June Finale at the Atrium: Loggerhead and Illframe
I wrapped up June neatly with a grungy, punk bow on the 30th at the Atrium. The venue is a classically enjoyable scene full of vines of pothos plants and neon lighting. Doors opened at 8, with music starting around 9:30, so you can spend the time between getting a beer at the bar and sinking into a booth.
LoggerheAD
This trio includes head-man Michael Rans, Colin James on drums, and Josh Deal on the bass. My first impression is that their sound is just as hunky as their frontman, something heady and raw, with the vocals being the show’s real star here. They are like an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-dessert; their performance is messy in an unabashedly pleasant way. Just two songs in Michael’s guitar string breaks, and despite having to borrow an unfamiliar instrument from their stage mates, Illframe, they play on without a noticeable hitch.
All three are talented musicians, but the lead vocals caught my attention the most, strong and memorable. Each song holds a palpable potential, and the trio captured quite the crowd in Atrium’s fog. Their lyricism is also something to note, moving between pining to angst in a fluid and poetic manner. The crowd seemed to be evenly split between established fans and friends and people fresh to Loggerhead’s sound, but all gathered around the stage eagerly for more. I look forward to hearing more from them and seeing where their sound develops.
illframe
Illframe was the second act of the night, with the crowd thinning out slightly for the later section of the show. The Stowers brothers (Rex, Finn, and Cooper), with their drummer Jorge, took the stage, and the shift in energy was immediately noticeable. The four had a youthful, natural charisma that balanced out their heavier tone with a setlist made up of original songs and covers of hardcore punk bands like Turnstile. They declared themselves a “movement band” who encouraged everyone to dance, bounce, and get into their set. The booths of Atrium were buzzing by the end of their set.
It was hard to choose who to watch, each person on stage grinning and bobbing, but I couldn’t help but appreciate their drummer Jorge, whose talent was ever-present in every song. Between the three brothers, the charming energy was infectious and whipped up their crowd into youthful, angsty energy. They played with seamless, well-practiced transitions that I imagine come partially with 3/4ths of the band being related to each other, and the vocals between the guitarist and the bassist were the peanut butter and chocolate of live punk. The lyrics are a dragging point for the band, nothing to really note or comment on, and I hope patiently for them to grow into the genre of denial and compartmentalization. Walking away, Illframe is a band to be remembered for their magnetic energy and youthful authenticity to punk music in Fort Collins, something I am glad to see.