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I’m more than a little heartbroken today. Just a few hours after I made the 45 minute drive...

Thu, 31 May 2012 23:04:02 -0400

I’m more than a little heartbroken today.

Just a few hours after I made the 45 minute drive into Lansing and the Fusion office, all the while listening to Detroit Red Wings great Nicklas Lidstrom’s retirement press conference, I had to make the sad announcement that we would be hosting Apathetic Critic’s final show.

For those unaware of who Apathetic Critic is, they’re a very young (still) blues/indie/rock band from Brighton. Avery Black and Parker Munson, the two founding members, have yet to reach 20 years old.

Rarely have I worked with a group of musicians that have made me feel such a wide range of emotions over their “career”. I’m going to take a second to outline the emotions that have been forced out of me due to the fact that a band named Apathetic Critic exists. Hopefully, along the way, a few fun stories will pop up.

The first emotion that I remember feeling about Apathetic Critic was intrigue. Word was going around the Livingston Underground, our little hometown music club that existed from 2004 to 2007, that there was a brand new, really young band in Brighton High School that was impressively talented and raw. I did some research, because that’s what we did. We booked young, up-and-coming talent, mostly from Livingston County.

I finally saw them play for the first time, at the Howell Bowl-E-Drome in 2007, and there’s not an easy word to sum up my feelings while watching them the first time. Basically, take the feeling that overcomes you when you see this picture:

It was kind of like that. They were adorable. They were like these little kids that were like the kids in band class that were pissed every time someone hit the wrong note on their tuba. The ones who when band class took a break, you’d find one of these kids in the corner, shredding the most intricate riff as if it were nothing. Child prodigies.

Over the 30+ shows I’ve booked for them, I’ve been frustrated with them for showing up late at times, mad as hell when Avery won’t turn his amp down at the already way-too-loud Opera House, laughed hysterically at Avery and Parker’s sometimes hilarious between-song banter, pumped my fists and head banged and sang “Shut Up!” at the top of my lungs.

Then there was their album release party for their full-length release, “Finding Home”, at the Annex a few years back. Intense feelings of pride for them having seen through such a heartfelt project that they worked so hard on, were replaced by nearly total anguish and pain when the entire crowd cried as Avery sang their songs in dedication to their recently fallen friend Mike. Tears were definitely shed that night, also because it was original bassist Jeremy Head’s final show. Current bassist Wes Black, Avery’s brother and former drummer of bands such as Tips and Saints Never Surrender, joined on a 2nd drumset that night, and the way they controlled the tempo, mood, and dynamics of that evening is something that you’re born with. We quite literally experienced greatness that night, and it was hard to live up to that night as they rolled along. They had outgrown being the “great band for their age”, and just simply become a “great band”.

Now that they’re hanging it up as Parker moves to California to continue his education, the businessman in me looks at them with regret and spite, pissed off that the “industry” failed them, that they didn’t “make it”. But I don’t think they ever wanted that, and I’ve long since convinced the businessman in me to shut up and just let bands play who just want to play. And that was the awesome part about Apathetic Critic. They truly embraced the spirit of punk in that they truly were always focused on the music. The songwriting was always well beyond their years. The performances were always passionate. They bled, sweated, fell down, screamed, yelled, laughed, smiled, cried, and showed love on stage, for all to see.

I’ve got a very small handful of bands who genuinely mean something to me as musicians, and as friends, and to be a part of their lives while growing up has been an honor and a pleasure, and something I will never forget.

I hope that you will all do whatever you can to join us on August 10th at the Opera House for their final show, whether you’re seeing them for the 30th time or the 1st time. They’ll be surrounded by some of their favorite bands who are still cranking away, being a part of a close-knit Michigan scene. This night will be pure magic.

Nate

Such Gold Bled Fest Performances

Thu, 31 May 2012 20:50:22 -0400

propertyofzack:

Such Gold recently played at Bled Fest. Check out a few of their songs from the festival below by clicking “Read More.”

