The Format, Rainer Maria, Anathallo, Street To Nowhere | Water Street Music Hall, Rochester

This show was kind of role reversal for me and my friend Steve. We're usually going to shows that don't start until 9 or 10, and we're usually the youngest fools there. Sunday, at different weblog's first show coverage in Rochester, we felt like some of the oldest kids there, as Water Street was filled with 15, 16, and 17 years old girls and boys screaming to see The Format as doors opened at 6pm as it was still quite light outside. Now while I do enjoy Format, I was mainly there to see Anathallo, and Steve was there to see Rainer Maria.

Oakland's Street To Nowhere opened with some fairly uninspring emo-pop/punk, but had prettty good energy. Vocalist Dave Smallen is heavily influenced by Conor Oberst, from his hair down to his vocal style and songs about drinking.

Anathallo was running quite late, as I was supposed to interview them at 4:30, and they didn't even show up for their scheduled set time. Rainer Maria graciously stepped on early in their place, and put on a great set, largely featuring songs from their latest, Catastrophe Keeps Us Together. Lots of energy from guitarist Kyle Fischer, and beautiful vocals from bassist Caithlin De Marrais. I wasn't expecting their music to be so loud and rock oriented, as I thought it was slightly more down-tempo and experimental, but Steve said their music has been changing with each release.

Finally Anathallo arrived, and frantically rushed all their equiment on stage after Rainer Maria left. Quite impressively, the band got everything set up and did a quick sound check in probably 20 to 30 minutes or so. I think those in the crowd who weren't familiar with the band were quite confused, as 8 people were on stage with everything from xylophones, to drums up on stands, to tambourines, to a horn section, and a laptop. The band put on a blistering set with fantastic stage presence, jumping around and handclapping and performing songs from the album off of their own Artist Friendship label, Floating World. Barring some feedback during the set, Anathallo was quite wonderful, even blowing up balloons during one song, from which I thought they would leak air to create sound, but simply just let them fly off into the audience. This is definitely a band to watch out for.

I only caught the beginning and end of The Format's set, as I was interviewing a couple dudes from Anathallo during it. I could still hear it most of the time, and it was pretty fantastic. Touring in support of their self-released Dog Problems, the band blended songs from that and its first disc, Interventions and Lullabies. Complete with stand up displays of dogs on stage, the band had the crowd screaming along from start to finish, and I'm sure no one left disappointed.