The kids at this concert were definitely on acid. Who does acid anymore? Going to concerts alone is seriously a big ass step into growth and making the most uncomfortable moments, comfortable.
Will I ever do this again, on a smaller scale? Maybe so. Although terrifying, it was the most liberating experience that I have had in a while. I forgot how crowded concerts were but, my lack of anxiousness and uncomfortableness flew out the window about 5 seconds into the first performance.
What I am being presented with is getting comfortable for yourself, in uncomfortable spaces. It is interesting to finally be able to cultivate my own presence in dynamic spaces. The scenery that I was taking tabs in, was a lovely crowd engulfed by ska or reggae loving people that didn’t look like me.
I’ll get right to it.
First Band
It’s quite insulting seeing someone performing with autotune in this day and age. I didn’t know how to feel about the Charleston, South Carolina based duo who had a forgettable name. It’s like they had the sound for teeny boppers that enjoy that one video app. I think I would’ve enjoyed these guys during my Shwazye phase but I would’ve been introduced to this group first. There was literally a part that had nothing to with the concert so I directed myself to the half-empty bar. These guys sucked. What’s upsetting is that they rapped as well which lacked rhythm to the highest degree. The musical break or I guess interlude in between song transitions had to cease, they did this shit like 3 times in one song. They even sound like they sampled Brent Faiyaz.
I felt like I was in the room with the least impressionable and a lot of sugar daddies. But then you have the others who are literally cheering their drunken heads off. The performance had finally ended. I honestly hope I never hear from these guys again. Man, this group was so many years behind and I know what they were trying to do but, it wasn’t working for the youngest crowd spread out at the Norva. But who am I to tear up a performance? I gave them a C+ for effort but, I have a strong feeling that they will be on MTV soon...unfortunately.
This next group I was actually unsure of and I honestly don’t remember paying attention to them. However, I remember hoping that it was going to be short and sweet. I can’t stand openers.
The Band, Badfish, however, is lucky to have been on this journey. Keeping the vibe alive.
Final Opener: Ballyhoo
Ballyhoo did spark the inner teenage rocker inside of me. This is how it would’ve been if my mom would’ve let me attended a Blink 182 or Sum 41 concert. However, Ballyhoo was quite enjoyable... At the beginning. The concert openers had made me realize that when you go to a tribute concert, the openers will embrace the body of that genre or era. Aberdeen, MD based Ballyhoo, lost me with the blues-esque slow ballad, that was actually horrible. It’s like this, keep those to yourself when performing, unless the vibe of the crowd fits it. A few songs later, I found myself 3 steps away from a mosh pit. Now what caused a mosh pit at a tribute concert in the first place is still a question that lingers in my head. Ballyhoos’ song “Riddled with Bullets” was super dope. Like super, super dope. I haven’t listened to a song like that since 2010. As I stood outside of the AXE infused mosh pit, I found myself bobbing and tapping away trying not to get lured in the pit. I don’t know if I made it clear in the beginning but the crowd was majority white and in that very moment I felt the stares of confusion towards my way. What most people don’t know, my emo-punk phase went beyond My Chemical Romance.
Ballyhoo had interesting band mate dynamics. Everyone in the band looked like different versions of the guys I went to school with, they all individually served a greater purpose for the band. The talent was definitely there. I never thought I would say that a rock band is refreshing but they were.
The moment I had been waiting for. The moment that finally paid off after enduring those excruciating hours listening to various forms of heads and avoiding flashing white lights.
A brief history lesson about Badfish….. They are a tribute band to the former Long Beach, California based ska-reggae punk band, Sublime. They have been around for approximately 18 years. Frontman/Lead Singer Pat Downes truly embraces the voice of Sublime while bandmates Joel Hanks, Scott Begin, and Dorian Duffy follow through with the talent.
Since I was a teen, I had always wanted to see Badfish since they would perform in Baltimore and DC quite frequently. Unfortunately, I could never find anyone that would want to enjoy a tribute show of a group that they had never listened to or enjoyed as much as I did. Now, at 25 I was able to live out the experience that I had always dreamed of but I won’t ever do it again. I’m not saying that in a negative way, it’s just that once you’ve seen a tribute band, there is no need to see them again. Same songs, same lineup, maybe a different city.
I wonder if tribute band singers get tired of singing the same song in a different city?
This specific concert experience is on the opposite end of the Kid Cudi concert spectrum. Crowd wise, quite odd but was I surprised...No.
On to the show, big kudos to the lead singer Pat Downes. If you closed your eyes and listened to him sing, his vocals perfectly matched Bradleys. It was so fun watching this concert, singing along with others. It’s hard meeting people who like Sublime just as much as you which has always been my problem. Every song was on point, drums, keys, vocals, whatever. I finally got out of my shell and started really enjoying the show. At the end of every song, one drunk white guy kept screaming “I Love Badfish, I freaking love Badfish”. At one point, a mosh pit did start up again when the song “Seed” kicked off. Now imagine a mosh pit happening at a mellow mood ska concert….EXACTLY. The band stopped performing for the mere fact that there was a mosh pit happening at a tribute band. But if you know the history behind Sublime concerts, the mosh pits are valid. Just not there.
Badfish
I sang I laughed, I enjoyed a shot or two but I most definitely had the best time of my life. One of the many things crossed off my to-do list. The concert made me appreciate every feeling I get during an experience. Someone asked me the question “what do you remember the most, The feeling or the experience?”. My response, "feeling". That’s how I am able to return back to this post that I started while at the concert. That eventually was pushed off for a few weeks because I procrastinated. The feelings I had at that concert is what’s pushing me to finish writing about this experience and put it out tonight. I hope you all enjoyed it, and I also hope this gives a little bit of courage to go to a concert, at least once by yourself.
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