Images: Coastal Skyway, Almost Awake, Louder Than Words and more July 30, 2016 at Eagle Hall

I was back at Eagle Hall late last month for Coastal Skyway’s Last Flight Home EP release show, and I wasn’t alone. In fact, the show was completely sold out, not an easy task for anyone to pull off, let alone a local. To celebrate, the pop punk/easycore band played the entire EP front to back, with the title track, written for frontwoman Meredith Ann’s mom, getting everyone the most stoked. Another standout moment came when Vic Liano, frontwoman for openers Almost Awake, came out for special guest vocals on “Fall Out Boy Couldn’t Write a Song Title as Long as the Title We Wanted to Name This Song.”

Speaking of – Almost Awake was one of many openers, and their set was one of the night’s most memorable. They had a light show that’s much more impressive than you usually get at shows this size, and it made the plain white room look so much better. Vick’s beautiful voice was enthralling, and it was a blast to watch guitarist Grady Jones elicit an audience bow thanks to a sick guitar solo. Fellow locals Louder Than Words also benefited from some interesting light work, as well as an audience that seemed to know the words to every one of their songs.

Odd Solutions and The Avenue both had an rock indie feel to them that I dug, and the latter played a cover of Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy” that got the crowd going. Paramore cover band Brand New Eyes (featuring members of I Am Vertical and Silverscape) got everyone singing along to “Ain’t It Fun,” “Misery Business,” and “Ignorance,” and I found myself really digging the sole touring band of the night, Horror in the Moonlight from Riverside, CA. I wasn’t the only one, as I saw many a head bobbing along to their pop punky vibes.

-Margaret Schmitt | http://margaretschmitt.wix.com/margaretschmitt