MONDAYS ARE FOR ROCK & ROLL IN ALBANY WITH JULY TALK, MONA + BAD MOTHERS

Mondays are usually reserved for licking your wounds from the weekend and just worrying about making it through the rest of the week. With the year winding down, especially this horrific year overall, it also means you’re extra tired from holiday shopping, this past election cycle, and everything else that has taken place. Music is still the magical escape though and three bands gave it their all at Albany’s The Hollow.

Local band Bad Mothers, who are part of the burgeoning DIY scene in Albany, started the evening off with a fantastic set of well-crafted rock music. The musicianship of all four members bolds well for the future of the band. With just starting to play the regular venues in Albany, all it is going to take is enough people hearing them to keep propelling them forward.

Bad Mothers

MONA, who have been touring with July Talk since late November, were in good spirits, despite some long travel delays, and worked their ass off for the crowd. Nick Brown, a few songs into the set, even stopped playing guitar and just became a front man for a little to get the crowd moving and dancing as if it were the weekend. Behind him was a sonic force of music that never seemed to quit throughout the set. The wall of sound that the two, and sometimes three, guitars made was just overpowering, in the best way possible. “Shooting the Moon” and “In the Middle” were fantastic and are almost guaranteed to be heard on stages throughout the 2017 festival season getting crowds excited for the rest of the day.

MONA portrait

MONA

The energy that July Talk bring to the stage is contagious. From the moment they started their set, the large crowd, considering it was a Monday, went wild. Some people drove six hours to see this show, the first of six dates in the US to end the year and raged accordingly. Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay are just amazing to watch. The chemistry they have with one another just puts a smile on your face instantly. This band has been getting a lot of buzz lately all over the internet and it’s much deserved, with not only the show being enjoyable to watch, but the songs are great on top of it. “Picturing Love” and “Summer Dress” were the one-two punch to open up a show that some bands would love to have every night.

July Talk Portrait

July Talk

JT

JT

July Talk

JT

JT

JT

Look for them to continue to rise next year when their music gets out to more people’s ears. If the music doesn’t win them over, which seems inconceivable, than the show ending limbo contest within the crowd might just do the trick. Honestly though the music is hard hitting, fast, and dangerous, which is exactly what rock and roll is meant to be. Starting off the week with music like that can only lead to good things.