FESTIVAL REVIEW: ANTIWARPT 2012
Posted by Ray Roa on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 · 1 Comment
The Mountain Goats play State Theatre on July 28, 2012 as a part of Antiwarpt 2012 in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Photo by: Kelley Jackson // Lucy Pearl Photo ©
Regrettably, this post comes in a bit tardy, but it’s still noteworthy as the third installment of the Antiwarpt Music Festival was certainly worth celebrating. Staging a massive, multi-venue 12-hour music festival is no easy task, but organizers once again put together a successful lineup rife with national talent anchored by the region’s best up and coming bands.
ANTIWARPT 2012 PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS BRIAN MAHAR | KELLEY JACKSON
Our photographers — Brian Mahar and Kelley Jackson — came through (on time) with some amazing photos, and we’ve been sitting on them since. Follow the links above to see highlights from both Jackson and Mahar, then continue to scroll down to see links to individual photo galleries and our Storify review of the day.
ANTIWARPT 2012 IN PHOTOS ANDY MATCHETT & THE MINKS | ERIN SOLARI | THE EQUINES | FERAL BABIES | FLORIDA NIGHT HEAT | GENTLEMEN PLEASE | THE GROVES | JENSEN SERF CO. | THE LAUREL CANYON | LOUD VALLEY | REC CENTER | REDFEATHER | ROADKILL GHOST CHOIR | SASKATCHEWAN | SET AND SETTING | SPILLER |
[<a href="http://storify.com/rayroa2/a-look-back-antiwarpt-2012" target="_blank">View the story "A LOOK BACK: ANTIWARPT 2012" on Storify</a>]<br /> <h1>A LOOK BACK: ANTIWARPT 2012</h1> <h2>With AMFIII in our rearview mirrors, SubAp! utilizes social media (plus great photos from Kelley Jackson + Brian Mahar) to look back at the festival’s best moments and why we can’t wait for AMF 2013.</h2> <p>Storified by Ray Roa · Wed, Aug 29 2012 09:06:15</p> <div>On July 28, storms threatened to put something of a damper on the third installment of the <a target=”_blank” href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/antiwarpt”>Antiwarpt Music Festival</a>, but in a testament to AMF organizers’ commitment to putting on a top-notch music experience, throngs of bodies still flocked to St. Petersburg, Fla.’s 600 Block to take in nearly 12 hours of non-stop music.</div> <div>Dual storms on the way to @antiwarpt. Won’t stop us. @ Howard Frankland Bridge http://instagr.am/p/Nos1oglgFl/Ray Roa</div> <div>Wish every day could start with @SpillerBand. @Antiwarpt kicking of at @Local662 #tampamusic #t @ Local 662 http://instagr.am/p/NoyugBFgKG/Ray Roa</div> <div><u><b>4:15 p.m. – Spiller – Local 662</b></u> <div>At this point, <a target=”_blank” href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/spiller”>Spiller</a>’s return from the 90′s feels less like a comeback, and more like a full-fledged reintegration into the Bay area music scene.  This writer was not around during the band’s heyday, but new songs like “Sooner or Later” showcase frontman John McNicholas’ penchant for crafting perfect melodies to go along with the muscular power-pop rhythms provided by bassist Marcus McCord and drummer Vinnie Cosetino.</div> <div><br></div> <div><b>                                     <a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/antiwarpt-2012-in-photos-spiller-at-local-662/”>AMF12 IN PHOTOS: SPILLER AT LOCAL 662</a><br></b><br></div> </div> <div>…@SpillerBand playing new material @Local662¡ #AMF12 #tampamusic "Sooner Or Later"?Ray Roa</div> <div>The Mother Machine going OFF at Octave right now. #AMF12 http://instagr.am/p/No2zM9lgM-/Ray Roa</div> <div><b><u>4:30 p.m. – The Mother Machine – Octave</u></b> <div>No matter how you cut it, Antiwarpt is a long-ass day, and any <a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/decisions-5-antiwarpt-conflicts-and-how-to-handle-them/”>wish list of bands-to-see</a> if basically impossible to accomplish.  With that being said, accidents are the greatest part of being a a large festival.  