Riot at the Daisy

I wasn’t exactly a fan of local indie band This Riot from the very beginning.

The first time I heard their music was slightly over a year ago in a seedy little Midtown club. They were just getting started (for all I know, it might have been their first show outside of their parents’ garages), and their first order of business was opening up for their friends, local Memphis band Whose Army?.

I would like to say they blew me away from the get-go, but no. While the more experienced Whose Army? was wonderful, greenhorns This Riot  (then only consisting of junior Domenic Martini, Bolton sophomore Jake Pritchard, and Munford junior Adam McDuffie) failed to impress. The guitars were too tinny, the musical cohesion could have used some work, and, honestly, they had very little stage presence, a fact made even more evident by the cramped space.

I feel a little mean saying that now, especially knowing what incredibly nice guys they are. Let me just say that This Riot has come a LONG way (about two CD’s long, actually) since then, which is why I was super excited to find out that they were playing at the New Daisy, a prominent local venue, on Saturday, April 3.

The New Daisy, a frequent haunt of metalheads and local musicians, is located on Beale Street across from the old Daisy. It’s a dark, dirty place with heavy cloth draped from the walls and a mysterious black tar substance covering the floor—grungy, yes, but that’s what rock and roll is all about, making the downtown venue the perfect place for This Riot’s first show on a real stage.

The performance was part of a local talent showcase that featured Songs of Winter, Stoned Ape Theory, Bell Isle, Double Love Band, and others. The line-up was chosen by number of tickets sold to each band; the more tickets sold, the later the band went on. This Riot sold 83 tickets, going on at approximately eight o’clock and playing a thirty-minute set.

At approximately 8 p.m., the nervous band (now including sophomore Nick Hendren on keyboard and senior Casey Martin on guitar) set the amp-lined stage and plugged in their instruments, red and blue lights beaming down on them from the ceiling and the sides. Almost 100 people showed up for This Riot’s set, a larger turnout than the band had ever seen. The level of anticipation in the air was high, almost tangible.

And it never decreased.

From the very first song, the band threw themselves into it. The tightly-knit audience responded, actively participating, clapping, singing along, cat-calling and joking around with the guys on stage.

This Riot played five songs, including “Handshakes” and “Snow” from their most recent CD and “Shapes” from a previous demo.

But the band saved the most energetic song for last: The closing number, “Lightning Bolts,” featured a bass solo from  Martin, powerful drums by McDuffie, and a rousing chorus that had the entire band and most of the audience singing along and shouting “Encore!”

With a closer like that, the night couldn’t have been anything but a success.

Afterward, ever modest, the band made sure to let their friends and family know how thankful they were, showering them with gratitude.

“Seeing as we spent the first year or two of our existence playing to ourselves and my parents in my garage, it was incredible having everyone up there supporting us. We could never have done this without you,” wrote Martini in a note to his friends and fans on Facebook.

From the first time I saw them until now, This Riot has grown in leaps and bounds. If their past is any indication, This Riot still has the capability to get better. Look for great things in the future.

This Riot performing at New Daisy

What started as Domenic Martini’s solo act, This Riot, a local teen indie band, is growing in popularity and fame. The local high school boys are performing on Beale St. at the New Daisy Theater on April 3 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

Three of the five band members attend Bartlett High: junior Domenic Martini, guitarist and vocalist; senior Casey Martin, guitarist and bassist; and sophomore Nick Hendren, synthesizer. Bolton High sophomore Jake Pritchard serves as guitarist, bassist, and backup vocalist, while  Munford High junior Adam McDuffie plays drums.

Recently the New Daisy has also hosted popular bands such as The Academy Is…, Mindless Self Indulgence, Keller Williams, Elvis Costello, and more.

The performance is part of a local talent showcase also including Songs of Winter, Stoned Ape Theory, Bell Isle, Double Love Band, Animal Sounds, Sailor Scott, Heldman Brothers, and more.