Some of the best shows to be at are the ones where you don’t quite know who’s playing. It was a last minute decision for me to pack my camera along for the ride and venture over to my favorite venue, X-Ray Arcade.
The opener was Milwaukee’s local rockers, The Keystones. I first found them in 2022 at this very venue, and it had been a hot second since I saw them play. During that amount of time, they had released several new singles that I’d been wanting to hear live. So, it’s a quiet Thursday night at the X-Ray, with somewhere between 20-30 people. It wasn’t the size of the crowd that I’m used to seeing here, but that’s okay.
The Keystones opened right up and people were vibing along. Their one single, “Newport,” 100% just lives rent-free in my head. It’s the line that goes, “Newport and a Topo Chico” and ironically, probably on purpose, vocalist Jack Sherman is drinking a Topo Chico during his set. Either way, it fits the bill.
Lyncs was up next and she was absolutely captivating. Her vocals were ethereal, and the way she gracefully moved about the stage was magical to watch. During one of her songs, she pulled an audience member forward to hold hands with her—it was a sweet moment to both see and grab a photo of. I love when artists interact with the audience; those candid, raw real moments of pure joy are why I do what I do and what made me fall in love with this industry in the first place.
We are all different—in personality, appearance, and even with different opinions on music—but music is what brings us all together and can spark new friendships in your life.
Finally, after a stage transformation, The Ivy was up. I didn’t know who Lyncs or The Ivy was before the performance, but that’s not a bad thing. Even though the room was not very full, none of the bands let that slow down their energy on stage. The Ivy had an array of pianos and lamps which made the entire atmosphere even more intimate and cozy. It was comforting. The Ivy and Lyncs have even collaborated on a song before, which was played much to the audience’s delight.
Overall, it was a very mellow and fun time. Sometimes having more space to really take in the music and room is a great time. Check out The Ivy, Lyncs, and The Keystones.
P.S. I did meet Lync’s vocalist after the show and she is as sweet & adorable as she is on stage. I cannot wait until they come back!
THE KEYSTONES | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE
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