The Bracketts impress with romantic acoustics

Last month I made it out to Pensacola’s Gutter Lounge for a live rock show that took place inside the Gutter Lounge. After hearing about the phenomenal lineup the Gutter was offering on April 15th, I decided "Why ruin a good thing?" I was not disappointed. The higher $10 cover charge actually turned out to be a bargain.

The first group to take the stage was a Pensacola duo called The Bracketts. In keeping with some bizarre trend which frequently takes place at the Gutter, the group ended up short a bass player. The show went on, however, with the Brackett brothers strumming through a solid set of acoustic material. The guitar work was diverse and well-orchestrated, and duo’s vocals built from a whisper to a roar. If the group Thrice ever performed an acoustic set, it might sound something like The Bracketts.

Next up was a four-piece group dubbed The Selfish Gene, also hailing from Pensacola. This outfit was composed of a democratic and wonderfully-mismatched gang of musicians. Except for the drummer, everyone on stage sang. At the forefront of the sonic tumult was member Jonathan, whose stage antics, frizzy hair, and tendency to gallop down into the audience made him more reminiscent of comedian Will Ferrel than any mainstream musician. Keyboard player Carla brought an appealing voice, as well as some 80’s era synthesizer flavor.
Guitarist Tim even

harmonica on one tune. Through all of the slapstick, however, The

The crowd is on its feet during the set by Glory of This.

Selfish Gene laid down some serious groove.

They might have been laughable to watch, but their sound was brilliant, despite, or maybe even because of, its dissonance.

A Perfect Kiss heralded the arrival of the first touring band of the night, traveling all the way from Annapolis, Maryland. APK favored driving, high-energy quasi-punk rhythms overlaid with screaming vocals up front, and pop harmony in the background.

Rich harmonics and soaring guitar melodies were the theme of their set, though they delved into some spacey sequencer work as well. APK never tried to reinvent the wheel musically, but they offered a solid, powerful performance that left the crowd wanting more.

Pensacola band The Selfish Gene was brilliant, laying down some serious groove.

Following in The Bracketts’ footsteps, Tennessee singer Wyatt followed up with an acoustic set, explaining that his fellow band mates had stood him up. Wyatt confidently played a number of soft, romanticallythemed songs to an enthusiastic crowd.

The act that succeeded Wyatt was, in some ways, disturbing to me. The group’s name was Karmella’s Game, and the only way I can describe their music is to say it sounds like someone took Gameboy music and rocked it out. Sounds awful, right? Oddly enough, Karmella’s Game was downright astonishing. Leading the quartet was singer/keyboard player Katie. From her arsenal of keys, Katie coaxed melodies which, quite honestly, would sound silly and dated in isolation. However, the rest of the band backed up Katie’s keyboard parts with relentless gusto, powerful hooks, and pitch-perfect vocals. Joe, the drummer, never missed a beat, his bass drum blasting the packed crowd like a cannon. Amazingly, the bizarre keyboard melodies never sounded tacked-on or gimmicky; the sound somehow belonged there. Some people in the audience danced. Others rocked out. Some, like me, stood with their mouths agape.

Our final band was the local band Glory of This. Right off the bat, GOT let loose with growling guitar distortion, and screaming vocals. This group was there to make noise.
Within seconds, inflatable beach balls and floats were released into the mob of fans.
Ultimately, GOT finally gave the more aggressive fans what the wanted: the long-awaited

pit and blow off some steam.

Karmella's Game astonishes with music you might find similar to that in a Gameboy.

In closing, though I definitely plan to visit a different venue next month, the appeal of the Gutter Lounge is undeniable. This location has proved several times over to be a bona fide hot spot for live music, with remarkable atmosphere and superior acoustics for the fans and bands alike. This latest show was both impressive and diverse, ranging from acoustic to pop to the heaviest of heavy. I applaud Pensacola’s fans for being mature enough to support each of the genres. The Gutter is developing a strong reputation for attracting legitimate national acts, as well as serving as a showcase for local talent.

On Sunday, May 8th, the Gutter Lounge will feature another rock show with headlining group Under Oath. Advanced tickets are on sale at Liberty Lanes. I encourage audiophiles to give the local scene a chance. See them play before they become famous!

The crowd is on its feet during the set by Glory of This.