Numerous punk noise could possibly be heard popping out of a small enterprise constructing on Graham Avenue, downtown Eau Claire on Friday evening.
Abraxas Wax, one in every of Eau Claire’s file shops, hosted a music present on April 25 that includes three bands: Smoke Free House, Popstar and Backstroke.
Despite the fact that the venue was small, the present had about 70 attendees. In between units folks may browse data or band merch, and Seth, the store’s proprietor, dealt with the sound for the present.
The present began at 7 p.m. with Smoke Free Home. Hailing from Oshkosh, Smoke Free House delivered a set impressed by traditional punk, full with socially vital tune lyrics and ear-splitting sound.
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The band contains lead singer Jesse Tubeszewski, bass participant Kevin Sonnleitner and Alex Lautenschlager on drums. The band is exclusive in that it doesn’t have a guitar participant.
Tubeszewski mentioned the band leans extra in the direction of traditional punk due to Lautenschlager’s affect and information. He would title their band’s style “dance punk.”
‘We describe it as actually good.’ Tubeszewski mentioned.
One of many band’s current songs is named “Three Left Turns,” which Tubeszewski mentioned is about gang stalking. Gang stalking refers back to the paranoid and often unfaithful perception that a big group or authorities entity is spying on a person.
“Folks dedicate a lot time to this factor that doesn’t exist.” Tubeszewski mentioned. “We wished to seize the paranoia.”
Tubeszewski mentioned this was the band’s first time in Eau Claire, and they have been reserving exhibits along with the band Popstar. They’ve extra upcoming exhibits in Appleton and Inexperienced Bay.
Smoke Free house has music on all Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music, and has a brand new single accessible on vinyl. Additionally they have punk type merch and t-shirts on the market.
Popstar, a band that hails from Minneapolis, got here on after Smoke Free House and delivered a genre-bending set that could possibly be described as digital hardcore or experimental pop.
The band created a novel sound by working the tracks and vocals by way of the music software program Ableton. Additionally they had AI-voiced messages within the voice of various celebrities repeating phrases like “Take heed to Popstar” and “Popstar is the most effective” between songs.
Lars Oslund, who’s each the singer and drummer for the band, mentioned the band had its debut in 2023 and its first launch in 2024. They play at a whole lot of the underground music venues in Minneapolis and have an East Coast tour arising in June.
The band knew about Eau Claire and Abraxas by way of their reference to Eau Claire native band Gash. Popstar additionally has an album and merch accessible on their Bandcamp.
The headliner for the present was Eau Claire’s personal Backstroke, who delivered an explosive set. Backstroke is one in every of Eau Claire’s up-and-coming bands and began just a bit over two years in the past.
The band contains Rollie Duerre on vocals, Louis Beaume on guitar, Zach Haig on bass and Adam Grey on drums. They carried out just a few unreleased singles at the present.
The band is within the means of recording their first album and hopes to launch it by the top of the summer season. Backstroke’s music is out there on Spotify and Apple Music.
Sonnek may be reached at [email protected].