Irrelevant Music Fest started three years ago as a way to counteract some of the other Atlanta-based festivals that primarily focus on larger touring acts with a festival that showcases some of the best up and coming artists that Atlanta has to offer. The third iteration this year expanded to five nights, including not only an incredible lineup of Atlanta-based artists, but also bands touring from across the country. We made it out to the second night on July 17th at 529 in East Atlanta Village, which also doubled as the Album Release Show for Atlanta’s glam punks, Material Girls.
Irrelevant Music Fest was founded by Irrelevant Productions‘ Kyle Swick, who’s taken on booking, promoting, artist management, and label services while highlighting some of the weirdest (and coolest) acts from Atlanta and beyond. Over the last few years, Irrelevant Productions consistently puts on shows that have stellar lineups, top to bottom, whether the lineup is all locals, or includes up and coming touring bands. Irrelevant Fest was no different, with Swick curating 5 straight nights. Night 2 at 529 certainly showed out.
The night started with Rose Hotel. The project of songwriter Jordan Reynolds, the first Rose Hotel EP, Always a Good Reason (2017), was more of a solo project from Reynolds with sparse and powerfully emotional songs. At Irrelevant Music Fest, Rose Hotel was a full 5 piece band including horns and synths. With new, full band material to play, Rose Hotel showed off their expanded sound, and wow, they were fantastic. The band added a groovy aspect to Reynolds poignant lyrics, which had the crowd flowing along with the band. Hopefully their full length debut will make it’s way out into the world before the end of the year. Rose Hotel is really a name to remember.
Next up was Shepherds, who at this point feel like Atlanta scene veterans. While Shepherds only has a few releases out there, their first release was back in 2011, an album in 2015, and 7″ inch in 2016, yet they are well known locally in the DIY scene as one of the best. Shepherds nerve fueled pop absolutely ripped at Irrelevant Fest and had the crowd dancing hard in the front row. Sadly after slaying their set, the band announced that we probably won’t be hearing from Shepherds for a while. Luckily though, the talented members of Shepherds are involved in multiple other projects, such as drummer Adrian Switon who played with and is a core member of the next band that played, Karaoke.
Shepherds can be a tough act to follow, but the brilliant young spectral pop band from right here in Atlanta, Karaoke, kept the crowd dancing and the spirits sky high. With singer and guitarist Grace Wayne’s harmonies soaring throughout the room, Karaoke takes from psych and chamber pop to create an orchestral experience that’s mesmerizing live. I can safely say that this was the night that I fell for Karaoke…the band, and a quick scan of the room told me I wasn’t alone. Karaoke has recently announced their EP release show at 529 on August 25th, a double release show with Flamingo Shadow. Karaoke’s debut EP, How to Make You Boil, is due out August 21st via irrelevant Music. You can also catch Karaoke at Hopscotch in Raleigh in early September.
The next band up was yet another Atlanta-based band, Arbor Labor Union. Releasing their first album as Pinecones in 2014, the band changed their name and released their second album and debut as Arbor Labor Union via Sub Pop in 2016. Mixing in elements of everything from psych rock to grunge, the past times I’ve seen ALU live, they showed off a more crunchy and droning sound as the band jammed out with their guitar rock. On this night though, the band seemed to show off more of the jangle pop and post-punk sides of their music, and even a little twang in their rock ‘n’ roll. It was a really impressive set with the band having fun right along with the audience. Their set had the crowd at 529 excited for what’s in store from Arbor Labor Union.
Following Arbor Labor Union was the only out of town band on this night of Irrelevant Music Fest. Gun Outfit made their way to Atlanta all the way from Los Angeles. Kyle Swick helped Gun Outfit put together a southeastern tour so they could make it to the play the festival, and it was a perfect fit alongside some of Atlanta’s weirdest bands. The funny thing is that if you have a distorted view of Southeastern cities, you may think Gun Outfit fits more with the South than the rest of the bands on this lineup. The band first formed in 2007 in Olympia, Washington as more of a post-punk band before moving to LA in 2008. These days though, with five albums released including their last, Out of Range (Nov. 2017), the band has taken to a more Cosmic Americana direction while keeping their lo-fi guitar rock sound. Founded by guitarists/vocalists/songwriters Dylan Sharp and Caroline Keith, the band is now a five-piece that includes additional songwriters to the two founders. While Gun Outfit was a change of pace from the rest of the bands on the lineup, with different songwriters and Sharp and Keith switching lead vocals almost every song, while working in unison on others, the band brought a diverse set that at times was rock ‘n’ roll, other times just beautiful and romantic. The band showed influences coming from western, to folk, country, psych, and punk that gives Gun Outfit an expansive lo-fi sound that was the perfect interval to the last two bands.
The final band before the headlining set from Material Girls was Atlanta-based Red Sea, who have become underground legends in the area. Ask a musician from Atlanta to Athens about Red Sea and you will probably hear a lot gushing. The band formed in 2009, releasing their first EP in 2010, an EP in 2015, and then a 7 song album, On The Marble, a few months later via Brooklyn label Bayonet Records. Red Sea’s art rock has gained some national buzz despite their sporadic releases with melodies and harmonies that capture the heart, around their shattered rhythms and experimental sounds. Despite being labeled as experimental, the band has always been steeped in pop music. At Irrelevant Music Fest, they went heavy on the pop providing an upbeat and funky sound that had some 90’s R&B influences, with a heavy dose of 80’s synth pop. Red Sea has already dropped a sneak peak of their new single “Love is Blind“, so new music from the band is close!
Despite the lack of a social media presence, Atlanta’s Material Girls have quickly built their reputation around town in short order, releasing their debut EP, MG VS IQ, in July of last year and word spreading about their insane live shows. It was a special night at Irrelevant Music Fest with Material Girls celebrating the release of their full length debut album, Leather, released via, you guessed it, Irrelevant Music. There was a buzz in the air at 529 as the band began to take the stage, and for good reason. The glam punks reputation has even started to catch far beyond Atlanta, including an NPR premiere of their latest single “Residual Grimace”.
Personally, this was the first time I had been able to catch Material Girls live. I knew the reputation: members dressed in drag, energetic live show, nervous rock ‘n’ roll that is dark as hell, gothic, yet full of glam, seemingly straight out of the weirdest basement party you could find in New York City in the late 70’s or early 80’s. Yet I don’t think I was fully prepared for just how insanely great this live show would be. Material Girls switched singers and instruments throughout the night, their horn and rhythm section brought alive their powerful punk, it was music to release all of your demons to. The crowd danced and rocked along with the band all night. Material Girls aren’t afraid to let their freak flags fly, and that confidence and bombastic attitude left the audience free with the band that was performing on stage. There is no use in trying to describe the experience in any more words though, just check out the pictures below, which does the talking much better and catch the band live for yourself.
This night at Irrelevant Music Fest was an eye opening reminder of the talent that exists locally in Atlanta. It wasn’t just the artists that made the night a success, but also a supportive audience that couldn’t help but being engaged with a talented lineup top to bottom. I only wish I had been able to experience the 4 other nights of Irrelevant Music Fest 2018.
Check out more photos from Irrelevant Music Fest 2018, Night 2 at 529 EAV. All photos by Mike Gerry:
