By JULES SHINKLE
BG Independent News
The Cla-Zel Theater had its first concert under new management Friday evening. With a fresh coat of red paint, the dazzling neon marquee beckoned in a few hundred concertgoers, many donning their Halloween apparel.
Headlining the show was Equipment, an emo/pop-punk quartet celebrating the release of their latest EP “First time using slang.” It was Equipment’s final show of the year, having just finished a tour through the Midwest and East Coast a week prior.
Four groups opened for Equipment, the first being singer-songwriter trio Mango Tree. They’ve performed in Bowling Green and the surrounding area for over six years, but only recently published their first album, “Goblin Time.”
Mango Tree writes tenderhearted songs of yearning for human connection and a better world. Their sing-along showcase “hey..” is always a joy to participate in – vocalists in the audience light up at the chance to harmonize.
Next up were Toledo-based emo trio The Heartthrobs. Their last performance in Bowling Green was at The Bridge in May, where they bid farewell to their bassist. With their lead singer picking up the instrument, The Heartthrobs brought their familiar moody but driven soundscape to a new batch of songs. The set was over too soon, but everyone was already in for a long night.
FinalBossFight! took to the stage afterwards, playing the most frenetic set of the show yet. Their set was packed with pop-punk anthem choruses and catchy guitar licks.
“Escape from Roku City” felt like it just might bring the house down. They clearly knew how to get a crowd from headbanging to moshing.
Hemmingway Lane closed out the openers. The Ann Arbor-based rock band had their own EP release to look forward to: “Arcadia” comes out Oct. 31. Their set demonstrated a wide range of moods and influences available to them. Some songs flex ripper guitar riffs (“Shattered Glass”), others are downright reflective and bittersweet (“October”).
Equipment (affectionately called “Quippy” by fans) shows a lot of love to their Bowling Green fans. Equipment’s last hometown performance was directly after Summit Shack’s Faux 8, where they played for nearly three hours at the Swarmyard (a now-defunct basement venue beloved by the DIY music community).
Friday night was similar – they played all the hits, three new songs, and a string of commonly requested deep cuts. It was an ambitious setlist to cap off a night already filled to the brim with energy. But with songs as good as “tequila redbull,” “LO/FO,” or “Wet Mulch,” it’d be a lie to say the indulgence isn’t well-earned.
About two-thirds through their set, the venue’s drainage system started failing and water began accumulating on the main floor. Staff kept the flooding relatively contained, only slightly dampening the audience’s mood. The lead singer asked the room hesitantly,
“How do we all feel? We good to keep playing, or…?” A resounding cheer was thrown back. What’s a few wet soles after four hours of dancing?
Around 15 years ago, the Cla-Zel was bringing in the likes of Sleigh Bells, Jukebox the Ghost and mgk – massively popular artists that were still on their ascent to stardom. Friday night’s performances were exhilarating. One hopes that the theater’s next chapter can continue bringing in this kind of talent.
