This particular show was at an art space/collective/center for projects of some sort. When I arrived it was about seven at night in Knoxville, Tennessee, next to an oddly quiet on ramp. The ramp was about 45 meters to the east of the venue and the sun had already set a few hours before. The sky was only lit by the city lights but was less in this area since it was leaning toward a more subdued part of town. It’s the kind of subdued that you’d get from a warehouse district, except you know that there isn’t any harm around you. Just a feeling like no one lives there.

That night, the show started out with a solid amount of people bullshitting inside and outside the porch. Some people were walking around with PBR while I searched for the source only to find, and then settle with, the piss flavor of Miller High Life (Whenever I drink one, I always always wonder why they call it High Live. It’s taste and price have no upper class implications). After settling with my drink I start conversing with various attendees and in the background, yet in front of me, some guitar starts playing over the “PA” (A pile of amps and gear) held by a bearded fellow who didn’t say much before. He played some art rock music that only a few listened to.

After this was done, the wonderful Ryland Bouchard was second (or first, depending if you classify the first as a prelude) act that started but then the Headliner was an insane band, I Need Sleep. At this point, the room was packed like sardines in a tin box, the booze had well already kicked in, and some guy who had just gotten back from a Misfits concert was being positively obnoxious.

Here’s the unfortunate thing about field recordings: When presenting them to someone after all is said and done, you still can’t put them in that show. Video kind of takes that to the next level but still it’s not the same because the listener isn’t not physically at the show.

This particular show was one was so pumped up and made my heart glow in the same way for when I get excited in a mosh-pit. This nights line-up of I Need Sleep consisted of five people playing Trumpet, Keys, drums, banjo electric guitar, trumpet, violin, accordion, and a tambourine. The band hadn’t played in two years which added to the energy they were throwing at us and we were just beaming with excitement and awe.

Try pretend you were there…