Saturday Recap: Dynamite Walls CD Release Show

I'm getting a little tired of apologizing for the music that I love. On the one hand, I like my indie rock, the stuff that makes me think and analyze. Then there's the music that you take for face value, the stuff that is honest and obvious and might be a guilty obsession because you know that it plays better to the masses. And for a band like Dynamite Walls, I think there is a crossover, of people who want to pre judge and who listen to their music and hear it as something mainstream, and then there are people like me who wake up with my insomnia with their songs in my head and, after a while, you have to acknowledge that there is some powerful songwriting there that penetrates the brain and makes you love the band. And that's even before you meet all of them and think about how ridiculously nice they all are, that despite most of them having girlfriends, that they take the time to meet every fan and sign every CD that passes through their path.



On top of all that, this is an unsigned band that had more than 500 people, in a venue with a cap at 600, that showed up for their CD release party. It speaks to how hard they have worked, with touring and playing local venues and building this audience that makes every fan feel intimately connected to the band. As a fan, as a blogger, as a chick, they make you love them when they are on stage. It's a strange power that nobody in the band or management ever lets get to their head that makes you love them even more.







Dynamite Walls "Hustle"

All of this doesn't even mention the "family" vibe of the band. John (from Monsters Are Waiting and Eve 6, who produced the album)was there, and many of Jason, the manager's family, came out just for this occasion. I've been a fan of Dynamite Walls for so long that it took Jared from Augustana to really make me realize what they've accomplished. They've had deals in front of them that they have refused; they've toured; and shit! they nearly sold out the Belly Up for their self produced CD release party.









Dynamite Walls "Faces"


So I had an amazing time on this night. I tend to avoid the Belly Up and Casbah on weekends, but I'm so glad I gave in and was there for what was an amazing evening. The band was kind enough to share their limited beers with us, to pose for silly pics, to just take the time to appreciate me as much as I appreciate all of them.

Setlist, Dynamite Walls CD Release




After the band finished, there was some drinkin to be done, but the band is so about the fans that they went out into the crowd to sign CDs and whatnot while we all waited backstage. Eventually the Belly Up was kickin everyone out so we headed around the corner to Surf and Saddle. As we attempted to enter, Natalie got groped by a guy who was getting kicked out for randomly groping people. Then there was a guy less than 2 feet from us wearing a shirt with a picture of George Bush with the words "Not My President" on it, and some fucking loser guy decided to sucker punch him while screaming 'nice shirt'. The door guy tackled him to the curb while I fished for my ID and I just wanted to get safely inside. I found my ID and the rest of the night, all 30 minutes of it, included the Dynamite Walls boys coming in, Jared of Augustana, and a handful of other people that were backstage hanging out and just living up those last minutes of bar time.

As barely inclined I am to believe that North County can be a good time, this night went particularly well and I had so much fun with all the people we were fortunate to hang with.





As it goes, the night has to end, even after a couple random shots of Jaeger. So Nat and I headed back south of the 8 and with a super soft spot for everyone we were fortunate to hang with for the Dynamite Walls CD release party. The last thing I can really say about it all is that I had an advance of the CD and I listen to it incessantly. If any band deserves to "make it" this band is on that list. And I guarantee despite whatever success comes to them, they will be the most real and down to earth guys anyone could ever hope to meet. And for me, sometimes, that is all that really matters. Above the music, these guys have a team of people who are all so real that you dream of big stadiums for them, because that is what they have earned, and that is what they deserve. And they'll still be at the merch table meeting and greeting every single fan. Gotta love those boys.