The Rundown: Beach Bonanza 6/19

The temperature is rising, the sun is shining bright and the ocean is calling your name. The problem is, you're stuck in North Central West Virginia. Have no fear, The Main Street Cafe is throwing a Beach Bonanza to wipe all of your wistful tears away.

This Thursday, June 19th, Instead of Sleeping, Culture Thief, Timelines and Ryan Glaspell will be performing at the cafe's first ever beach-themed concert.

It's going to be a hot evening, so cool off with some soothing tunes. If you come decked out in beach attire, then you will receive a free pair of sunglasses and a Hawaiian lei (while supplies last).

The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the music starts at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5.

Instead of Sleeping 

From left to right: Woody Wright, Corey McClaine, Shaun Sweeney and Jeff Binardo

Who are they: Hailing from Pittsburgh, Instead of Sleeping is a four-piece indie rock band. Since 2008, the band has been refining their pop-inflected brand of earnest indie rock. Their latest release, Young Lungs, is full of catchy melodies and playful synths. Their music is polished and colorful without succumbing to the phoniness of overproduction.

Why you should care: These guys have shared the stage with the likes of Fun. and The Dear Hunter, and it makes sense why. Their songs are fun to listen to, but they aren't inauthentic. Every song has a mesmerizing groove about it. It's like chewing a candy that won't rot your teeth. You get all of the advantages of hearing an upbeat indie rock band while simultaneously listening to a vulnerable and talented group of musicians.

Listen: 

Culture Thief

From left to right: Joshua Lucas, Jordan Wean, Seth Cochran, Craig Debastiani, Neil Wallace and Terry Rogers

Who are they: Based out of Fairmont, West Virginia, Culture Thief is a band that is not easily described. Their sound is a blend of jazz-inflected, bluesy rock music with hints of soul and folk strung throughout. This collective of musicians is bursting with talent. Their songs will persuade you to dance around and then weep.

Why should you care: While listening to Culture Thief, it is likely that you will have a transcendental experience. From Terry Rogers’ entrancing sax melodies to Craig Debastiani’s ethereal vocals, you won’t walk away from a Culture Thief set unchanged. Each member of this six-piece collective exudes passion and technical ability. Even if you don’t know bass clef from treble clef, the chemistry and talent in Culture Thief is impossible to miss.

Listen:


Timelines

Evan Ferrell (left) and Tyler St. Clair (right) are half of Timelines

Who are they: Timelines started off as a serenely melodic duo of Evan Ferrell and Tyler St. Clair, but has since evolved into a full band with Tyler Wells on drums and Eric Kirkland on bass. Their latest EP, Home, is riddled with buttery vocals, atmospheric guitar leads and heartfelt melodies.

Why you should care: Back when they had nothing more than an acoustic guitar, electric guitar and vocals their music had a heartfelt sincerity that wove its way through every listeners’ ears and into their soul. Now that they are supported by basslines and drum rhythms, their music has evolved into something even more sublime. After hearing a Culture Thief and a Timelines set you won’t even know who you are anymore.

Listen:

 
Ryan Glaspell



Who is he: Ryan has been performing music in one way or another for most of his life. After cycling through a couple of full bands, he began writing acoustic music in a duo entitled The Light of Day. He now writes music as a solo singer-songwriter.

Why you should care: Ryan's songs don't commit to one specific style of acoustic music. In the same set you'll hear an upbeat, reggae-styled jam and a slow, heart-aching ballad. He wears his emotions on his sleeves, and his songs reflect that. His voice caters to each style, whether it's a gritty yell, or a delicate falsetto.

Listen:      

All photos courtesy of the bands’ respective Facebook pages.

Q&A with Shaun Sweeney (Instead of Sleeping)

In case you missed the announcement, this Thursday is The Main Street Cafe's first ever Beach Bonanza. Pittsburgh indie rockers Instead of Sleeping are being joined by Culture Thief, Timelines and Ryan Glaspell to put on a beach-tastic show.

The show starts at 5:30 and admission is $5. If you come in beach apparel, then you will get a free pair of sunglasses and a Hawaiian lei (while supplies last).

Shaun Sweeney, vocalist and guitarist for Instead of Sleeping, answered some questions via email about his band, the show and the summer thus far. Check out the interview below!

Shaun Sweeney (second from right); photo credit: Noah Sahady

The Main Street Cafe: How’s the summer been going for Instead of Sleeping?

Shaun Sweeney: This summer has been one of the busiest in our careers. The crazy thing is, it has been this hectic since before Thanksgiving. A lot of planning and strategy has gone into this summer's release of our new album "Young Lungs". But all the hard work and biding our time has been more than worth it

TMSC: Have you played in the Clarksburg area before? If so, what was that like?

SS: We have only once. We played Main Street Cafe a year or so ago, but we didn't even get to play full band! This time we won't just be coming with the full band, but an entirely new set!

TMSC: What are you looking forward to about the show?

SS: We can't wait to play as a full band for people who only got to see half of what we like to do at shows. We can't wait to play the new songs that we put our heart and soul into. And we can't wait to see everyone in their bathing suits and stuff for this themed show!

TMSC: How would describe your band’s sound in a sentence?

SS: The sound is everywhere from angry and vengeful to smooth and sexy, and could be most understood by people who know how fine the line can be in between.

TMSC: What can people expect from an Instead of Sleeping live show?

SS: We have done everything from bring out extra drum kits, blow up confetti cannons, and at the end of every show, if we don't pack our shit up dripping wet in sweat, then we did something wrong.

TMSC: It’s a beach-themed bonanza; do you have any beach gear you’re looking forward to rocking out in?

SS: We have been in the market for inflatables and goggles... Don't wanna give too much away!!

TMSC: What’s your favorite thing about the summer?

SS: Falling asleep under the stars on warm summer nights. Waking up on the beach. (Another band member tacked grilling onto that list too.)

TMSC: What’s something people might not know about your band?

SS: We've always said that every single song is all from personal experiences. Every songs a story. We live through that at every show. But one thing that people might not know is, if you want to hear that story, all you have to do is talk to us. We love getting to know new people and we love when people come and get to know us!

TMSC: Finally, what would you like the Clarksburg area to know about you and your band and this show?

SS: About us: We are an honest band, so we want everyone to know we are really looking forward to this show! The bands who we are playing with, the venue we are playing, the songs we are playing, and the people we are going to get to meet. June 19 is going to be an excellent night that nobody is going to want to miss

 Photo courtesy of Instead of Sleeping's Facebook page.