I think I’ve found the best way to spend a Friday evening: sitting cross-legged on the linoleum floors of Angry Mom Records on the Commons, foam earplugs jammed in my ears, head-banging to the sounds of an old guitar being hit with a mallet, with a friend on either side of me and a lively band in front—and I don’t even like alternative rock. Welcome to the nightlife of a select few teens of Ithaca: indulging bands Ha’Penny, Night Society, and Christmas Island Strangler.
Let me introduce you to the cast: first, a drummer hiding a semi-mohawk under an Oliver-Twist-style flat cap; a vibing, grunge bassist who knows how to rock out (and sings on occasion); and a sunglasses-clad guitarist and vocalist in a dress shirt and tweed pants. They are Ha’Penny, a three-piece rock group with some charming numbers (including one about teeth, I believe… it was hard to tell with earplugs in). Their music was catchy; their set list was fun and well curated, albeit short; and most importantly, they were having fun, which meant everyone listening was as well. “We don’t bite,” they said, and invited the crowd to come dance on the floor. The audience happily obliged.
Next in the lineup was Night Society, featuring Ha’Penny’s drummer once again, this time sans flat cap and with a guitar in hand; he sang for a couple songs as well. Joining him was a charismatic guitarist in a Shakespeare-quoting t-shirt, a very chill bassist with some fantastic riffs throughout, and a flannel-wearing drummer who drove and kept the band’s out-of-the-box flow with a calm demeanor. Their six-piece set was unconventionally excellent: featuring a song that perpetually picked up pace, squealing feedback loops aplenty, and lots of jumping around and headbanging. Their music was nowhere near polished, but that was in large part intentional.
Last up was an electronic two-person band, Christmas Island Strangler, who sported matching suits and wore exactly one sunglass lens between the two of them. Unlike the other two bands, this duo played with a soundboard—songs composed of a mix of samples which melded to create fun, effortless beats. Their song titles are as evocative as their band name: things like “Televised Bagel” and “Scraping Silverware” (rest assured, it did not sound like scraping silverware). Their set was short, sweet, and very groovy.
All in all, these bands gave their audience a fun time and an opportunity to unwind, and after a long week, that was exactly what the doctor ordered. One cannot expect them to sound as polished as professional bands, but they come pretty damn close for a group of teens performing in a record shop after hours. And they invite people to come together, have fun, and let loose.
There’s been hefty discussion among Ithacan music-lovers recently about the future of small bands in the community. It is becoming less and less sustainable to be a small-time musician, as local venues shut down or are threatened by sound restrictions (i.e. The Haunt, South Hill Cider, Lot10, etc.). With the rise of streaming services, the point of live music, especially for small bands, becomes less and less obvious. But these bands prove that live music is not dead and gone: after all, a crowd of about forty showed up to support these future alt-rockers. Because it’s not just about listening to quality music. You can do that at home, alone. It’s about coming together, having a good time with friends, and getting out of your comfort zone musically…and if my introverted, indie-folk-loving self can brave the wild and have fun, you can (and should) too.