The Bends 4-year-anniversary in St. Petersburg, Florida on September 2, 2016. Credit: Brian Mahar

On Friday night, The Bends in St. Petersburg, Florida was even more packed than usual as they celebrated their fourth anniversary along with hundreds of their friends who filled the First Avenue dive as well as the sidewalk around it. If you could get in, you might’ve taken a shot or seven and had your ear holes filled with the sounds of St. Pete’s Alexander & the Grapes, Orlando’s Wet Nurse, or The Gun Hoes from Miami.

Brian Mahar fenegaled a spot up front and came back with some shots of his own, which you can see — along with some tunage from The Gun Hoes — below.

The Gun Hoes play The Bends’ 4-year anniversary in St. Petersburg, Florida on September 2, 2016. Credit: Brian Mahar

Alexander & the Grapes play The Bends’ 4-year anniversary in St. Petersburg, Florida on September 2, 2016. Credit: Brian Mahar

The Gun Hoes play The Bends’ 4-year anniversary in St. Petersburg, Florida on September 2, 2016. Credit: Brian Mahar

(L-R) Andre “Black Viking God” Jones, The Gun Hoes’ Nico Toussaint, and Alexander Charos at The Bends’ 4-year anniversary in St. Petersburg, Florida on September 2, 2016. Credit: Brian Mahar

Alexander & the Grapes play The Bends’ 4-year anniversary in St. Petersburg, Florida on September 2, 2016. Credit: Brian Mahar

Orlando’s Wet Nurse outside The Bends 4-year-anniversary in St. Petersburg, Florida on September 2, 2016. Credit: Brian Mahar

The Bends 4-year-anniversary in St. Petersburg, Florida on September 2, 2016. Credit: Brian Mahar

Alexander & the Grapes play The Bends’ 4-year anniversary in St. Petersburg, Florida on September 2, 2016. Credit: Brian Mahar

This article appears in Sep 1-8, 2016.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...