Being blown away by a band you haven’t seen before is bound to happen, and that moment manifested itself as <a target=”_blank” href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/the-mother-machine”>The Mother Machine</a> closed out their set at Ocatave.  With projections playing on the walls behind them, Morgan Soltes, Danny Marschner, and Joe Egan left the room sweaty with their brand of crushing psych-rock.  The first “holy-shit” moment of the day.</div> </div> <div>Tidal Wave at Emerald Bar #AMF12 #tampamusic #tampabaylive @ Emerald Bar http://instagr.am/p/No3b4qFgNg/Ray Roa</div> <div>Proving that most Floridians <i>don’t</i> like walking, the journey to Cafe Bohemia on west end of Central Ave. <i>seemed</i> like a long one, but the few blocks were made worth traversing more than a few times in the course of the day.</div> <div>#SRQ’s Physical Plant making the "trek" to Cafe Bohemia well worth it. #AMF12 @ Cafe Bohemia http://instagr.am/p/No5z3UFgPo/Ray Roa</div> <div><b><u>5:00 p.m. – Physical Plant – Cafe Bohemia</u></b> <div>Band’s like Sarasota’s <a target=”_blank” href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/physical-plant”>Physical Plant</a> are the reason festivals like AMF12 are memorable.  Walking upon the courtyard of Cafe Bohemia, there were absolutely zero expectations for what the quintet might sound like, but their fusion of classic rock, noodly Grateful Dead-esque jams, punk, and ska made for the most eclectic and refreshing sounds of the day.</div> </div> <div>It’s @DVisitors gwanning dem at Morean. #AMF12 #tampamusic #tampabaylive @ Morean Arts Center http://instagr.am/p/No7f6ElgBE/Ray Roa</div> <div><b><u>5:28 p.m. – D’Visitors – Morean Arts Stage</u></b> <div>The Morean Arts Center got in on the Antiwarpt action by erecting a mobile stage (which hosted the official <a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/look-antiwarpt-iii-pre-party-at-morean-arts-center-07-27-12-feat-hank-cupcakes-gwan-massive-more/”>AMF12 pre-party</a>), and while the mid-afternoon sun made the grassy field feel more like the desert than a tropical paradise, <a target=”_blank” href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/d-vistors”>D’Vistors</a> made the most of their time by joyfully delivering their unique blend of world music and funk to the faithful crowd gathered underneath whatever shade scattered umbrella’s had to offer.  There should have been more bodies present at this set, but frontwoman Nikki Ferarro led the six-piece through an extremely tight set that found the band sounding better than they ever have before.</div> </div> <div>Encore action too. RT @tbtsoundcheck Brahm Bones spawning a little jitterbuggin’ at Octave. @antiwarpt #tampabaylive http://instagr.am/p/No8RwnSa9M/Ray Roa</div> <div>Brahm_Bones at Octave // The Dewars at Fubar. Great 1-2. #AMF12 http://instagr.am/p/NpApxYlgE2/Ray Roa</div> <div><b><u>5:50 p.m. – The Dewars – Fubar</u></b> <div>Brahm Bones deservedly received the encore treatment at the end of their set at Octave, but across the street West Palm Beach-based folk duo <a target=”_blank” href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/the-dewars”>The Dewars</a> were busy delivering a sweat-soaked Fubar what was easily the best surprise of the day.  The boys utilize just one beat up Takamine acoustic guitar and snare drum, but listening to their throwback harmonies and pop-perfect arrangements is like taking a trip back into the 1970′s.  We’re not sure where the eccentric duds came from, but songs like “Switzerland” made this the one set that I could not leave early.</div> </div> <div>It’s sweaty as hell at Star Booty. #SRQ’s The Send Offs set to add more heat. #AMF12 http://via.me/-3hw5cyoRay Roa</div> <div>A delay in set times made watching a set from The Send Offs technically impossible, but if the humid air at Star Booty was any indication, we’re sure that the Sarasota-based outfit played a great set.  