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Our buddy Span from 94.1 The Edge interviewing NEON TREES at...

Thu, 31 May 2012 19:53:48 -0400

Our buddy Span from 94.1 The Edge interviewing NEON TREES at their show last week in Lansing!

Pentimento Bled Fest Performance

Thu, 31 May 2012 18:51:01 -0400

propertyofzack:

Pentimento played Bled Fest this past weekend Check out the band playing “Words With Friends” from Wrecked below by clicking “Read More.”

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REBLOG for a chance to WIN TICKETS to the show!

Thu, 31 May 2012 17:55:17 -0400

REBLOG for a chance to WIN TICKETS to the show!

Take a few minutes and watch this! Our friends have been working...

Thu, 31 May 2012 17:48:49 -0400

Take a few minutes and watch this! Our friends have been working to change the way the world thinks!

Daylight Bled Fest Performance

Thu, 31 May 2012 15:58:58 -0400

propertyofzack:

Daylight played Bled Fest this past weekend. Check out the band performing “Two Of A Kind” at the festival below by clicking “Read More.”

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Don’t miss Hit the Lights on 6/14 at Mac’s Bar...

Thu, 31 May 2012 14:00:19 -0400

Don’t miss Hit the Lights on 6/14 at Mac’s Bar [Lansing] with Way To Fall, Priorities, and Rival Summers! Pick up your fee-free tickets at fusionshows.com and come hang out!

bled fest 2012 pictures

Thu, 31 May 2012 13:56:03 -0400

bled fest 2012 pictures

JUST ANNOUNCED!

Thu, 31 May 2012 13:33:14 -0400

JUST ANNOUNCED!

Pianos Become The Teeth Bled Fest Performances

Thu, 31 May 2012 09:46:52 -0400

propertyofzack:

Pianos Become The Teeth played a great set at Bled Fest 2012. Check out a couple of their songs from the festival below by clicking “Read More.”

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Check out Buried Bed’s documentary of a full day of music...

Wed, 30 May 2012 21:52:49 -0400

Check out Buried Bed’s documentary of a full day of music at a mansion in Philadelphia last summer! You’ll be able to catch them live with mewithoutYou on 6/8 at the Loft in Lansing- tickets here.

The Wonder Years Bled Fest Performance

Wed, 30 May 2012 13:21:33 -0400

propertyofzack:

The Wonder Years performed at Bled Fest this past weekend. Check out the band playing “Dynamite Shovel” and “Don’t Let Me Cave In” below by clicking “Read More.”

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Don’t miss Ice Nine Kills with Like Moths to Flames,...

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:54:10 -0400

Don’t miss Ice Nine Kills with Like Moths to Flames, Forever a Hero, Myths and Legends, and Perisher this Sunday at Mac’s Bar [Lansing]. Head to fusionshows.com for fee-free tickets and more info!

NEXT WEEK! Grab your FEE-FREE tickets at...

Tue, 29 May 2012 17:25:04 -0400

NEXT WEEK!

Grab your FEE-FREE tickets at http://www.FusionShows.com

all-i-ever-wanted-dear: Line in Lansing for Neon Trees!

Tue, 29 May 2012 16:50:19 -0400

all-i-ever-wanted-dear:

Line in Lansing for Neon Trees!

rightxdirection: I forgot to upload this. But it’s a short...

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:56:57 -0400

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

rightxdirection:

I forgot to upload this. But it’s a short crappy recording of The Early November playing Decoration from Bled Fest.

Photo

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:34:19 -0400

dsummersphoto: Such Gold.

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:04:17 -0400

dsummersphoto:

Such Gold.

The Early November "Ever So Sweet" Bled Fest Performance

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:02:00 -0400

propertyofzack:

The Early November headlined Bled Fest this past weekend. Check out a performance of “Ever So Sweet” from the show below by clicking “Read More.”

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