By Anaïs Turiello
On a chilly Sunday evening, Sleeping Village was bustling with antsy bodies, all waiting for Meg Memes fest to kick off. With a stunning lineup consisting of Kirby Grip, Claude, Girl K, Izzy True, and Smut, the woman behind the show (@ meg__memes on Instagram), created the perfect atmosphere for exceptional local talents. Upon walking into the venue, the music sounds mute and distant, tucked in the back corner, luring you past the bar and through the black doors that lead to the noise. With a stamp on the inside of your wrist, you’re allowed to enter.
As soon as those doors open, the sounds erupt and I find myself totally immersed in the gritty atmosphere of what was sure to be a night of intoxicating performances.
Kirby Grip, a four-piece Alternative Rock band that came about in October of 2019 with EP, American Cheese, start the show out strong. Ryan Nolen and Joey Valdivia take the stage alone, with an acoustic and an electric guitar. It’s much more intimate than their usual head-banging, elbow-throwing set but the essence of being at a 2000s emo show still lingers. Nolen and Valdivia alternate on lead vocals, with Nolen giving a more raw and raspy tone while Valdivia emanates an intoxicatingly punk sound. As they strum perfectly in sync, the crowd sways side to side, joined harmoniously by the echoes of the music.
You can listen to Kirby Grip’s debut record, Portrait of Bliss here.
Claude, a solo singer-songwriter who describes her music as “existential dream pop” is next to take the stage, introducing hypnotic and funky synths which are accompanied by tender vocals. Trailing the mic cord around the stage, Claude appears divine as she glitters under the purple and green light. The beat consists of heavy percussion and pounding bass, contrasted by her gentle and alluring tone. Her voice sounds like a blissful lullaby but it’s anything but boring. I felt myself yearning for her set to continue on.
Claude’s debut album, Enactor, is out now.
Girl K, an indie rock band led by Kathy Patino, shows that they are a force to be reckoned with as they open up their set, instantly making the crowd rush forward, eager to be closer to the music and to dance. Accompanied by fellow bandmates, Tony Mest, Alex Piecynski, and Kevin Sheppard, Patino, adorned in silver sparkles, gleams under pink and purple light, singing with a bright smile as the crowd bounces in sync with the music. Patino never misses a note with her strikingly poignant and dreamy vocals. The entire ensemble looks to be having the time of their lives, as does the crowd, who are moving to the beat in a flurry under a dizzying disco ball. I feel the drums in the center of my chest, as the steady pounding seemingly begins to match my heartbeat. Towards the end of the set, Patino puts her guitar aside to show her true queen of pop capabilities as she twirls around the stage, inciting screams of adoration from the audience. To conclude the show, Patino jumps from the stage, running into oblivion, leaving us wanting more.
Girl K’s latest EP, Girl K is For The People is out now. On March 4th, they will be returning to Sleeping Village for Lucky Star’s Pop-Up Discothèque–get your tickets here!
Next up is Izzy True, an Indie-Rock band consisting of Isabel Reidy, Salem Iyabode, Raul Cotaquispe, and Curt Oren. With a steady guitar and calming (yet almost haunting) vocals, they seem to hypnotize the crowd immediately. Izzy, though they are the lead singer, does not stand in the center of the stage, but instead off to the side. It is Oren who shines in the middle, drawing us in with their saxophone, adding immense texture to each song, making it all sound like a symphony. Switching between the sax and the bass, Oren gives the audience a thorough tour of their talents, creating a unique experience and a unique sound. People in the crowd entwine with one another, fully indulging in the passionate performance.
Listen to Izzy True’s recently released record, Our Beautiful Baby World here.
To conclude the night comes Smut, a five-piece band that combines pop and shoegaze to create intoxicating and exhilarating arrangements that any listener is destined to be entranced by. As Tay Roebuck, Bell Cenower, Aidan O’Connor, Sam Ruschman, and Andrew Min take the stage, their presence and sound are instantly explosive, shaking the silver streamers on the walls. The instruments perfectly collide, as the heavy drums and throbbing bass bring life to the crowd, vibrating the floor beneath us. Some songs feel like they’re straight out of an 80’s coming of age film while others are fully reminiscent of 90s Rock. With her hands in her pockets, Roebuck floats around the stage, effortlessly hypnotizing us with her vocals that rise from moody lush melodies to passionate and riotous screams. Towards the end of the set, members of the audience form a conga line, dancing in circles around the room in a heartfelt yet also hilarious moment. Falling to her knees for the last song, Roebuck doesn’t hold back as she belts out her goodbyes to the thunderous crowd that’s begging for more.
Listen to Smut’s latest record, Power Fantasy here.
Sleeping Village was full of lively souls on Sunday night, all buzzing with excitement for the talented performers at Meg Memes fest. Each unique artist brought something special to the stage, forming an atmosphere of passion, excitement, and endless dancing.