There are certainly merits to attending concerts in large theaters, or being one in 10,000 in the pulsating hum that is the crowd of a Bonnaroo or Lollapalooza. But sometimes, you need to be tightly packed into one small room to truly feel like you are experiencing a band and their art.
Such was the experience Sunday night at Galaxy Hut, as this small restaurant/bar held a second showcase of bands from the small DC label Cricket Cemetery. With the Maximum Capacity sign on the wall of the bar stating that no more than 66 people could fit in this venue, all tables and chairs had to be cleared out of the way so that there was plenty of standing room.
Starting at 9 pm, the five bands that packed the bill included Bitter American, More Humans, State Violence, Host, and Murder, (pictured above) with DJ mixes throughout by Denman. A slightly diverse bill, More Humans gave a heavy-handed indie rock performance that had fans bobbing their heads. Bitter American, State Violence, Host, and Murder, however, are all punk-based hardcore bands that got the crowd moving and jarred the attention of mildly interested audience members that had previously been paying more attention to the Cowboys vs Giants game on the TV over the bar.
The intermittent DJ sets provided by Denman as the other bands tore down and set up their equipment also provided some sonic diversity as the entertainingly raunchy and sweaty rap/hip hop kept the crowd buzzing as they replenished their beers and waited for the next set.
Overall, it was a successful night for Ian Thompson and his small indie label. If you wish to purchase albums or get in touch with Cricket Cemetary, you can find everything you need on the website.
