This show was billed as a live lo-fi (anti) folk show. Though not entirely sure what that means but this night was definitely a decent peek into the growing pop scene in Orlando, a very incestuous scene at that as we'll get into. Unnappointed scene leader Omar Delarosa (from Little Insects) put this night together and I was impressed with the turnout. Lots of people out to hear music. This is good news to someone who needs good news.

To start out the night was Colitis, which happens to be Kevin Beasley and whoever else can play a show with him. Tonight he was solo. It should be noted that Kevin is also the drummer for the indierock-duo 1991 (yes, like the year), Technobox- an electronic solo band and plays percussion in Surfin' Serf. I'm sure he has more up his sleeve. So what's the difference between Technobox and Colitis? Not sure. Doesn't matter. Kevin played some electronic loops and jumped around like a fish out of water, next he would play surf-style electric guitar and then he'd hover over his electronic gear on the floor bending away on expression knobs. He's quite a varied man.

Next was Casey Powers. In short Casey is an amazing musician. Her band list goes like this: The Chicago Bears in which she sang and played multiple instruments. Then there was Hello Green Fields, a folksy duo with Sam Metro (see below). And now she's made the move to go solo.... at just age eighteen. I only time I saw The Chicago Bears was once in 2007 and all I could talk about how amazing this girl was. That was the last time I had heard anything from her until a Myspace page recently popped up and then she was added onto this show. I was not going to miss it. And holy cow, with her distinctive voice and a small arsenal of instruments (acoustic guitar, banjo, ukulele) she has put together something special. There's an undeniable sincerity and honesty in her voice. Everyone in that room was silenced. People take note. I totally have a crush on her music.

The man of the night, Omar Delarosa, was next with his latest band Little Insects. Omar's band lineage goes back to Magnet Club, which also has Sam Metro in it's membership. With this new band he's played both solo and played with a full band. Tonight he only had a drummer with him. And instead of playing guitar he played the same songs on piano. Most of the music was pretty slapdash and off tempo. I'm sure it's supposed to be cutesy like that. I know enough about indiepop to know. It would have been better if the keyboard was put away until he can use if effectively. For the last couple of songs he switched to guitar and those songs were pretty good.

Following Casey was a re-formed Weak Ends, that played a few shows in 2007. This Weak Ends (not to be confused with any other Weekends-titled band) is made up of Sam Metro who also currently spends time in Magic and the Johnsons and the aforementioned Magnet Club, Hello Green Fields with Casey- not to mention his solo work. He played at last years Pop Mayhem. With this band he's paired up with Geannie Friedman, who is queen of any pop scene Orlando will ever have. She's she brains behind Saving Twilight, one of the areas longest running bands that's actually good. My financee Kristin and I have been her backing band (drums and bass) for Saving Twilight since late last year and have played a small handful of shows. Geannie's done that band for so long it's good to hear her get to do something different. Weak Ends have a more Beat Happening thing going on with primitive style drums with electric guitar over the sweet vocals of Geannie and a fake-Calvin Johnson voice delivery style of Sam. They switch off between guitar and drums. I've never seen Geannie play drums ever! Afterwards she would say her arms hurt. Too cute. They covered a Velvet Underground song as well as a couple of Saving Twilight covers that weren't as cool as when Kristin and I play them (does that sound conceited??? Hahaha). They do have two decent songs "Mourning Light Part I" and my favorite "Weak End". The band has a new 5 song EP out as well as puffy paint shirts.

Lastly was something called Phil Spectre vs Rector. I thought it was going to be some kind of battle between DJs but I would be wrong. This band is one guy- Phil Ileto, who is also The Defilers. I don't know Phil or ever saw Defilers play. All I know is he never plays shows because of stage fright and get played every five minutes on WPRK, where he is also a DJ. He started off with friends on vocals and moved on to playing by himself. He had an impressive guitar setup (amps, guitar and pedal board) but that's where it ended. That guy should would be pretty good if he had a band and had someone sing his words. I wasn't digging the solo space rock band.

All in all this show left me with a good impression of things improving around town. I'm a big whiner when it comes to things like this but this show gave me something positive to think about. People go to more shows! More people make music (even not-so-good music) FUN. Do you hear me? Oh yeah - Casey Powers rules.

Pictures:

Colitis --- Kevin Beasley.

Casey Powers on the ukulele.

Weak Ends -- Sam and Geannie.

Little Insects -- Omar Delrosa.

Phil Spectre vs Rector.

Videos:

Casey Powers playing two songs on acoustic guitar.  

Casey Powers on the banjo.

Weak Ends "Weak End".

Links:
Weak Ends - Myspace.
Casey Powers - Myspace.
Little Insects - Myspace.
Plastic Impossible Blog's review of the same show.
Colitis - Myspace.
Phil Spectre - Myspace.