Hopscotch 2018 — Day 1 | Lincoln Theatre — 9/6/2018
Now on its eighth year, Hopscotch 2018 kicked off the three-day event featuring 120 bands in a variety of venues throughout the Downtown Raleigh area. Day one brought us to the Lincoln Theatre for a packed night of international and local indie rock.
Local Bull City band Blanko Basnet [★★★★] helped start the evening with their blend of atmospheric indie rock. Birthed out of the demise of Hammer No More The Fingers, Joe Hall brings much of the sounds and thoughts from the previous project but with a bit of progressive flair. Blanko Basnet offers a subtle cerebral element to the instrumentation while giving way to vocal melodies that dance over the top. Their set was a balance of old and new touching favorites like “Berry,” “Fencing with Flies,” “Yossarian,” and “Get Away,” the first single from their recently released Ocean Meets the Animal. The group apologized for being down one man this evening, but the music was presented well enough that only those who knew the band were the wiser.
Canada’s Michael Rault [★★★★★] brought back the familiar sounds of 70’s mainstream radio rock with some modern pop giving the audience something to latch onto. Out supporting his newest release It’s a New Day Tonight, which dropped in May, Rault and company delivered layers of vocals rich with harmonies and guitar work that mesmerized all in attendance. The set was a blend of new and old songs that touched on fan favorites like “Nothing Means Nothing,” “New Day Tonight,” and an epic version of “When The Sunshines.” For fans or McCartney and Lennon, Michael Rault brings a Sgt. Pepper era vibe with psychedelic tones, melody, and strong hooks that are sure to please.
Waiting for U.S. Girls [★★★★★] to take the stage, it was clear that they were the main draw for the evening. Fronted by Meghan Remy, this powerhouse group of musicians and vocalists teeter between the grooviest of disco sounds and sheer organized chaos. Remy’s ringleader control of the group allowed her to extract the tastiest bits of extended grooves, loops, and anarchy that fueled excitement with the audience. Her command even went beyond the stage. At times, she would stand motionless and quiet waiting for the audience to be dead silent before starting the next song. The set relied heavily on material from In a Poem Unlimited and featured cherished songs like “Mad As Hell,” “Rosebud,” and “Pearly Gates.” They closed out the set with “Time” which was more a visual arts performance piece giving everyone in the group a chance to shine.
The Love Language [★★★★] closed out the evening with an electrically charged performance. Headed by Stuart McLamb, the group has experienced a metamorphism with the recently released Baby Grand showing a new found energy. The five years between releases has added a little grit and edge to their sound that takes things to the next level for this group. The set was front-loaded with new material which was just the injection the audience wanted. “Frames,” “New Amsterdam,” and “Castles in the Sky” bring a driving pulse with an atmospheric tinge that has been the backbone of this project. The group also touched on fan favorites like “Lalita,” “Night Dogs,” and the show closing “Brittany’s Back.” The Love Language has figured out the right blend of indie rock and atmospheric textures that leave the audience wanting more.
Two Canadian bands and two North Carolina bands, with a common theme, gave Raleigh, NC a much needed shake up and the Lincoln Theatre was the perfect venue for these indie rockers to close out day one of Hopscotch 2018.
