CONCERT REBREWS: TOKYO SAYONARA, BUENA CARA, SAFE BET, NORTHBOUND, RARE CANDY @ JJ’S BAR AND GRILL
Folks, for the first time ever, Concert ReBrews crosses state lines! This time, Sarah trekked up to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, accompanied by podcast editor extraordinaire Cameron Bopp, sister extraordinaire Lindsey, and friend extraordinaire Kassie Cvikel to the storied DIY space JJ’s Bar and Grill - part of The Basement Collective. Many a Midwest emo legend has passed through this iconic basement since JJ Kaiser started booking shows in 2016.
Opening the show is a dear friend of the pod, Tokyo Sayonara (a.k.a. Seth Kaplan) making his solo debut. Have you ever heard of a Tokyo Sayonara? It’s like an Irish Goodbye, but you only say goodbye to the cat when you leave a party. Iconic. Tokyo Sayonara’s set was like a perfect roll of toilet paper, simultaneously soft and strong. Kaplan beautifully marries tender lyrics with meditative guitar riffs - a highlight of the set being “mars and cupid” an angry song he wrote in high school even though “[he] wasn’t really an angry person.” Talking about nosebleeds and how “fucking deceiving” people can be certainly paints the picture! Here at Album ReBrews headquarters, we can’t wait to see what comes next from Tokyo Sayonara. He can leave my party and only say goodbye to my cat any time.
Typically a three-piece, Milwaukee emo band Buena Cara was represented by singer and guitarist Ricky Bravo in a stripped-down solo set. Rickey’s powerful vocals and down-to-earth lyrics paired with tippity-tappity guitar drew the audience in, waiting with bated breath for whatever would come next. Songs like “Hey Bud” and “Security Cameras” painted pictures of young adult loneliness, self-sabotage, and finding yourself. “Was I your best friend / or just the means to an end?” YOW! We were also treated to a cover of Andrew Jackson Jihad’s “Love In The Time of Human Papilloma Virus,” nestled into the set - a bittersweet little treat. Despite a surprise broken guitar string, Rickey’s performance was simultaneously heartfelt and heartbreaking.
Armored with wit, fresh guitar strings, and a drum kit was our next act, Safe Bet! This project from just outside of Chicago performed as a two-piece tonight. Really though, do you need much more than a guitar and drum kit for a basement gig? Frontman Gino Savarino played licks that made me bob my head and belted out lyrics that made my heart go “OUCH!” The first few songs were followed by some good ol’ fashioned guitar tuning banter, lamenting about Chicago parking tickets, sharing favorite Pokemon, and shouting out Brady on the drums (thanks Brady!) “Blue” and “Figure This Out” were a few personal favorites from this set, would sincerely recommend getting in your feelings to some Safe Bet.
Making his debut in Wisconsin is Florida’s Jonathan Fraser, the man, myth, and legend behind Northbound. In true Wisconsin fashion, Fraser snacked on some dill and garlic cheese before his set, the only true way to prepare for a gig. Opting to go mic-free, there was no shortage of power in this acoustic set. The room was immediately enveloped in relatable lyrics with commanding delivery - at times belting to the point of an emotionally-charged vocal break. Nestled into the set was a new song, “Baby’s Breath,” to be featured on a future Northbound release. Following themes of abandonment, fucking-up, and isolation, the song had a tender, powerful bridge. “If you want it / reach inside your pocket / I’ve always been your option / a baby’s breath in bloom.” While I wasn’t familiar with Northbound before this set, I’m excited to see what they release next.
Finally, former Chicagoan Alex Wieringa took the floor as Rare Candy, bringing not one, but two guitars named after Pokemon gym trainers to his set. (Misty and Lieutenant Serge) Also playing acoustic and mic-less, Alex’s voice and catchy guitar licks saturated the space. His lyrics imbued hope into tragic scenarios. Folks in the crowd sang along during “27s on 10 and 2” - “Is there something wrong with my guts or my lack thereof? / You can take my kind words and respectfully shove them / straight down your throat. / I hope that you choke on the love you thought you'd given somebody else.” Misery loves company, especially when earworms are involved! Check out Rare Candy’s most recent release - a pair of ukulele songs titled “Nowhere to Go” and “Get to Know You,” the former painting a picture of “seeing somebody that broke your heart with somebody else and brutally killing them.” Jason Miraz meets Gone Girl.
If you’d like to see this gig for yourself, check out JJ’s YouTube channel here. It is a deep, deep well of DIY goodness. No PBRs at this gig, friends, as JJ’s Bar and Grill is a sober space, but sometimes the only cold one you need to crack open with the boys is a sick riff. Stay tuned for more Concert ReBrews write-ups in the future, and in the meantime, cheers!
