Endpoint. Photo by Chris Higdon
So much can change in so short a time.
While I was away on tour a lot of things happened to the all-age scene in Louisville. The biggest news is the recent closing of The Machine. The landlord, Mrs. Metts, finally had enough of the restless youth. But who could blame her? There was considerably too much vandalism, violence and property damage. I think any person with a good head on their shoulders would have shut the circus down to protect their investment.
Sunspring decided to call it quits with only four days left on their successful United States tour. It is sad to see such a promising outfit as Sunspring fade away.
Big Wheel is also throwing in the towel after six years of hard work. Peter (Searcy) is going to pursue a solo career. The members of Big Wheel, subtracting one Glen Taylor, are working on a project band with Rob Pennington, better known as Robert Point, called Shiner.
Sancred fell to pieces before they could even release their record; another great punk band that had a bright future. Adam Colvin, the ex-drummer of Sancred, will join forces with Guilt. Jon Smith and Guilt parted ways, so Jon will now be playing drums for Second Nature only.
Speaking of Second Nature, Shut Out broke up and is now Second Nature. Erchint has added a new singer. Evergreen has been hiding this summer, perhaps polishing off their new members.
But through all of the bad and discouraging news there is some good news. Tewligans is planning to do all-age shows on a regular basis again. I guess the sold-out Avail show helped in this decision. There will be a benefit for Rant, October 8-10, with such bands as Evergreen, Rodan, Crain, Endpoint, Enkindel, and Brass Buttons.
While I was on the road with Endpoint I made a concerted effort to compare and contrast the Louisville all-age music scene with those around it. I found that not many cities had as much to offer as Louisville. San Francisco was the only city that I found to be more organized. Most cities had little to offer in the way of labels, record stores willing to stock and support local bands, and clubs. Detroit was a nice show, especially because they asked Falling Forward to play, and that was a nice surprise. I think San Francisco is so well organized because of Maximum Rock and Roll, perhaps the oldest surviving punk magazine. They opened a record store / coffeehouse that feeds homeless punk rockers to work there. They also run a distribution company called Blacklist Mail Order. And if that is not enough, Tim Yohanna and the others at Maximum Rock and Roll run a club called Gilman Street, named, fittingly enough, after the street it resides on.
The only flaw with the San Francisco scene was the lack of communication between the bands. There seemed to be in the air a nasty sense of stereotyping bands.
The Endpoint tour was very successful. I do not think I could have enjoyed touring with anyone more than with Sunspring; I will miss them a great deal.
In closing, I would like to thank Louisville, or rather the people involved in the scene, for their support, and furthermore, establishments such as Louisville Music News for their total support of me and all other people involved in the music scene.
Goodnight.