I have to confess to a love-hate relationship with the Triple Rock Social Club. Yeah their lights suck, at best they are boring and uneven, and if they are turned down it’s like photographing in someone’s S&M dungeon. And when sold out it’s pretty hard to move around. But on the other hand it is such a great setting with bands being close, and somehow the club manages to book very cool bands, one would expect in larger venues. But then, rock clubs are not built for photographers but for music fans.
Friday night saw 2 cool bands stopping on their North American Tour. Starting the evening was Cleveland’s The Lighthouse and the Whaler. Originally a folk trio they turned into a rock band but kept some of their influences. Some of the band members switch instruments during their set and their sound while rock at heart at times has a spacey feel to it. In the small venue the drums felt much bigger than on their studio performances driving relentlessly. The front row was quite heavy on the female side with 4 guys trying really hard to look into it. Their current album is “Mount Royal”.
Run River North just released their new album “Drinking From A Salt Pond” a few weeks ago and “Run or Hide” has been on the playlist of most alternative stations around the country. The six-piece group, whose members are all Korean-American earned high praise for the album. Tempers were flaring a bit during recordings but all that seems water under the bridge. This is clearly a band that has fund performing live. Rocking guitars in front, a violin in the rear, and the drummer positioned stage left (which made for some cool shots). At one point during the set singer Alex Hwang moved to the back to give Jennifer Rim a big hug. Run River North drew energy from the crowd which was clearly having a great time. Overall a great band that sound even better live than their record.
Set List: Pretender / Seven / Excuses / Run or Hide / Foxbeard / Can’t come Down / Funeral Parade / Beetle / Salt Pond / Superstition / 29 / Anthony Encore: In the Water / Monsters calling Home / Growing Up
