Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Daily Lobo The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
Latest Issue
Read our print edition on Issuu

Bands rock the Lauchpad

The Lanchpad, Albuquerque’s premier venue for local and up-and-coming bands, played host last Saturday to Rock Out of The Box: Volume one compilation CD party.

The doors opened at 4 p.m. for the eight-hour show that featured nine of the 13 bands who lent their talents to the compilation.

The mood was light as people started trickling in for the opening band, The United, who played a short set of raw punk with a little bit of humor. Next up was local drinking band Coke is Better with Bourbon, who played what can only be described as drunk-punk.

“It’s weird to be drunk this early,” lead singer Abe Krasko said before starting their set. “The sun’s still out.”

Foma, the fourth band, was the only band to use a cello and a violin in their set and from here, the show really picked up momentum — the sun was down and the crowd was growing steadily.

Quick equipment changes between sets and performers pitching in to help move the show along really added to the atmosphere.

Enjoy what you're reading?
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Subscribe

Follow’s sound was a nice change of pace from the evening’s previous entertainers. It ranged from moody rock with sweeping melodies to intense but fluid hard-core tribal metal complete with a bongo and ending with an impromptu stage dive.

What would a local show be without a little bit of funk? This is where the talented members of Starseed fit in. Their brand of anti-Bush ranting with their pro-funk performance was the perfect way to get the crowd ready for the last few groups.

Following Starseed was the trio Oktober People, who played a short, mostly acoustic set that was very reminiscent of the 1970s psychedelic rock genre made popular by bands like Pink Floyd.

The last two bands to perform were Ki and Feels Like Sunday, female fronted bands. Ki took the stage and blew the roof off with their energetic performance. While the whole band was very talented, the performance of bassist John Powell shined.

Ki cleared the stage to make room for the evening’s headlining act and organizer of the event, Feels Like Sunday.

All that can really be said about Feels Like Sunday is that if you haven’t seen them play, you need to. This band delivered a top-notch performance. Vocalist Joni Orie invited the crowd to participate and get into the show.

“If I can act like a complete dork up here then you can all act like dorks down there,” she said.

This dry, arid desert has certainly fostered an eclectic music scene. New Mexico always had a lot of talented bands running around, but the problem is finding the ones you like amongst the pack.

If you are at all interested in the local scene then you should do yourself a favor and pick up Rock Out of The Box: volume one compilation CD which features some of the best local bands found regularly in our backyard.

Comments
Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2025 The Daily Lobo