CONCERT PREVIEW: SHOT FEST 2

One of my favorite aspects about music are festivals. They just make me happy. To be honest I really can’t put my finger on it. I just love them. And it’s just isn’t one certain kind, it’s all types, from one day to multi-day, to traveling to local.  They all have something to offer, something that makes them stick out. I’m such a fan that over the past 4 years I have come to enjoy the time of mid-January to mid-March very much. That is when the bulk of festivals are announced. And it’s just fun seeing this and trying to figure out who is playing what. I think next year I may turn it into a drinking game of sorts. Haha!!!! (Soda or Sweet Tea of course)

During my time here in Columbus I have really come to enjoy the National and Local festivals.  On the national side we have Rock on The Range to Breakaway to Fashion Meets Music. All three have found a place in our city. On the local side the number is greater than I can imagine. And that is a good thing. All I know is from the months of June-September you can find some type of festival here.

Last year John Rausch and Jacob Bialosky decided to introduce a new festival to our city. That festival was Shot Fest. It was a one day festival held at The Summit and Café Bourbon St. that included bands such as Head North, Cam Smith (Hotel Books), Chase Huglin, Hot Mulligan, and Everyone Leaves. It was hands down one the best shows I saw last year. It had that basement show feeling that I love so much and I like the fact that it was mostly regional bands.

So here we are and it’s year 2. John and Jacob decided to upgrade for this year. They decided to make it 3 days.  A decision that I 100% support. It’s a pop-punk/emo/indie festive that is three days. You can’t beat that.  They are also having it at three different venues, a different one each day. Day one is at Shrunken Head with a lineup of locals; Minor Love, Cure Culture and touring acts; Secret Stuff, Save Face, Young & Heartless and Everyone Leaves. The band that sticks out here for me is Minor Love. I caught them back in May was blown away by their sound. They describe their sound as sparklepunk. Make sure you get their early, as they play first at 7:00. Secret Stuff is another band you should not miss on Friday. Their brand of emo is some of the best today. And of course I don’t have to tell you not to miss Everyone Leaves, the hometown road warriors. This show is also the first date of their fall tour.

Day 2 brings us to Donato’s Basement with locals; Everything Wilts, Mouth Movements, and Brideshore. The touring bands are Tranquility, The Flats, and Dead Leaves. I recently caught a Mouth Movements set and was instantly hooked. I thought I was back in 2002. The same can be said about Everything Wilts. Both are bands to watch.

Shot Fest ends at Double Happiness for day 3. This the day I am most looking forward to myself. The locals are Something Else, Jetty Bones, and Heroes Like Villains. The touring acts are Super American, A Story Told and 7 Minutes in Heaven. One of the acts you don’t want to miss on this day is Jetty Bones, hands down. This is a group that was recently signed and just got back home from a tour with The Wonder Years. All this has happened since the first Shot Fest. That’s pretty awesome. Another act to catch is A Story Told. This Alt-Pop act from West Virginia are building a fan base like a wildfire. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets hip to them and picks them up. Heroes Like Villains are another act not to miss on day 3. This is their first hometown show since May, so you know they are going to bring it, but then again they always do.

Overall this is a very solid festival. John and Jacob are on to something amazing here. So if you don’t have plans this weekend, this is where you should be.

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