Friday night brought all of the funky weirdos out to play at Tampa's staple for anything and everything rad, Crowbar. This particular evening carried a more laid back and easy going vibe than what we are typically used to seeing at the venue. The floor was less packed, and the back patio now decked out with a couple of cool picnic tables was comfortably spread out with groups of cheerful partygoers bouncing around rhythmically to the roulette of songs you'd forgotten about on the juke box. We grew roots in a couple of chairs near a shadowy table within easy eye sight of the stage just as Ybor City's own noise punk band, Mushmind, was gearing up to get weird.
The four piece to sum it up was strange AF. Their goofy and sporadic energy resonated wildly with those willing to give them a set of honest eyes and ears. From beginning to end they went straight up balls to the wall while thrashing to some really heavy rifts and punchy beats. At one point in time the lead singer started chewing on the microphone mid song like a rabid dog while contorting his body on the ground while tangled in cables. Mushmind was completely unapologetically self, and quite the spectacle to kick things off.
Up next was Ninehorn, a group of talented Tampa, Florida cool kids with an affinity for rock music and mustaches. No seriously, everybody in the band had a wicked mustache and/or beard going which only served to gently support their melodic lyrical content as it saturated the audience. But not in a weird way or anything. Ninehorn's sound reminded us of some smoke billowing locomotive hauling ass through the mountains or something while cracking wise guy jokes at pit stops. This cohesive band of brothers put on a truly charismatic show filled with sonic dynamics that really made you want to pick up their FREE new EP entitled Extended Play coming to the interwebs in the near future.
Rounding out the night with a big bang came the band with a name that would make most of you mothers blush. Black Pussy, hailing from the Portland area has been doing the damn thing for a while, and if you believe in time travel their bell bottoms and paisleys pretty much give away that they are from another era. These guys reeked of fine botanicals and good times, and their groovy tunes had the whole room jiving and swaying with cheesy grins. Regardless of what trouble may come their way for the controversial band name, Black Pussy stands up for staying true to what you believe in, loving one another, having fun, and being a positive influence on the people around you.
All in all this was a well priced and well put together shindig from Joe D'Acunto and Brokenmold Entertainment. Thanks again to Crowbar, and all of the bands that made this a night worth remembering!
Love,
DEA & SAINT
