Images: Last Call, So Many Ways, Alaska, Tony Bucci of Caleb Lionheart July 7, 2012 at Yayo Taco

In the increasingly do-it-yourself punk rock sphere, how much time a band has to promote a show they’re on proves to be vital. Not only for the band trying to generate a decent turnout but also for the fan who has to plan accordingly. This is what makes the July 7 show at Yayo Taco so remarkable. Local band Last Call had just three days to spread the word that they had brought their friends from Chicago, So Many Ways, to town and were ready to play a free punk rock show.

To start the night, Tony Bucci from Albany NY’s Caleb Lionheart (in town for his brother’s bachelor party) took the stage and played a few of his band’s songs acoustically. After Tony finished his set, (awesome Saves the Day cover and many a fan sing-along included) Alaska followed up with an impressive set of their own. For such a young band, they definitely have their own style and musicianship that shows promise. Aside from a loose tom drum that Austin from Last Call had to hold in place the majority of the set, the band’s twenty minutes went off without a hitch.

The next fifteen minutes was spent anticipating what we had been told was going to be a great live show put on by So Many Ways. Having talked to them prior to the show, they seemed proud of the way they perform and told me that it was a point of emphasis for them as a band to never take a night off. Within the first ten seconds of their set, it was clear that they had meant what they said.

Before they even informed the crowd as to who they were, Colin (vocalist) was treading tables and amps and maybe even a few people’s heads. Before the end of the first song it was evident that the entire shop, including the bar, and the parking lot outside, was now their stage. Every member of the band was drenched in sweat, and all the mouths in the crowd sat agape. Kids clearly weren’t sure what to make of these five dudes yelling, running around, jumping, playing intricate riffs laying down, dancing, piggy-backing fans, sharing the microphone with lucky fans, and going insane in general.

They played hits like “I’ve Made a Huge Mistake” and “38 Chambers.” But you haven’t lived until you’ve seen this band play “Sleep Mask” live. A powerful song on record gets even better in real life. After showcasing some new material for us (calling them slow jams when they were anything but) the band went into their closing number. But before ending the song, they instructed the crowd to meet them outside. I’ve seen a fair amount of shows in my life, but I’ve never seen a band finish a set by playing the final notes on top of cars in the parking lot and tables on the patio. Nearly lost in all the commotion was how well So Many Ways was playing their instruments, as visually captivating as it was, it sounded great, too.

There was a definite buzz going around the place after they had finished, and everyone made their way over to the merch table so they could commemorate what they’d seen forever. It all wrapped up with Last Call playing a few awesome new songs to their many local fans. As far as free shows in a cramped, hot taco shop go, this had to be one of the best times I’ve had. All of us have seen a band charge thirty dollars for a mediocre concert where they expect us to clap and cheer based off reputation alone. So Many Ways went above and beyond everyone’s expectations and made sure nobody in the entire room (and maybe the block) would forget the time they played in a taco shop on very short notice for free.

-Felipe Garcia

Photos by Emily Matview | https://www.flickr.com/photos/holdfastnow/