It was at this point in the day that I gave up on having any kind of order in terms of which sets I would try to see.</div> <div>Every #AMF12 venue pretty packed now, but a dancer party erupting thanks to Saskatchewan. #tampamusic #tampa http://instagr.am/p/NpCykPlgGL/Ray Roa</div> <div><b><u>6:20 p.m. – Saskatchewan – Local 662</u></b> <div>A walk across Central Ave. found me at the back of the crowd for a dance party soundtracked by Orlando-based dream-pop soundsmiths <a target=”_blank” href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/saskatchewan”>Saskatchewan</a>.  Our affection for this band is no secret, but it’s heartwarming to see a venue full of new faces excited to sway and get lost in the five-piece’s hypnotizing, yet danceworthy groove of songs like “Skinny Dipping” and “Cabin Fever.”  Do not expect this band to fly under the radar for much longer.</div> <div><br></div> <div>                                <b><a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/antiwarpt-2012-in-photos-saskatchewan-at-local-662/”>AMF 12 IN PHOTOS: SASKATCHEWAN AT LOCAL 662</a></b></div> </div> <div>Oh hell, guitar gun slinging from The Laurel Canyon at Fubar. #AMF12 #tampamusic #tampabaylive @ Fubar http://instagr.am/p/NpD_OhlgHN/Ray Roa</div> <div><b><u>6:35 p.m. – The Laurel Canyon – Fubar</u></b>Make no mistake.  The Beauville’s Shawn Kyle is a gunslinger.  The holster for his weapon comes in the form of <a href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/the-laurel-canyon”>The Laurel Canyon</a> — a two-piece guitar/drummer outfit featuring Beauvilles drummer Max Norton.  If Fubar could get any sweatier after The Dewars’ set, it happened as The Laurel Canyon’s assault of dingy, absolutely oppressive rock and roll.  Riffs come heavy, and hearing Kyle sing lyrics like “you’re only with me in the summer” make the idea of a fling sound like the only sensible thing to do.  <br><b>                                 <a href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/antiwarpt-2012-in-photos-the-laurel-canyon-at-fubar-2/”>AMF 12 IN PHOTOS: THE LAUREL CANYON AT FUBAR</a></b></div> <div>The Groves #AMF12 #nofilter #noneneeded http://instagr.am/p/NpG-MEFgJX/Ray Roa</div> <div><b>                       <a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/antiwarpt-2012-in-photos-the-groves-at-morean-arts-center/”>AMF 12 IN PHOTOS: THE GROVES AT MOREAN ARTS CENTER</a></b></div> <div>Roadkill Ghost Choir is so so so good. This slide amp is making me wet. #AMF12 #tampamusic @ Cafe Bohemia http://instagr.am/p/NpJ5BylgMI/Ray Roa</div> <div><b><u>7:25 p.m. – Roadkill Ghost Choir – Cafe Bohemia</u></b> <div>After being beaten up by The Laurel Canyon, the only logical conclusion was to head to Cafe Bohemia and revel in my first-ever live set from Orlando, Fla. folk outfit <a target=”_blank” href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/roadkill-ghost-choir”>Roadkill Ghost Choir</a>.  The band was forced to <a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/festival-review-wmnfs-31st-annual-tropical-heatwave-plus-top-55-photos/”>cancel their Heatwave appearance</a> due to van problems, so this was truly my one can’t miss set of the day.  Blame it on the beautiful Florida sunset, frontman Andrew Shepard’s nasaly tenor, the warm arrangements, or blame it on Kiffy Myers’ slide guitar tone, but this had to be the most romantic set of the day.<br><br>Saskatchewan says RKGC are the “<a target=”_blank” href=”http://twitter.com/Ssktchwn/status/234859566385483776″>best band in Orlando</a>,” and we just might have to agree.  The courtyard at Cafe Bohemia swelled in humanity as the sun chased the western horizon and smiles were plastered across the audience’s attentive faces.  