On Friday January 24th, Union Productions and Renegade State Records co-sponsored the Renegade State Records Winter Showcase, a lively concert introducing four bands that are closely working with the Florida State student-run record label. The Tallahassee grown talents each brought their own unique sound to the showcase, ensuring that all concert goers’ tastes in music were fulfilled! An excited crowd was drawn in by the free admission and infectious baseline protruding from Club Downunder, and the bustling and animated atmosphere of the concert immediately grasped those who attended, promising an unforgettable night ahead.
No Face:
First to take the stage was No Face, a two-piece punk group that lit up the room with their loud but pumped-up sound. Featuring members of Philospiders and Melt Channel, their music provided an escape for all collegiette’s that were looking to blow off some steam and let the stress of the week fall away. Club Downunder was bouncing with the heavy baseline and the crowd held a sense of appreciation for the honest message behind the music; that we, especially as students, need to sometimes let go of our worries and enjoy the present moment.
Tussin:
A seamless transition allowed us to welcome Tussin to the stage, with an equally compelling performance. Featuring members from Aircraft and Dog Dreams, their interpretive production showed their dedication to the raw power of performance art and they distinctly held their own as an act! Theatre and music majors, as well as all fellow collegiette’s who are just a tiny bit theatrical, jumped for joy at the improvisational performance piece presented. Incorporating art, music, and theatrics, Tussin managed to completely envelope the audience into a blissful appreciation for the hard work and talent being presented before them.
Smooth Church:
Providing an exhilarating performance rivaling the much-anticipated main act, Smooth Church encapsulated all attendees in a soothing indie bubble. I was immediately transported to cold nights at the carnival, getting dizzy on colorful rides, and treating myself to sugary cotton candy. The music spoke to all collegiette’s that are soon graduating, as Smooth Church provided a perfect backing tune to reminiscing about fun times spent at Tallahassee’s College Town and FSU events!
Cult Cosmos:
Headlining for the night, Cult Cosmos captivated the audience with a unique and unusual sound. Inspired by pop culture, the solo artist, Joe Kalicki, presented us with a collection of music made up of infomercial snippets, hip-hop, and a collection of world music. The sound was hypnotizing, each song seeming to come together and tell a story. To add to his already successful night, Cult Cosmos was promoting his new album release, Digital Anthropology, which he gave us a delicious taste of during his set and left the audience craving more!
If Friday night was anything to go by, these four promising talents each have a lot more to contribute to Florida State’s Renegade State Records and also to the music industry as a whole. It is so exciting to witness such accomplishment and dedication being produced right here in Tallahassee!
If you would like to find out more about Cult Cosmos and Smooth Church, click the links here!