Sludge
Ive been in the thick of the sludge for a while. I've not enjoyed getting out into the music scene for far too long. I dont want to play the covid card this far out from it, but that spell really enabled me to embrace my reclusiveness. I've been stuck in landscapes and nothingness. Its tough to climb out of a pit, the sides of the mud pulling you back down. Why is the mud warm and so comfortable.
I've felt alone before, I've loved and lost love many times, this cant be the same can it? When something that makes you you isnt there anymore what do you do? Love comes and goes like waves like the rhythm of the ocean crashing against the shore. How do you carry on through the muck and rot of the depression of loss and frustration?
I had been out to a couple shows but it felt like I lost that spark, that energy that I used to feel when experiencing a live performance. There was one show that I went to and will not forget, Godspeed You Black Emperor at the Beachland. I was really excited to see them, it had been postponed twice I think, so there was a pressure to go and enjoy the show. Over the course of the first 30 minutes of being there I felt repulsed by the atmosphere, I went there with a friend and felt horrible that I wanted to leave. There were people stumbling around drunk and belligerent and it really ruined the vibe. Sure, you can see this type of behavior at any dive, but this was different. I felt worried, and afraid - this thing that I really enjoyed, this thing that made me feel alive, it wasnt there anymore.
I thought that I had been frequenting small venues before. Local places like the Beachland, the Grog Shop, Mahalls... all local favorites. The Little Rose. This was a place I had heard about because of the vegan friendly kitchen. The kitchen then moved out to their own place, and I went to that restaurant and I STILL hadn't been to the Rose yet. I had to fix that, but I only ended up going for the mom tacos. I eventually heard Slugg was going to have a set there, I had to go. I had first heard Slugg at a set at the 5 O'clock Lounge and was hooked. Shes wild, writhing around in a pit of sludge of her own making, whooping and looping. She made shows fun again for me. Check her out if you get a chance.
Put on your boots. Thick socks. Black heart. Breathe deep.
Create.
Andy Erb is from Cincy, he made his way up to The Little Rose that night too. really fun set with a bunch of synth equipment.
Honeybee - I didnt know what to expect with these guys. They have started to grow on me. They recently released a new album that I've been digging "Only dark shit". Crunchy sound, hard, I like it.
Blue Yuma - I didn't realize it at the time but this is a new band from members of Punch Drunk Tagalongs. I recognized Alex Wright first, from my time cruising around photographing the local Cleveland band scene over the years, and the rest of the set felt familiar in some way, I know why now. Great little set, really glad I brought my 20-35mm lens that night as its a pretty tight little stage at Little Rose, but venues like that usually have the most intimate and special shows.
