VIAL
Arriving at one of Salt Lake City's most secluded concert venues might make you think the vibe wouldn’t be energetic or would fail to fire you up. Don’t judge a book by its cover, especially when the music venue is the Metro Music Hall featuring The Linda Lindas.
By the time I arrived, the venue was explosive. VIAL was onstage, inciting the vigor needed for the night. Their energy was unmatched. On a Tuesday night, when the week has just started, it’s simply what the crowd demands. VIAL is a punk rock band consisting of three people. Their lineup consists of drummer and vocalist Katie Fischer, vocalist/guitarist KT Branscom, and vocalist/bassist Taylor Kraemer.
From the photo pit, I wasn't just watching VIAL perform. I was watching three people completely commit to themselves and to the show. Often, the drummer Katie Fischer would challenge the crowd to be louder, creating a constant exchange between the band and the crowd. KT Branscom and Taylor Kraemer seemed to challenge me through their constant movement. It is fair to say that no matter how the crowd responded, VIAL gave 200%. They provided so many opportunities to freeze their emotions through my camera and appreciate their musical self-expression. By the time the Linda Lindas arrived, VIAL had already created the energy that would carry through the rest of the night.
The Linda Lindas
Remember a bit of what the setting looks like? You see, when the Linda Lindas arrived, the venue went dark, but the emotion remained elevated. From wall to wall and from floor to ceiling, the noise vibrated the whole venue. The room was a powder keg, vibrating with anticipation from the wait for the band. The crowd got crazy. They were jumping, moshing, and singing, moving with every beat. I could feel the passion coming from both sides. The band was feeding off the crowd and the crowd from the band.
If you haven’t heard it yet, one of the songs that stuck out the most to me was “Growing Up," which was released back on April 8, 2022, on the band's debut album also called "Growing Up." I invite you to watch the "Growing Up" music video. If you watch it in full, you’ll witness some of what I experienced during their set.
But what stood out to me wasn't only the crowd. It was how The Linda Lindas carried themselves on stage. Several times Lucia de la Garza (one of the guitarists) would jump on the speaker and start dancing, playing the guitar with no sense of danger. Then you'd see Eloise Wong (the bassist) do the same and swing up the bass to return the excitement the crowd was giving. Bela Salazar was low-key with the guitar; however, the way she played it was anything but. Lastly, Mila de la Garza kept the drums going while dancing and vibing with Lucia, just having fun together on stage. Watching them move around the stage, it was almost impossible for me to stay behind my camera. They weren't just performing their songs; they looked like they were genuinely having a great time. I only wondered how they didn't crash onto each other with how much they were moving.
As colorful as their set was, as fun to watch, and melodically pleasing, I couldn’t avoid joining in with the crowd. It almost felt like my body moved by itself. Then they fired into this banger called “Helado de Limon,” and I realized that as The Linda Lindas are dancing, moving their guitar everywhere, they're simply showing how well adapted they are at mirroring their audience's enthusiasm. There was one other song that stuck out for me, but mostly because of what it transmits. To quote the song, “No busco tu aplauso ni validacion mi historia la escribo sin tu opinion y quemaste mi paciencia, te ahogaste en mi helado de limon." I simply love what these lyrics try to say about self-assurance, independence, and moving on from a toxic relationship.
I’d like to conclude with this: I had listened to most of the band's music before photographing their sets but seeing them live blew me away. I insist that anyone who loves their music but has never seen them in person attends soon. Even if you are the type that likes to only stream music, I am sure you’ll start loving live concerts if you attend theirs.
