Spiraling, 6/26/04, CB's 313 Gallery, New York, NY (Credit: Lis Perry, T3C Media)

CBGB. Alone, the name of this infamous New York bar and lounge is enough to invoke tears from a nation full of aging rock enthusiasts who grew up watching bands like The Ramones rise to astounding heights of fame. Well, this is like that, only it’s next door. It’s got all the CBs without the GBs. At CB’s 313 Gallery, the atmosphere is more relaxed than its more anarchistic neighbor and sister venue. For one, it smells better. The lights here are dimmer, and actually emanate from candles placed on small round tables situated around a very intimate performing stage.

Everything feels very close and comfortable, and it should. It’s the “Rock the Vote” concert and five of New York’s fastest rising bands, Souls' Release, Sabrina, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Spiraling, and Drowning Poets, have come to show their support, play some music and throw back two or twelve drinks in the shadow of giants.

“A week ago, after Ivan Rodriguez [CEO of Sleeping Giant Entertainment, producer of the event and all around nice guy] had asked me to be here tonight for ‘Rock the Vote,’ I realized that I wasn’t even registered myself,” said Joshua Van Ness of Souls' Release, in a break during a spirited acoustic jam with band-mate Nick Ferriero. “I thought to myself, ‘I can’t be a hypocrite and go and play a concert aimed at voting awareness and not be registered to vote myself.’ I went online and registered. It took five minutes.”

The audience voiced their consent in the form of loud and enthusiastic applause.

I could relate. A few weeks ago, when I first found that I would be covering this event, I must admit to being slightly perturbed. I never claim to be very political and generally try to steer clear of events with fevered political atmospheres. I wouldn’t say it’s because I’m not concerned. It’s just that, personally, I find the levels of intensity commonly found in political venues to be quite tiring. Nonetheless, I pulled up my britches and came up with a few questions to ask the musicians, should I have the opportunity to interview them. To be honest, I was expecting long-winded, leftist responses on the “state of the world”. I was also readying myself for quite a boring evening. Asking the young band members my questions, I became aware of how wrong I had been. Simply, they weren’t here because they were upset or disenchanted. They were here because they love their communities and they love their music. I felt almost ashamed of myself.

	Joshua Van Ness and Nick Ferriero of Souls' Release, 6/26/04, CB's 313 Gallery, New York, NY (Credit: Lis Perry, T3C Media)

Next on the bill was Sabrina followed by The Day the Earth Stood Still. The band Sabrina went over well, led by the classic-rock-inspired vocals of singer Sabrina.

The Day the Earth Stood Still was an exciting blend of shred metal and Eastern-influenced slide guitar.

The evening surely hit its climax as Spiraling took the stage. I’m sure there are many reasons for this, but surely one of them was the natural stage presence all of the four band members possess. They are all very comfortable, and appear to be very excited to be here. One gets the distinctive feeling that they’re up there for the sole purpose of entertaining you and contributing to your good time.

“I really wouldn’t say that our music is necessarily political. It’s music. But we do stand behind [Rock the Vote]. They’re issues that concern us as a community and this event is really going out of its way to make [registering to vote] easy and convenient,” said Tom Brislin of the new eastern rock phenomenon Spiraling. He takes a sip from a Red Bull and continues. “Critics always say ‘just shut up and sing,’ but the fact is, we’re going to sing about what we want, and we want to have the freedom to keep it that way.”

Their set was amazing. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. They have a fun and energetic sound, and lead-singer and keyboardist Tom Brislin is a veritable dervish on the keys, pounding and spinning and dancing like you’ve never seen. It’s fresh and engaging and they make it clear that they’re doing it all for you.

“If you haven’t already,” says Tom, “please register to vote. It’s right back there… conveniently located right next to our tee-shirt stand.” He gives a sly grin and the audience erupts into raucous laughter.

Standing behind me were the two band members of Souls’ Release, cheering harder and applauding louder than anyone else in the audience.

Spiraling, 6/26/04, CB's 313 Gallery, New York, NY (Credit: Lis Perry, T3C Media)

“From our perspective,” says Nick Ferriero, “we get to see not only the bands, but also the people behind the bands, with the bands and the people that love the bands. It’s a very close-knit community. We all love and support each other.”

Closing the bill was Ohio-based band Drowning Poets. Undoubtedly a workhorse of a band, they had a very hard act to follow, but managed to do so with a sweaty, focused determination. They have a Creed-like sound, mixed with the raw, wailing pipes of a Chris Cornell on vocals.

Initially, I had been acting under the notion the bands were here because they were all, in one way or another, involved with politics. As the night progressed, however, I realized where I was wrong. They were just musicians who love rock and love their communities and want to do whatever they can to make that last, and the audience was very receptive to that. Unlike the political fervor of the '60s, this concert had no expounding exhortations or pseudo-intellectualism. This was a place for people who not only love music, but also love the places music is played, the communities surrounding where music is played, and all of the people, living, breathing, and maybe even singing in those places.

[ Website: www.rockthevote.com ]