CD102.5’s annual emerging artist showcase concert for the thrifty took place Saturday night featuring a collection of national bands and local favorite Mary Lynn.
This years eclectic mix of bands all felt like they’d been plucked from time with 70’s garage rock, 80’s New York sleaze and a touch of 90’s new wave.
Mary Lynn opened the show and was shortly followed by The Orwells. Fronted by obnoxious microphone molester Marco Cuomo, the Stooges influenced band gave a half hour long set of garage rock revival that was more memorable for the stage antics of Cuomo than it was for the music.
Looking like they’d be more at home on a British council estate, New York band skaters peddle an all too familiar brand of indie-rock. A handful of the songs were lively enough but more often than not the band sounded like a poor man’s version of the Strokes.
MS MR ended up being the last band to play for the evening and thankfully — even though they probably didn’t know it at the time — performed a headline worthy set, due in part to Lizzy Plapinger’s commanding stage presence and captivating vocals.
And then the evening (and this review) came to an abrupt halt as CD102.5 owner Randy Malloy came out on stage to inform the sold out crowd that Grouplove would not be performing due to illness and sending everyone out into the blizzard-like conditions outside
Matt Ellis is a freelance photographer who covers bands that visit the city and the Columbus Crew MLS team. More about Matt can be found at Matt Ellis Photography.