Skorts, Pinkish and Jaquardini charge the Southern’s ions.
One thing we love here at CSC is turning you on to new stuff. And today is a special TYOTNS moment. We’d like you to meet Dr. E. a long-time member of our crew but brand new to the blog. Dr. E. is a devilishly handsome, hyper driven man of science, an absolute particle accelerator on a mountain bike and a live music show warrior of the highest order. So sit back and revel in his Hi-IQ take on this great night at the Southern — a night we are pissed to have missed (much like Koda and Deaux Eyes in the truck at Durty Nelly’s on the same night. Vacations. Pffft).
-Old Hank
With Old Hank, Bazz, and even the Mysterious Jon MIA, the boys reached way down the bench to make sure they had eyes on the goings-on at The Southern Thursday night. SKORTS was headlining, and I was pumped to check-out this rising NYC-based band. And with Jaguardini and Pinkish opening up…well, as John Fogerty said, “Put me in, coach, I’m ready to play!”
Jaguardini was well into their set by the time I rolled into the Southern. I couldn’t believe it was just one dude given the sheer density of the sonic atmosphere. Synth-driven melodies were rolling off-stage while a larger-than-life Richard Simmons sweated to the oldies behind the Harrisonburg-based artist…it was a sight to behold. Pinkish was next.
Old Hank and Bazz caught this Charlottesville-based emo/punk trio a few months ago at Superfly and again at Durty Nelly’s a month or two later. I was pumped for the opportunity to see them live. They did not disappoint. Turning the volume up to 11, Nina Chaplin’s intensity on guitar and vocals ripped through the Southern and pulled the crowd in. Pinkish is a power pop punk party for the people, one of the leading Piedmont voices in our heavier resurgence. And because Old Hank forgets what he tells you, I’ve heard numerous times that this band has a real shot to bigger things. I agree! Check them out.
SKORTS have generated lots of buzz in their hometown NYC/Brooklyn scene. The band is Alli Walls, lead vocalist, Char Smith, lead guitarist, Emma Welch, bassist, and Max Berdik, drummer. With their debut album set to drop anytime (it’s coming very soon they promised from the stage of the Southern), this was SKORTS’ first visit to Charlottesville. You may have come across their video for their single “Eat Your Heart Out” a super fun pop-rock song with an 80s swag that you’ll find yourself humming days later. While this song gives a taste of what SKORTS is, it doesn’t begin to capture the whole of the band. Shoegaze, postpunk, glamrock darkwave…any and all and more describe SKORTS. Wells’ vocals are soaring, otherworldly, and almost haunting at times. Smith switches between bouncing, body moving licks to headdown, heavily distorted riffs. Add-in Welch’s tight vocal harmonies and bassline grooves and Berdik’s driving drumbeats and you get a band that is ready to fly out of the centrifuge.
All in all, it was a ion-charged night that I can lord over Bazz, TMJ, and the Old Man since they were not there, which is just the sprinkles on the cupcake.
OK, eat your vegetables, get a bite plate if you grind and if you are over 45, schedule that first colonoscopy.
Dr. E
