We got home from BAM 07 (St Bonaventure’s Arts & Media Festival). It was a great festival, and twice as large as last years. It featured 2 venues, and more than twice as many bands.

Despite the number of acts and distance between the two venues, we were able to catch most of bands on the festival. The Allupons got the festival rolling off in the right direction with an awesome indie-rock sound that involved fast drums, fender guitars and keyboards (plus a very skilled xylophone solo). I would love to catch this band again. Their songs were poppy yet intricate, something like a good cross between Brand New and Bloc Party (I hate using other bands to describe new bands, but I have no choice since they have no songs online for you to hear)

After the Allupons was The Freeway Life (former Digger and Louiston), a very energetic and driven band. Their volume was too overwhelming on the PA system and the vocals were incredibly obscured by fast loud drums and loud-ass guitars. Aside from not being able to hear any lyrics their set was an impressive take on pop-rock.

The next day we got to watch Andrew Spain’s acoustic set open for Fisherman’s Favorite Dreams (the band who stole BAM 06). Both acts were very well done featuring a stellar closer by fisherman’s.

Trtl Soup Closed at the San Damiano Center, and they were well worth driving out to BAM for. Trtl Soup is AMAZING! Alex M (the brains behind the band) creates amazing experimental music featuring, live drums, drum machines, theremin, guitars, bass, and so sooo much more. Anyone who is a fan of Xiu Xiu, The Animal Collective, The Books, Why?, Man Man, Deerhoof, DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR, YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO TRTL SOUP! I can’t even begin to explain how amazing their set was. Synchronized drum solos, hand-claps, and so much energy!

After Trtl Soup we made our way over the art space (venue #2) to catch the Ice Cream Social close with a full out Indie-Dance Party. I have to say, BAM 07 was a great time. We saw a lot of good bands, ate some great food, and the western NY scene is full of friendly people.

Friday April 20, 2007
San Damiano Center:
6:30 – Mike Ersing
7:15 - Isaac Speath
8:00 – Black Whiskey Straight Coffee
8:45 – Chad Carvey & John Caceci
9:30 – Mopery and the No-Tell Motel

Art Space
6:15 – Entropy’s End
7:00 – The All Up Ons
7:45 – The Freeway Life
8:30 – Concord
9:15 – La Hurty Door

Saturday April 21, 2007
San Damiano Center
6:30 - Andrew Spain
7:15 p.m. - These are a Fisherman’s Favorite Dreams
8:00 – Peasant
9:00– TRTL Soup

Art Space
6:30 – The Maxi Pads
7:30 – Pollock
8:30 – Kill the Fall
9:30 – SoniMinoS
10:30 – Ice Cream Social

Written by: B. Disco on April 25th, 2007 | Filed under Features, Concert Reviews