The center of the dance floor remained empty as a sea of spectators sat watching Vervein perform. I suppose being restless from the long night of celebrating Halloween was the cause of the congregation to the middle floor. The small group that arrived early enough to see Greater California took advantage of the spacious area. Each person sprawled out on the floor as if they were in the family room of their own home. With todays dog eat dog way of life, I was shocked that I was witnessing a large amount of people graciously forming a half-moon shape, so not to block the people sitting directly behind them. Disarming the fist group from their perfect stage views was not an option. The atmosphere in the room was much like the awkward feeling when confronted with a stranger in a doorway. While shuffling to get out of each others way, they both stopped in frustration. Regardless of the awkward laziness of the crowd, Vervein played a magnificent set, and in my opinion did not receive the respect they deserved.
After Vervein thanked the crowd, a monitor descended from the ceiling and the room became alive. The outer-lying mob of arm-crossed blank faces had plotted their attack and executed it wisely; resulting in a mad house of anxious American Analog Set fans. After rushing the stage all at once, most were front and center before the ones sitting realized what had happened. In a blink of an eye, the atmosphere changed and I was no longer in front, but in the back of the house. Regardless of were I stood, American Analog Set played a spectatular show, and seening all three bands again is in my agenda.
Perry Sean Smyre/Brooks Institute of Photography
