Next up was a band called Starburst. I think that is what they called themselves; I cannot say they were all that clear whenever they said it. They were a fun band that didn't offer much new. The sound was straight up rock and roll and I could see myself enjoying them more in a bar after a few beers. There was nothing particularly special about their music, but they certainly brought lot of energy to the table. In particular, their guitar player was a wild man, shaking his head, slapping and clawing at his six-stringed instrument — he was a madman. Still, they are not a band I am likely to seek out.
Next up was the final opening act, Freakswitch. These guys have only been together for about eight months or so and are just now beginning to gain some momentum on the local scene. The band features veteran musicians who have come together for a love of the music and a desire to share their love with other music lovers. They play a brand of solid hard rock that is not the most distinctive, but it is definitely catchy and displays the ability of the members to come together and write good songs. I am sure that given more time, their voices will continue to blend and allow for even better tunes.
Freakswitch came to the stage with plenty of energy, an energy that the slow-but-growing crowd recognized, fed off, and gave right back. I had spoken to the band prior to the show and they were a little disappointed over the low number of tickets they were able to sell (it's kind of hard to sell tickets for a weekday show). Fortunately, that did not seem to matter as the people that were there really got into them, more than any of the prior bands.
This was my first time seeing them, and I admit that I had been looking forward to the opportunity. I was not disappointed. They are not the best local act I have seen, but they have a lot of upside. I was a little worried going in as I had sampled the tracks on their MySpace page and found the music to be good, but the vocals worried me. The voice seemed off. Live, they are a different story, everything blended together much better, with the vocals definitely stepped up.
Was their performance perfect? No. At times the mix was off a bit, sometimes the guitar got lost in the sound and I could not make out its detail. On the other side of the stage, the bass playing from Mike Polito was solid, just as I have come to know from him, but there were odd slapping noises coming from the strings that didn't sound normal. Overall, the performance was good, with plenty of energy, catchy songs, and a lot of fun. They are well worth keeping an eye on in the coming months.
Article comments
1 - Johnny Morse
Thak you for the kind words.I am the guitar player in STARSTRUCK, We have only been together for about a year and have already done shows with Pat Travers, Blue Oyster Cult, Bret Micheals, Blackfoot, U.F.O AND Vince Neil Show Nov.20 at Northern Lights,Clifton Park NY. Check us out on MySpace Starstruck.
Thanks, Johnny [madman] Morse
2 - Chris Beaumont
You're welcome, Johnny! Best of luck to you, perhaps our paths will cross again.