On a wintery Sunday evening, people gathered in the Beachland Tavern for a night of incredible tunes, good vibes, and many friends, both old and new. It was a big night too, I got to accompany my brother to his first concert; he helped me and my mom run merch. It’s an experience I’ve been waiting to share with him since he turned 18.
Now, in full transparency for this review, I’m friends with two of the bands on the bill, but I made friends with the drummer of a band I didn’t know, and that is pretty cool.
Sometimes, when you have three bands on a bill, it’s almost like they’re competing to be the best band of the night, but not these bands. Post Saga, Pump Action, and Bermuda Search Party were a perfect balance of high energy and RnB tunes. Each band was tight and well-rehearsed, with amazing stage presence.
Local band Post Saga opened up the night. I’ve been following this band since 2020. Danna, their frontwoman, was my first ever guest on my podcast, which eventually led to Voltage Live. They hold a special place in my heart. Taking inspiration from bands such as Lake Street Dive and 70s greats, they blend multiple genres to create a sound all their own. Danna’s vocals are insane but in a good way, with a tight band behind her, Post Saga brings fans of every age together.
Up next was a band that was new to me, Pump Action. These guys are based in Nashville and are doing a few stops on the Fools on Parade Tour. Now I’ll be honest, I was not expecting much to start off with and I was even offered free merch if I thought they sucked. Guys, they were not terrible; in fact, they blew me away. I didn’t even lie to get free merch, I liked them that much. My brother even bought a hat before their set was done. Spencer Ford’s vocals are amazing and had my jaw on the floor. By the end of the set, the music became harder rock and had the crowd pumped up for our headliners. I mean, Max Indiveri said it best. “Simply put, they kick ass.”
I have not missed a Cleveland Bermuda Search Party show since I interviewed them in late 2020. It’s been amazing to see them evolve while also staying true to their roots. There is a fun new intro before the band heads on stage. I’m constantly blown away by their stage presence and craftmanship, as it gets better every single show. Being front row to a BSP show is an experience you’ll never forget. You can tell how much fun they have in every show. They leave it all out on the stage for each show. It’s a soul-healing experience when you get to scream as loud as possible to let out all your fears and anxiety. The setlist is a mix of their newest music and old favorites, which flows together nicely. The acoustic version of Shiver was beautiful, and closing out with Willow, their most popular song, was a beautiful way to end the show. They even played an encore, End of the Road, from their new album, Fools on Parade.
I feel so lucky to know such amazingly talented people and get to hype them up. Music connects us to people and places we may never have experienced otherwise, which is what makes shows like this one so incredibly special.
Bermuda Search Party is currently on tour, and you can find tickets on their website
