This past weekend was packed with shows, due to Hopscotch Music Festival taking over downtown Raleigh. Sunday, a day of rest for many who attended the festival, still had its fair share of great acts. Cat’s Cradle was hosting two shows, at its own venue and at Local 506. After a long day at work, I got on I-40 and headed out toward the other side of the Triangle.
Walking into the club from Franklin Street, I realized I made it just in time for Miniature Tigers’ first song. The show started out strong, with great vocal lines atop a poppy, guitar-driven melody. As the first couple of songs passed, the crowd seemed enthused. About three or four songs in, the melodic pop started to become more synth-driven, and the crowd responded with some ridiculously nerdy and fun dance moves. Toward the end of the 45-ish minute set, the band played their most popular song, Bullfighter Jacket, to which the crowd responded in a quite unexpected way: a small mosh pit started a few feet away from me. Bizarre, right? With a few more songs (including my personal favorite, Gold Skull, which was produced by Neon Indian’s Alan Palomo), the band finished up their set, played an extremely well received, two-song encore, and invited everyone in the audience to say hi at the merge booth.
Throughout the show, Charlie Brand, the singer and guitarist, was positive and happy. He talked between songs about how Chapel Hill had become a sort of home away from home (which our station adviser can attest to…she’s seen the band seven or eight times!). He also stated that the band was going to take a break to record and spend time with their families, and that this would be their last show for a while. I think we have good things to look forward to from Miniature Tigers in a couple months; if they focus on keeping their sound interesting, I’m sure the new album will be well-received!
A few side-notes: Local 506, as always, was great. The ticket salesperson was friendly, and the sound was not muddled in the slightest. Every instrument could be distinctly heard, even when standing right next to the stage! Though I didn’t get off work in time to see the opening bands, I heard promising things about both The Grapes’ indie rock and Lilac Shadows’ shoegaze pop. From what my friends said, I think both bands have potential that hasn’t been realized yet.