By JESS PEREGOY

jep024@latech.edu

 

Tucked away in a forest of metal buildings and warehouses, many local musicians shared their unique sounds with a small audience March 28.

Walking into the building, the new home of Sweetfall Productions, one might be surprised by the room’s appearance.

The wooden paneling, linoleum floor and trophy case looks as if it serves as a meeting house for both older men and Boy Scouts as they learn to tie knots.

However, on this particular Friday, amps, various guitars and microphones were loaded in to make room for a night of music by Bethany Raybourn, The Passing Lane, The Upstairs Divine, Midwest Caravan and Tyler Read.

The night began with Raybourn, a sophomore art major playing her soft-spoken originals with her acoustic guitar.

She was later joined by members of The Upstairs Divine, for the first time, adding drums, keys, electric guitar and bass in the mix, but never stealing the spotlight from the female front woman.

Raybourn’s naturally flushed cheeks, sweet demeanor and casual between song banter could make even Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley jealous as she played a cover of Broken Social Scene’s “Lover’s Spit.”

Raybourn was followed by the Passing Lane with a performance that featured a soloist more concerned with the crowd talking than getting the room’s attention with his been-done-a-million times Bright Eyes inspired songs.

The Passing Lane’s set could not maintain the pace set for the night and Ruston’s Upstairs Divine took the wheel and brought the momentum back with a flawless performance.

The Upstairs Divine’s dynamic consistently improves, causing each performance to feel like the best the band has ever played.

I won’t say the band sounds exactly like Eisley, who is a major influence of the singer/guitarist/keyboardist/boy wonder Ben Jones.

This is mostly due to the fact that the band is not fronted by three sisters, but the comparison between the bands is there.

Jones entranced the crowd with his vocal melodies while Andrew Polk, on guitar, Weston Brown on bass and Austin Howe, a junior sociology major, on drums helped Jones transition to full on sound, with wailing guitars and harmonica thrown in for good measure.

As Tyler Read readied the stage, long time friend Sammy Williams took the stage with a short set under his moniker, Midwest Caravan.

While Williams’ songs are also influenced by Bright Eyes and Pedro the Lion alike, William’s lyrics tell tales of cowboys and families living life in his fantasy western world as he carefully strums on his guitar while Tyler Read tuned guitars and plugged in amps.

The night was concluded with a set by headlining band, Tyler Read, bringing new energy to the small stage Boy Scouts probably receive merit badges on.

Tyler Read played as if the band was headlining a tour where Fall Out Boy opened for them.

With their rock ’n’ roll sing-a-longs and touches of tambourine and even an appearance by John Adams, a senior art major, on lap steel the set was energetic and refreshing.

Over the last few years, Tyler Read has transitioned from a purple-Chuck Taylor-wearing, simple pop-rock band based on brothers Josh and Jordan Johnson’s vocal harmonies  to cowboy boot wearing rock ‘n’ rollers.

The addition of McPeters, a Tech graduate, brings an incendiary guitar sound that beckons the ghosts of legendary band Queen and relieves Josh Johnson of being held back by guitar as he shakes his hips and spits out his tongue-in- cheek lyrics.

The band played a set with unshakable energy to a crowd that did not even realize it as Tyler Read introduced new songs and laid the ground work for what is to come for the band.

As Tyler Read left the stage sweaty and exhausted, the crowd left the building and Sweetfall Productions began sweeping the floor and removing all evidence of a rock ’n’ roll show.

As I left, I couldn’t help but wonder if the Boy Scouts I imagined to meet there know who Tyler Read is.