Midnite Fest feat. Knockout Kid, A Poison Alibi, Settle Your Scores and more August 20, 2016 at The Warehouse

The all-ages scene in Vegas has never been able to catch a break for very long when it comes to venues. Case in point, The Midnite Warehouse. It became a home away from home for me early this year and already, I found myself shooting its last show. It was a bittersweet moment, getting to see a bunch of good bands but knowing it would be my last time at the venue where I’ve made such amazing memories.

I showed up to the show, dubbed “Midnite Fest,” just in time to see people bobbing their heads to the last song of New Jersey’s With Friends Like These. The first full set I caught was San Diego’s Short Stories, a sick, fun to watch pop punk band featuring a guitarist who spends the majority of the set running around the floor and amp climbing. Local punk rockers ARK was up next and though I missed the explanation of what the band name stands for, I didn’t miss an excellent Green Day cover (their drummer certainly has the chops to stand up to an early Tre Cool).

Ohio pop punk/hardcore hybrid Settle Your Scores was next and to say I was excited was an understatement. I caught this band not that long ago with Abandoned by Bears and as that show was sparsely attended, I couldn’t wait to see more people experience this band for the first time. Settle Your Scores sounded great playing one favorite after another, with “If Loose Lips Sink Ships, Then You’re the Titanic,” “Poster Boys for Bad Luck” and “Cashing Your Reality Check.” If you’re a fan of Fireworks or old Fall Out Boy, this is the band for you. 10/10. Would recommend.

Apparently the Warehouse’s neighbors don’t share my love of pop punk, as their complaints in regards to the band’s merch placement almost made Settle Your Scores set the de facto finale for the venue. Thankfully, things were resolved in time for Knockout Kid and A Poison Alibi to close out the night. Knockout Kid hail from Chicago and play pop punk with just a tinge of metal, sort of like A Day to Remember. The band looked like they were having a blast during their set, all smiles even as the the venue’s lights seemed to glitch off and on.

A Poison Alibi closed things out and left me speechless. I felt like people must have felt seeing Pierce the Veil for the first time. Their fans, on the other hand, were less than speechless, singing every word back with the local band. This was my first time seeing them, and it will definitely not be my last, albeit never at The Midnite Warehouse again.

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