diverges from the heavy tones of hardcore and metal. Guitarist Dave Tirpak states, “We love a good hook, but equally indulge in tasty riffs.” This band is difficult to place into a single genre, and will certainly bring something interesting to the mix of bands.
The other two bands are also difficult to label. However, These Reasoning Animals and Lakota de Kai are nothing alike. These Reasoning Animals is a progressive/rock band that drifts into funk and nu jazz while still maintaining its rock atmosphere. Some songs have echo-y, faraway feels and others make the crowd dance with excited rhythms and melodies.
Lakota de Kai mixes catchy guitar riffs with touches of screamo, but comes out more indie than many of the metal bands. Guitarist Nathan Staab says, “I feel that we bring something a little unique and fresh to the Cleveland music scene.”
The doors open at 5:30 p.m. for this concert, and the show starts at 6:00. Tickets at the door cost $12 but VIP tickets are also available for $15. The VIP package includes a meet and greet with Affiance, an autographed Affiance poster and early entry to the entire concert.
There’s a special connection offered at local shows that bands and audiences just cannot get from bigger performances and more prestigious venues. Tirpak puts it best when he says he and his band “enjoy nothing more than seeing our peers connect with our music as we perform.”
