Two Weeks // Three Shows
a photo dump sponsored by Zagnut® Candy Bars
The more I ponder on the host of shows I’ve attended and played over the years, the more I realize that it’s the mixed bill shows that stand out to me. From the simple ones with maybe an acoustic opener for a host of bands, to the complex ones with a lineup that took me on a journey spanning across what felt like every genre and subgenre over the course of a single night, shows that feature a multitude of “types” of acts offer so much more to me than single genre shows. And I’m not alone in this, as Dan Bogosian wrote in a 2017 article for the Allston Pudding Music Blog:
“When I think of my favorite moments in music, I think of when Jelani Sei, an emo-funk group, opened up for Slingshot Dakota at a pizza shop, or when Pile played with math rock band Giraffes? Giraffes! in Western Mass, or when I got to play a show with both Mal Devisa and Animal Flag.” Combining different genres can literally be a mixed bag. But when every act is different, every act is more memorable. That helps the promoter, that helps the bands, and that helps the show. It just takes work.
To be clear, I don’t even personally think the bands have to have any overlap in sound to play the bill together. My tiny, laser-focused perspective as a musician who loves every genre of music is very biased; however, I think it’s a little demeaning to put concertgoers and listeners into such a small box as to think that a punk regular can’t enjoy hip hop and so on. If all the acts are technically good and interesting, the audience will always be on board.
Bogosian goes on to outline in his article how promoters and bands are really helping each other out by signing on to mixed bills.
Mixed bills can actually help build smaller, unheard-of bands better than one-genre bills can. Until a band has a draw – its own brand and core identity figured out – every band should be trying to play in front of as many different audiences as possible.
I think that’s a win for everyone. The audience, the bands, even the clubs all get an unexpected change of pace that can open them up to new friends, bands, and music. I think that’s a great thing for everyone involved!
Below you’ll find photos from the last three bills I was on from April 15th-21st, all super fun mixed bills ranging from spacey, groovy alternative to cello and upright-bass folk, each of these nights gave me so much needed inspiration and I met a ton of lovely people over the course of these past two weeks. For my own part, I’ve also taken to performing different genres under the same name. Dozibrion has always been a handle I’ve used for every kind of media (social or otherwise), now since I’ve released tiny house, I’ve started DJing and curating a block of dance music for some shows.
Be sure to check out some of the music from each of the bands, and let’s get right into the photos!
Fish Stew, Okapi, GOODVIBESONLY at Pilot Light
4-15-23
Fish Stew, Spiritual Ritual, The Gavin Kattesh Band, at lowercase books
4-20-23
VI$ION, Escort Mission, at lowercase books
4-21-23
Well, that’s it for this week! I hope you enjoyed this edition of Diptych Newsletter! If you’re looking for more, please check out my page on Archive.org for the full list of digitized media. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message right here or drop a comment below. If you haven’t already, please check out this video of my favorite country band, Yer Flowers, performing a-still-unreleased song called “Kiss It” at a previous show or any of my other previous posts here.
See you soon!
—Forrest