Indie Rock at the Bars and the Amateur Band Venue

The night I went to see Rich Tan Buff Popular was a real trip down the rabbit hole. My buddy from the volleyball team told me this band was playing at Joe’s Brewery this one Saturday night, and that his teammate was in the band, and that we should go. I needed some subject material on local indie musicians, as there's no such thing as a surplus in that department, so I felt a golden opportunity had just landed squarely in my lap. I told him, “That’s great. Let’s go.”So I call my friend up and we decide we're going to do a little preliminary at my apartment. He’s walking over and while I’m facetiming a girl I get a call from my buddy, and he chuckles, “Yo. Ha, I ran into these guys from my team. They live in this same apartment building (banter and escalating snickers in the background). Come down to apartment 3—!”Thus started my night out with the UIUC volleyball team to see their teammate’s band. Immediately when I walked into apartment 3—I saw a kid who I knew from class. I was already acquainted with half of the room. We collectively took down some red-colored Hawaiian punch-tasting disaster from a plastic handle. It washed down with a syrupy sweet dropkick that made my throat tingle as if John Cena was a liquid.After warming up a bit and getting to know each other, we hitched it over to Joe’s. Getting in cover-free with exclusive cards provided by First Column Student Living (truly the only perk of living in a First Column apartment) was empowering.Rich Tan Buff Popular was already jamming out when we walked in, so once the whole group was in the venue we all gathered as close as possible to the band. The group included two guitarists, a bassist (the volleyball player, Alec), a particularly hyped and groovy saxophonist/keyboardist, and a singer who bombarded the crowd with shrill yelps and incontinent vocals that really didn’t match up with the talent of the group as a whole. The group dished out covers on classics such as “Snow (Hey-O)” and “Under the Bridge” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as “Soma” and “Reptilia” by The Strokes. These all sat humbly sprawled across the floor and emblazoned on the ceiling to the delight of the crowd. The crowd for the venue consisted of the more mature frequenters of Joe’s Brewery, typically over 21 or in association with the Sigma Nu—the fraternity hosting the charity event—or in association with a particular member of the band.Watching the band perform was by and large the best way to enjoy Joe’s Brewery that night. There was a connection between the crowd and the band that created constant engagement, whether that engagement takes form as talking to someone, wandering aimlessly, or just standing awkwardly with a drink in your hand. The event was way better than what was going on inside the bar, with its dark, dank, elbow-rubbing claustrophobic environment of stinky teenagers on a bender.After the show, I talked with the bassist and asked him about his experience in the band and just what the hell the point was of engaging in such a hobby in the midst of college when so much else is going on that demands one’s attention. Over much shouting, we discussed this evergrowing branch of philosophy. “We started in high school together. We mostly perform at bars. It’s just a hobby right now, but if it could take off” … yadda yadda yadda. The band experience isn’t about anything other than taking a shot. Seeing Alec after the show, swarmed by swooning girls and validated by his friends, the purpose of engaging in such activities, a cover band, was clear to me on this full mooned midnight. Action—the act of performing—reaped great rewards from those entertained.