With day one in the bag, day two of MACRoCk loomed over us with ten hours of music and more styles than you can count on your fingers and toes. Of course, a lot of the independently-signed or unsigned bands were hell-bent on creating some new genres of their own; some with success and some not so much. However, we wouldn't know any better until it was too late. Those of us shaking off poor sleep, hangovers or a dull ringing in our ears made our ways back to downtown Harrisonburg, where each venue offered a different experience, a different attitude and a different band for us to love or hate.
Boys and Sex
This band wanted to start something they couldn't finish. Mere seconds into surges of stereotypical hardcore, the lead singer launched off the stage and into an open space up front. With each jarring chord and sporadic drum clash, he vomited nondescript screaming, and with every breakdown, almost kicked someone in the head as if starting his own mosh pit. No one grabbed the bait.
MACRoCk’s description says:
Noodle rock with a sharp edge, crunchy vocals, and distorted guitars. Clearly, this bands puts a great deal of emotion into their music. Angsty and REAL.
Chalk Talk
Some variation to "this song is about girls," was the drummer's introductory phrase to each and every song. That, and jokes, including a mini song with the bassist about sex tapes and an anecdote about cat food. When they weren't messing around tuning their instruments, they coupled catchy syncopation on the drums with speedy fretboard-tapping melodies and call-to-action group vocals. Channeling a surfer pop vibe, Chalk Talk mixed some dreamy reverb with dramatic downbeats to balance out their otherwise garage-punk sensibilities. Overall, they kept you locked in and feeling rebellious.
MACRoCk’s description says:
Three dudes ruling so hard. They keep it 100% real, singing about the simple things in life, like doing laundry.
Tiger Tail
On a stage crowded with a battery of amps, Tiger Tail drowned themselves out to a point where one couldn't tell if they were starting off-tempo on purpose or by accident. However, the dissonance was forgivably angsty. While thrashing to out-of-key solos and a gruff style of rhythmic shouting, the lead singer relied on invading the crowd to gather attention while the rest of the band swayed like trees in a hurricane.
MACRoCk’s description says:
Emo punk reminiscent of revolution summer bands such as Rites of Spring and newer bands such as End of a Year. Poetic lyrics about escaping your hometown and missed friends bring some of the most fun sing-a-longs MACRoCk committee has collectively had.
Dear Wolfgang
There was a coziness to Dear Wolfgang's serene finger picking and wavering, electric undertones. Male and female vocals harmonized in heartfelt bursts of elongated vowels. Each song was rich and clear; using sweet notes that escalated into warm expressions of emotion. At times, their use of a Casio organ came off as cartoonish, but otherwise created a depth usually attained by choirs. Though members never strayed from their microphones, you could close your eyes and imagine them swirling around the room.
MACRoCk’s description says:
Wailin’ wolves woefully wandering into a wasteland of wonderful. Nestled deep in the mountains, they mix shoegaze with lo-fi folk and your ears couldn’t be more pleased. Lush harmonies and echoing male AND female vocals sing you a lullaby with a kick.
Sun Country
You hardly expect to experience an intense catharsis when a mandolin, banjo and electric lap steel guitar saunter onstage. Yet Sun Country took the folk and bluegrass sound frequently employed by this combination of instruments and made them feel progressive. Some of the twang disappeared as a synthesizer bent and squealed unruly notes. This dramatic shift destroyed the relaxation bought by the gritty vocals, introspective lyrics and waltzing tempo. You quickly learned not to get too comfortable, because the music was made to surprise you.
MACRoCk’s description says:
If you like drinking ice cold lemonade under the sweltering summer sun, try Sun Country! Their scratchy group vocals and fat, juicy folk comes together beautifully to soothe your ears after a hard day’s work.
Zac Hyrciak & The Jungle Beat
With the help of a violin, a viola and a knack for subtlety, Zac Hyrciak & The Jungle Beat lured an unsuspecting audience into their well-laid trap. Just when you got the feel for a song, it exploded into a new tempo and re-worked melodic line. It was like when a drug finally kicks in and suddenly you're gone. As far as subject matter, they were adorable, yet vengeful, with lyrics like, "Oh, if we ever met, I'd crush you like a glow worm."
MACRoCk’s description says:
This band’s name says it all. Tribal-y percussion, melodic harmonies, simple guitar chords, vivid violins and energetic hand clapping keep the tigers, monkeys, and snakes creepin’ in the deep all night.
The Ascent of Everest
A steady drum beat built the foundation for the pulsing atmospherics coming off the guitar; though it could have benefited from the inclusion of a well-placed violinist. Unfortunately, due to high volume, the guitar became more like a wall of sound until the end of the set, when it found its way back to long, elegant notes. The singer’s pleasant baritone rose above this steady wall, and at times was reminiscent of Pink Floyd. Shrouded in their blue and green lights, this band was the picture of sorrowful sophistication.
MACRoCk’s description says:
8-piece orchestral post-rock band. Their huge sound mixes ambient with strong harmony and is sure to blow you away.
Ocoai
This entirely instrumental post-rock band was a champion of gentle intros leading into thick-as-molasses charges and breakdowns. Incorporating a little blues into their guitar solos, Ocoai avoided the labels "hardcore" or "metal" while still building anthemic songs of destruction and malice. Unfortunately, the heavily distorted guitars and bass reduced their electric cello to nothing but a dull buzz; but on the same token it might just be a sound that would only shine in the studio.
MACRoCk’s description says:
I want to call this band post-post-rock, because they’re so refreshingly cool. They combine an intense metal sound and lace it with wicked effects. They’re melodic and expressive even without a lyrics. Emotionally driven wave of sound, like you’d expect, but a more progressive attitude.
Capsule
Structure was sort of a moot point as each instrument was terribly uncoordinated and bizarrely offbeat in this set. The audience didn't even try to move in time, since there was no beat to follow. Cranked-up power chords just made the room unbearably loud and dulled any experience you could have taken away other than, "Hey, wanna go smoke a cigarette?"
MACRoCk’s description says:
Florida-based fast screamo inspired hardcore. Intricate guitar lines meeting with inventive time signatures is a key element in this crucial sandwich of brutality and wonderment. TASTY.
Gifts From Enola
Vocals only detracted from the intricate mesh of sounds galloping from Gifts From Enola's instruments. The lack of a single quiet moment tied the set together into a well-articulated jam session that revealed no rhyme or reason. Rather, they progressed at a whim towards crushing breakdowns and fading melodies. The only band with a light show, the members flashed in and out of sight, only becoming illuminated when the most intense moments of a song emerged. Ominous and unpredictable, Gifts barely seemed to contain themselves within this short set. Hours could have easily elapsed and the audience would still be entranced.
MACRoCk’s description says:
Post-rock that isn’t afraid to shatter the boundaries of harsh dissonant chords met with beautiful post rock twinkles. Mylene Sheath dudes so you know they’re classy.
