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Concert Wed Dec 17 2014
Shake It Up: Gapers Block Holiday Concert
The crowd cheers at the Metro. Photo: Jim Vondruska
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2014 Holiday Show at the Metro. It was a great time, and we were blown away by Pop Goes the Evil, the Kickback, Archie Powell & the Exports, and MUTTS.
It was definitely a family affair for the bands, with them all coming together for a finale of Paul McCartney's "Monkberry Moon Delight." It was also a big moment for MUTTS as they released their latest album, Fuel Yer Delusion vol. 4.
Whether you were there or not, here are some photos, videos, and reviews of the night.
Pop Goes the Evil. Photo: Jim Vondruska
Cincinnati's Pop Goes the Evil kicked things off with heavy, slow rock made menacing by ominous lyrics sung with sing-song flair. It was an energetic set, capped off by possibly the longest cymbal-smashing "rock ending" I've ever seen a band perform live.
- Mike Ewing
The Kickback. Photo: Jim Vondruska
The Kickback's final song "Rob Our House" was easily the brightest spot in their set. What was an already energetic rock band transformed into this all-out guttural punk rant. Frontman Billy Yost quickly explained the true nature of the songs origins; recounting the feeling of coming home to find his home broken into. Thus began gentle chords before collapsing into quick hard riffs with Yost tearing into his robbers with uneasy despair filled with a justified anger. The song was really different from the rest of the set, feeling more like an explosive spoken word outburst. Yost tied the entire night together in the spontaneous whelps of the song, calling back to his covetousness of Clive Owen's white boots from The Knick and the big shows he's seen at the Metro. Between bouts of merciless denigration, the band chimed in with the melodic exclamation "Rob our house! Rob it!" It was a perfect cherry bomb placed atop their set.
- Julian Ramirez
Archie Powell & the Exports. Photo: Jim Vondruska
Archie Powell is a true showman. He and his Exports are able to craft a blend of rebellious, wit-infused rock combined with their Midwestern charm as native Chicagoans. Though they were the third act of the night with one more to go, Archie Powell & The Exports put on an energized, headline-level set as they showcased music off of their three full-length albums. Their most recent release from this year, Back in Black, has been named one of the best local releases on countless lists this season, and I look forward to seeing where they continue to progress to. Delighting the audience with songs such as the rocking "Only So Much You Can Do," and hometown favorite, "A Waltz For Old Jeppson (Carl's Theme)", yes, a song about the delightful beverage Malort, Archie Powell & The Exports got everyone dancing along with their inviting and dynamic set.
- Sarah Brooks
Mike Maimone's deep croon washed over the band's mix of raggedy jazz and funky blues with a dynamic impact. For the uninitiated, the cavernous growls may seem out of place but after the first line of "Junior" you know there couldn't be a sweeter concoction. Add in the swigs of Jameson between songs and you have the perfect setup to fuel Mutts impassioned performance. Maimone blew up on the chorus, easily getting the song's dual message of following you father's footsteps across with wonderful force. Throughout the night he slammed down on his keyboard with feet, practically dancing on the instrument. The was no holding back from Mutts as Maimone rose up on to his seat overlooking his audience with arms outstretched.
- Julian Ramirez
MUTTS performs "Everyone is Everyone Else." Video: Encapsulate Music
The bands unite to perform Paul McCartney's "Monkberry Moon Delight." Photo: Jim Vondruska
The final song of the night was a really fitting way to send off the night. I don't know what I was expecting but seeing all the bands come together and just rock it out was so much fun. Archie Powell was a ball of energy shuffling back and forth as he sang with Mike Maimone. There wasn't a clash of egos or one-upmanship in the collaboration. Just everyone celebrating in song on stage and having a blast doing it.
- Julian Ramirez