By: Stephanie Duffy
Contributing Writer
I’ve come to the pub tonight to review two bands, Silverspork and PHI. I also get a little something extra with the first band of the evening, Blind by Hate.
Two Old Dudes and Two Kids “tripped over each other” and formed this band, according to band members Matt and Jody (old dudes) and Zac and Brandon (kids). The first of three bands, Blind by Hate played to a sparse crowd Saturday night.
Matt LaCount and Brandon ShortStack of BBH
Blind by Hate could best be compared to “A little Alice in Chains meets Slayer,” said Adam, a local resident, of the band.
The music and lyrics are mesmerizing. Vocalist Matt LaCount has a beautiful face and this reviewer wishes she could see more of it behind the locks.
SilverSpork, the second band of the evening, takes it up a notch and comes out strong. Lead singer Bryan is very charismatic on stage. Sexual connotations and antics abound: masturbating on stage, cunnilingus with the microphone cord … okay now we’re getting a little crazy.
Bryan, lead singer of Silverspork
This guy comes across as some kind of psychopath on stage but then turns around and is surprisingly polite and articulate and thanks the crowd!
“We’re just a simple group of guys.” Bryan said, after the show. “We’re one of the hardest working bands in a 10 mile radius.” Mmm, beauty and brains…
When asked about his crazy onstage antics, Bryan replied, “We draw people in visually initially, but it’s just a show. All the stuff about drugs—that’s just bullshit.”
Parental support for SilverSpork is huge, lead guitar player Carlos has his mom and dad in the audience.
“I’m proud of him, “says Mrs. Carlos’ Mom.
“My son Carl is cool, just like the band,” the guitarist’s dad boasts,
“They rock.”
All in all, the response to Silverspork was positive. Chris Adamcik said, “This band is amazing, very talented. They’re the new generation of System of Down.”
The last band of the night is PHI, and believe me it is worth the wait.
PHI rocks the house. Lead singer Patrick Brennan is visually alarming, wearing a skullcap with ears, and more make-up than I’ve ever worn except on Halloween.
A guy claiming to be Matt Brew says, “This is something different for Saginaw.” However, I question the authenticity of his last name.
“PHI is the best band here tonight,” says a very partial observer, Sarah Kupp, another audience member. Sarah’s husband, Nate Kupp, is singing guest vocals with PHI tonight, but his real gig is lead guitarist for Down Seed, another local band.
After the show, the bands quickly tore down and were eager to get home. PHI's Brennan, in particular, had to book out of there to feed his pregnant girlfriend. Awwww…
It was a great night out for an old gal like me. The guys in all three bands scream on stage, have funny hats and hair, and in general act like maniacs; but off stage they are polite hometown boys who have parents and pregnant wives that love them.
Stephanie Duffy received her bachelor degree in journalism from Michigan State University and this is her first contribution to BayCityMusic.com