The Loft, Friday May 21st

The Loft was packed with good music and good people Friday night... and it almost drowned out the music pumping from Harem.
Starting off the night was El Es Days. By the name of the band I was preparing myself for a pop punk band, especially paired with the style and people that came along with them. However, this band was harder than a pop punk band mixed with stoner rock. It was strictly instrumental, and somehow having no vocals seemed to work for them. The lack of vocals allowed the crowd to appreciate the skill level of the guitar, drums, and bass. The classic guitar riffs made this (I'm guessing) 17-year-old guitar player seem like an original member of a 80s band. The bass player's feet never stopped moving which was a great compliment to the crowd dancing along. Too bad that half the time the bass player looked like he was having a spasm.
The lack of vocals also gave the band time to showcase each person in each song... But after a while the guitar solos started getting annoying, but what else were they going to do?! The stoner/dance rock that the band displayed made El Es Days seem like a jam band, but the intricate solos and seemless playing showed that they take it seriously.

Next on was Black Tooth Brigade, but they played a set that was a little different than what they normally do. The band displayed their original lyrics and technical skill during this acoustic set. The singer, Clint Cox, said that they're usually a full on fuck your face metal band. The drummer, Ian Smith, has two fractures in his foot, which is why the band played acoustic.
Dan Neff was rockin a slow jam and Smith pretended to jack off in his face, which of course got the crowd laughing, which was just a small piece of the fun that everyone had during this set. Having seen BTB multiple times, this set was a pleasant change- but they shouldn't give up their fuck-your-face-metal in any terms. Usually the band produces a wave of sound that crashes into you and gets your heart pumping and your head banging. This time, the acoustic set allowed the fans to hear ALL the lyrics and truly realize what this band has to offer.

BTB's acoustic set definitely made it hard for the next band, Gigantaur, to follow. Once again my assumptions were shattered once the band started playing. Expecting a heavy metal band I was surprised by the monotone, whiny singing paired with the 80s feel of the guitar solos and instrumentals they produced. The singer, who was sporting a cowboy hat, had a very weird style of singing. The somewhat monotone effect of his voice didn't allow me to get very into it, and then it turned into this angsty, teen, whine that just started to annoy me. And he paired this singing with dancing that involved a lot of hip movements. However, the instrumentals kept the band from completely failing as an act Friday night.
Considering Gigantaur was the last band I saw that night, I was a little displeased. Thinking back on the night made me rethink that decision. El Es Days kicked off the night with some great groove rock and Black Tooth Brigade made the night with their acoustic set, which I think should be included on their soon to be released album. Overall the night was laid back and included a very relaxing fun atmosphere at The Loft.

Support your local scene

p.s. Check out theloftlansing.com for a list of upcoming shows- the acoustics are amazing for a smaller venue. And check out the bands' myspace pages!