Michigan Fest Review

By Travis Dodge

Wow was this a great day and an amazing atmosphere and an all around awesome way to spend a day. Great music, great people, great food, and most of all great community. It was a great day for myself as well because I had a friend from orange county, california who was there who had never experienced the MI hardcore scene, so it was exciting for me to show everything off and how awesome it was. Just to preface this I am writing it about a month afterward, so if I forget a band or person or food or distro please forgive me. My memory is not that good, but I will do my best to recall the day.

So the bands that day. There were so many great ones its hard to remember the ones I saw and the ones I didn’t. The first one I remember seeing that day was Xtra Vomit. This was the first time I have seen Xtra Vomit with a real drummer instead of a drum machine. Holy shit, was it ever good and strong. Having Brandon as a drummer brought whole other aspects to the music and brought a large amount of intensity that was SO cool. They for sure tore it up. I think Sin Orden was supposed to play but wasn’t able to, which totally sucked, but its alright, no hard feelings. The Great Reversal played next I think. What a great 90’s hardcore sound. Great things to say, just like all the bands that day. Great songs, and super hardcore, super positive. The next one I remember was Bunny Skulls. This may be the first time I have seen Bunny Skulls, although I feel like I have before. Anyway, super short songs. Short Fast and Loud. Perfect for the day. Lots of awesome shit to say, funny guys, and proof that hardcore isn’t about age and youth. Its about always saying hard and playing fast and being pissed. Later playing was Positive Noise, who I am slightly biased with since I live with the guitar player and am awesome friends with the other guys, but this is one of the best sets I have seen them play. Hearing the new material they had out was extra good and I cant wait to hear what they are going to be doing in 2010. Its going to be excellent i’m sure. Also that day Damages played, a band who I feel may be one of the best hardcore bands in MI today, maybe the midwest. I am lucky enough to have heard their new EP since it was recorded at my house and it kills for sure. So their set was extra exciting and very energetic. Loved them very much. Make sure and pick up their new EP whenever it becomes available, it is quite amazing and will be stuck in your head for years. Tiger was also able to play and I haven’t had a chance to see them in a long time, since they played the Ice Pick in Muskegon, but they are still on top of it and keepin’ it super hard and fast and fresh. Their new album, well not new, but latest album, “Blast off for Kicksville” is really good. Get it if you get a chance. Under Anchor closed out the show and played a super energetic set, and also released an awesome 7inch that they played all of. The track “Oil City” stands out for me as the coolest track on their, especially hearing it live. There was tons of people getting all kinds of crazy for their set. So good!!!

The food at the show was a huge plus! And extra good! I believe everything there was either vegan or vegetarian which is awesome for all those out there who choose a healthy lifestyle. There was a great chili that was made, as well as lots of good raw food too. Sock from Positive Noise and Xtra Vomit made this popcorn at the end that was to die for. And Kyle’s chocolate chip cookies were out of control good. Lots of people brought something and lots of people helped cook, which is awesome and huge for something like that to succeed. Huge community involvement.

Another cool thing about the event were the amount of distros that came out. There were so many records for sale, and shirts, and tapes, and CD’s, and stuff that I dont think I had time to make it through everything the way I wanted, which sucks. There were people selling records for very fair prices which is always cool, and I know a few people that got some really good records at some really fair prices. Totally cool.

All in all this day was amazing. Everyone had a really good day and stayed really positive. There was no fighting. Huge thanks goes out to Rorik of Under Anchor and Ryan of Positive Noise for organizing and helping get the whole shindig together. It was a great day.