Folk and americana are not new or groundbreaking in any sense, but great band in this genre separate themselves from the masses by adding just a little something more to the already tried and true format.<br></div> <div><br></div> <div>A RKGC set is warm, full of earnest, and comes with an obviously deep respect for the listener.  </div> <div><br></div> <div>”You’re too kind,” said Shepard in response to loud applause before the band launched into their final song, acknowledging the large crowd that had gathered in the course of 30 minutes, “there’s just so much music.”</div> <div><br></div> <div>We didn’t want to be anywhere else.</div> <div><br></div> <div><b>                     <a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/antiwarpt-2012-in-photos-roadkill-ghost-choir-at-cafe-bohemia/”>AMF 12 IN PHOTOS: ROADKILL GHOST CHOIR AT CAFE BOHEMIA</a></b></div> </div> <div>Gentlemen Please sunset set. #AMF12 The boys of @gncshow sure are handsome. http://instagr.am/p/NpOBrrFgPC/Ray Roa</div> <div><b><u>8:10 p.m. – Gentlemen Please – Cafe Bohemia</u></b>Alastair St. Hill spends his Wednesday evenings on the radio as the host of Grand National Championships on Tampa’s community radio station — WMNF 88.5 FM.  Some of those Wednesdays find him shining light on some of the Sunshine State’s greatest bands in the form of a <a href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/tag/gnc-session/”>GNC Session</a>, so it’s only appropriate that we’d show our gratitude by catching St. Hill front his own musical endeavor — <a href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/tag/gentlemen-please/”>Gentlemen Please</a>.<br>This would mark the first time I’d seen the band since last Antiwarpt (I know, shame on me), but it was great to see that they sound better than ever.  Their mathy, just off kilter guitar lines are reminiscent of Cap’n Jazz, and St. Hill’s vocal was as strong as ever on “Some Kind Of Metaphor.”  I had to run to go catch another set on the east end of Central Ave., so I wasn’t around to see whether or not the played the spanish.  Can anyone else confirm?<br><b>                            <a href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/antiwarpt-2012-in-photos-gentlemen-please-at-cafe-bohemia/”>AMF 12 IN PHOTOS: GENTLEMEN PLEASE AT CAFE BOHEMIA</a></b></div> <div>Mr. Kool keeping the peace. #AMF12 #tampabaylive http://instagr.am/p/NpQWjalgA2/Ray Roa</div> <div>As the sun sets on Antiwarpt Festival, things get a little fuzzy.  Even the best-maintained buzzes start to take hold and the oncoming darkness breathes new life into attendees.  Thankfully Loud Valley and Day Joy would be there to help us transition.</div> <div>Loud Valley at VLVT. #AMF12 #tampamusic http://instagr.am/p/NpQ5IiFgBQ/Ray Roa</div> <div><b><u>8:30 p.m. + 9:15 p.m. – Loud Valley + Day Joy - VLVT</u></b>Last year, <a href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/loud-valley”>Loud Valley</a> kicked things off with an early set at Local 662 by putting together a drummer-free “<a href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/festival-review-antiwarpt-2011/”>Florida Boys gospel set</a>.”  Their 2012 set al VLVT would be much different.  Bassist Artie Burer wore a sling as a result of a dislocated shoulder that had him in the ER until 6 a.m. on the day of Antiwarpt, and Loud Valley lived up to its moniker by delivering a raucous set that sometime suffered due to the venue’s strange acoustics (that type of thing can happen in a converted hair salon).<br><b>                                                     <a href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/antiwarpt-2012-in-photos-loud-valley-at-vlvt/”>AMF 12 IN PHOTOS: LOUD VALLEY</a></b><br>Right now, <a href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/day-joy”>Day Joy</a> can seemingly do no wrong.  