Softie tops four band bill at Eli’s Mile High
Eli’s departed from their frequent mostly metal menu to feature four local bands (if you include Sacramento, which we will indeed) for a great evening of overdriven melodic dreamy gaze rock. Prior to headliners Softie, Bliss Abyss opened, followed by Fitting and then Ringlet, each unique but complementary. These Oak/Sac area musicians also trade some tracks and ideas back and forth and are core to the alt local music community in the area.
It was hard for me to pick a favorite, since I truly enjoyed them all, and the crowd’s enthusiasm also held steady all evening. Out of Oakland, Softie’s current lineup consists of founder Nicholas Coleman, Eli on lead guitar, Alex on Bass/lead vocals (2nd gig ever with the band), Lucas on Drums with Nash Angeles sitting in on the last song. You can find a write up with great detail on their latest song releases and collaborative efforts on WeekinPop.
Ringlet featured Brad Lincoln (drums), Derek Prine (bass), Seth Vargas (guitar), Jorden Bailey (guitar) and Jacob Gemmell (Vocals). They played a great set with some swirling melodies that had them tweaking their effects knobs to create an ethereal aesthetic. They create a full sound and create some very cool sonic landscapes Tracks like Hold My Paint and Relax throw a bit of a 90’s grunge sound into the mix, definitely worth checking here. Rumor has it they are working on a new release coming up soon.
I didn’t get the band member lineup from Fitting before posting this, but they played a solid set, and you can check out their album Stable Vices on Spotify or Band Camp.
I was glad I got off my ass in time to hear Bliss Abyss (this was a last minute call for me to shoot at Eli’s MHC). I really enjoyed their music, tight playing, song structures, it was a great set from the opening act. This Oakland based Gang of Four features Joe Finocchio on guitar, Cole Hanks on the drum kit, Matt Osterholt on bass, and Peter Wallner on guitar and vocals. Check out their lates pressing just released this month, cleverly titled Bliss Abyss.
Eli’s Mile High Club is always a great place to take in a show, It’s a historic venue not to be missed. They support the local music scene across multiple genres and fan bases, and host a wide variety of events that are important to our diverse local community. Get out to see a show there soon!
