First Avenue’s annual Best New Bands was once again a beautiful celebration of the diverse sounds of the Twin Cities. The Dalmatian Club started the night off with a lively set, and it was so awesome to see a student band perform in the mainroom, especially after their equally fun performance at last year’s on-campus pop-up concert! 

Full circle moments like these were definitely the theme of the night. Christy Costello and Kiernan both kept this energy in flow, watching all of these bands was incredibly rewarding especially going from hearing them over the radio and in our studio to onstage. A real showstopping moment was Bizhiki’s grounding performance, the group utilized gentle sounds and used the silence between songs in magnificent and captivating ways, an absolutely unforgettable performance. Another unforgettable moment was Mati, whose performances are always full of energy, his crowdwork was incredible and the joy that the audience expressed through dance could be felt throughout the room, including onstage. 

After that, Porchlight wowed the crowd with all-consuming builds and screams and made way for the final act of the night, Room3, which was another incredibly special moment. Even as the last act of the night, the jazz group had the entire venue dancing with joy. All of these bands showcased different niches in the Twin Cities music scene, and it was an absolute honor to see so many people come together to celebrate this beautiful community of local music.

Show Review: Addy Adams