The pair of songs on their <i>Animal Noise</i> EP may be the state’s best one-two punch of 2012, and the band – fleshed out by members of Loud Valley and Saskatchewan frontman Brother Chandler – overcame VLVT’s sound issues to deliver an almost cinematic set that found frontman Michael Serrin & co. patiently re-constructing their sprawling compositions. Day Joy’s recorded output is an affecting experience truly pleasant on the ears, but seeing it in person will cement the band’s name into memory forever.</div> <div>Day Joy…"Oh my God" #AMF12 @ Vlvt Salon http://instagr.am/p/NpVne-FgE5/Ray Roa</div> <div>That just happened. Wolf Face #AMF12 #tampamusic http://instagr.am/p/Npa9JNlgJe/Ray Roa</div> <div>Last year Le BLORR played Emerald. I can’t get within 50 yards at #AMF12 http://instagr.am/p/NpdPdLlgLV/Ray Roa</div> <div>Hitting three venues within the next half-hour is a dumb idea.  It doesn’t give anyone enough to time to fully enjoy the sets, but <a href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/wolf-face”>Wolf-face</a> certainly left their audience dumbfounded and awestruck with their pop-punk delivered from behind fur covered masks.  Hell,  they even did a Nobunny cover (see below).</div> <div>Wolf-Face "I am a Girlfriend" (Nobunny cover) at Antiwarptmichaeljwolf</div> <div>At Local 662 and State Theatre respectively, <a href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/le-blorr”>Le BLORR</a> played a packed house (we could literally be spit on by the band at <a href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/watch-bright-light-social-hour-le-blorr-at-antiwarpt-subap-exclusive/”>last year’s AMF</a>) and <a href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/Adrian-Younge”>Adrian Younge</a> unleashed a raw, funk-filled, souled-out set that I felt ashamed to leave early.</div> <div>"Do we have a deal?" A. Younge. Yessir. #AMF12 http://instagr.am/p/NphR5XlgO4/Ray Roa</div> <div>Sorry Mr. Younge, but I’ve got to see @jensenserfco burn down Fubar. #tampamusic #AMF12 http://instagr.am/p/Npk-RMlgCC/Ray Roa</div> <div><b><u>11:27 p.m. – Jensen Serf Co. – Fubar</u></b><br>Adrian Younge surely set State Theatre on fire (when I left, I could spot Florida Night Heat in the front row going absolutely nuts), but we’ve got an insatiable urge to witness any <a href=”http://suburbanapologist.com/tag/jensen-serf-co”>Jensen Serf Co.</a> set we can.  We were not disappointed.  Since their first show in <a href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/do-it-today-ancient-river-michael-christmas-at-new-world-brewery/”>July 2011</a>, JSC have become one of the best bands in the Tampa Bay area.  They’ve remained on a fast track, writing and recording over 20 new songs, and all of their friends and fans packed Fubar for a celebratory set that found drummer/singer Benjamin Saylor & co. leading his band through their best set ever.  Per usual, boundless energy filled the room, but the difference was that at least half of Fubar had surely never seen the band play before.<br>Guitarist Peter Kokkinakos went airborne by crowd-surfing on at least a handful of occasions, and put an extra exclamation point on the whole thing by taking out Saylor’s drums to end the set.<br><b>                                      <a href=”http://www.suburbanapologist.com/antiwarpt-2012-in-photos-jensen-serf-co-at-fubar/”>AMF 12 IN PHOTOS: JENSEN SERF CO. AT FUBAR</a> </b><b><br></b></div>
Filed under Music , Review , The Ish · Tagged with Adrian Younge , Andy Matchett & The Minks , Antiwarpt , Brahm Bones , Brian Mahar , Cafe Bohemia , D'Visitors , Day Joy , Erin Solari , Feral Babies , Florida Night Heat , Fubar , Gentlemen Please , Jensen Serf Co. , Kelley Jackson , Le Blorr , Local 662 , Loud Valley , Morean Arts Center , Octave , Physical Plant , Rec Center , Redfeather , Roadkill Ghost Choir , Saskatchewan , Set and Setting , Spiller , Star Booty , State Theatre , The Dewars , The Equines , THE LAUREL CANYON , The Mother Machine , VLVT , Wolf-Face
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