On April 9 Madison’s music realm was fortunate enough to host three talented and energetic bands — touring artists Honduras and Acid Dad, as well as locals Fin Zipper. Each band brought auras of rock, with either funk or punk vibes.
Fin Zipper, a band made up of University of Wisconsin students, set the stage and tone at the Frequency for the night. On bass and lead vocals, Alex Ferron was skilled in involving the audience through commentary and lyrics, where bandmates Dan Graf (drums), Seth Hassler (guitar/vocals) and Jon Porter (lead guitarist/vocals) added positively to the experience as a whole. Walking into the venue, one may be reminded of a 70’s funk vibe.
Besides the small size of the venue, the personal connections many of the audience members had with the local band created a great sense of intimacy. The overall interplay within the guitarists generated a particular sense of energy and connection within the band as well as the crowd.
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It was evident many were there Fin Zipper and it just so happened two talented bands were there to positively extend the experience. In addition to their performance, Fin Zipper mingled and danced with the crowd during the next two shows, adding to the unique mood within the venue.
Acid Dad, natives of Brooklyn, New York, followed in Fin Zipper’s footsteps, but brought a punk twist to the stage. With Vaughn Hunt on guitar and vocals, Sean Fahey on bass and vocals and Kevin Walker drumming, the trio gave the audience an idea of what their first full-length album might sound like. The crowd reacted just as they did to the previous opener; with excitement and support.
Showcasing a majority of their EP, Let’s Plan a Robbery, the band brought a “chiller” tone to the venue, but remained consistent with relatable lyrics and audience engagement. The chill vibes were mostly seen and heard through Fahey’s mannerisms, but not in a negative way. The relaxing onstage presence reaffirmed the unique and intimate feeling within the space.
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Humorously, Acid Dad was promoting not only their persona, but the potential for legal trouble as well — they sold t-shirts with the Adidas logo, but with the name “Acid Dad” in place of “Adidas.” During the show, the band urged the crowd to promote the shirts in hopes the band might be sued by Adidas. This witty commentary created a fun and light connection with the audience.
Last but certainly not least, Honduras took the stage for the latter half of the night. Pat Phillips (vocals/guitar), Tyson Moore (guitars/vocals), John Wehle (drums) and Paul Lizarraga (bass) brought energy to an all-time-high.
A crowd favorite, “Paralyzed” showed exactly what this band is made of. With personal lyrics projected to the crowd, the upbeat of the drums, the mingling of the guitarists and the overall fast tempo, the entire audience was actively engaged in the environment.
Honduras played and sang with incredible intensity and focus, something that is not always seen at bigger venues.
Overall, the trio of bands was able to create a memorable and unique experience for the crowd and each other. For them, it was not about the publicity and other benefits that derive from being an artist. Instead, it was clearly all about the music.
