Images: Keepsake, Words From Aztecs, Guts and more August 12, 2016 at Eagle Hall

The saying “it’s better to burn out than to fade away” came to mind while watching Keepsake’s final show on August 12. The local melodic hardcore band decided to call it quits earlier this year after a little less than three years together. But they came together one more time to say goodbye.

Opening the band’s final show was No Relief and Deep End, two bands that feature now-former members of Keepsake. No Relief is one of the more exciting live bands to watch in town due to the theatrics of frontman Quinlan Braiwick. I arrived at the venue with their set in progress, Braiwick with his mic wrapped around his neck, jumping off the amp while tearing his shirt apart. While not as wild, Deep End were still energetic and had a few fans ready to sing into the mic during the short set.

Lifelink came down from Tempe to play the show, which was fitting as the melodic hardcore band did a tour with Keepsake last year. I had never listened to this band before but instantly became a fan, becoming so captivated that I found myself watching their set more than shooting. They just really put their emotions on display, with their frontman even kneeling down towards the drumkit for one particularly touching part.

We were back to two locals warming up the crowd before Keepsake – pop punkers Guts and metalcore band Words from Aztecs. It’s no secret that Guts is one of my favorite locals and I was happy to be watching them again after what seems like too long. While their poppy sound might seem a bit out of place on this heavier leaning show, they still had plenty of fans singing along. Guitarist Andrew Irvin ended up eating shit post-posi jump due to a spilled Rockstar, but that was nothing compared to the injury sustained during the next band’s set. This was my first time seeing Words From Aztecs and while I’m not the biggest fan of their genre, I quickly warmed up to their energetic performance, though I had to grimace when someone popped their knee out of place in the crazy pit.

Finally it was the moment we were all waiting for. Keepsake has certainly made the most of their short time together, as fans were tripping over themselves to make it up front and sing “The Scarlett Carson,” “False Heart” and “Youth Debt” with the band one last time.

A highlight of the set was seeing Twin Cities frontman Macario Gutierrez come out to sing his part of “Moving Forward” from the band’s Dreamer EP and seeing so many fans enthusiastically sing along. With the response the band received, I’m hoping that the final show ends up being more of a pause than a full stop but if it’s truly the end, at least they went out with a show this good.

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