On March 1 local Woodbridge, Va., metal band, High Fives Died in the 80’s planned on taking the stage with other local acts to open up for the headlining band Straight Line Stich.
It was a warm spring like day in February as you sat outside a local Starbucks with Matt Thompson, vocalist from High Fives Died in the 80′s. Time was tight, you only had 30 minutes before you had to head off, but easily that should have been more than enough time to buy one ticket to the Straight Line Stich show, and go.
Taking charge of the conversation like he takes charge of the stage, Thompson began to tell you about his excitement for the upcoming show; his boy-fan crush on the (female) lead singer of Straight Line Stich and how excited he was that Straight Line Stich would get to hear his band play. Occasionally he would deteriorate, talking about other tours that fell through; but filling the air for the time being was his excitement, as those sitting around him fed off of it.
Suddenly, you realize that you got wrapped up in Thompson’s excitement and lost track of time. Shuffling through your things, you finally find ten dollars, and in the matter of one simple cash transaction — you have your ticket and are pumped.
Around 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday March 1, the day of the big show, the High Fives Died in the 80’s announced on their Facebook that due to an illness in Straight Line Stich, the show had been cancelled. You, the band and numerous other fans feel let down — like someone pulled your excitement out, threw it on the curb and beat it with a baseball bat.
Band illnesses, sudden snow storms and last minute back-outs.
Time and time again local bands are faced with last minute cancelled shows for numerous reasons that are out of local band’s control. So how do bands like High Fives Died in the 80′s deal with and overcome a cancelled show?
“We were disappointed, bummed out and angry,” said drummer Bobby Baumgartel about the cancelled Straight Line Stich show on March 1. “We became full of resentment when they [Straight Line Stich] played the next night in N.C.”
Minutes after the announcement of the cancelled show on March 1, the band got word from booking
agency, Outerloop Productions, that they would be an opening act on March 30 at Jaxx Night Club in Springfield, Va., for headlining band The Human Abstract.
“It is probably the only good thing that came from the [Straight Line Stich] show,” said bassist Luke Jones. “We are super excited about playing with The Human Abstract [on March 30], everyone in the band respects and admires them.”
Brian Smith, guitarist, explained how the opportunity to play with The Human Abstract is the “gold lining” to the cancelled show, not just for the band, but for their fans as well.
“Our fans love and support us through it all,” explained Smith. “They were sad after we announced the cancelled show, but soon they were pumped for the opportunity to see us take the stage with The Human Abstract.”
While preparing for major life events, like births, High Fives Died in the 80′s has booked every show that they can.
They plan on taking the stage March 26 and 30, leading them into April when they are currently scheduled for three more shows including their EP release show on April 2 at Qballs in Fredericksburg, Va.
But as a local act opening for bands just stopping by on tour, the Straight Line Stich show was not the first show that High Fives Died in the 80′s had to tell fans was cancelled the day of.
“About three or four months ago we seemed to be having bad show luck,” said Thompson. “In a short period of time, the two shows we were booked with Victory Records bands were cancelled for different reasons.”
One show with A Hero A Fake cancelled due to the snow the Northern Virginia area suddenly had dumped upon it.
Another show with An Early Ending was cancelled when the band was involved in a car accident that permitted them from making the drive in time.
If High Fives Died in the 80’s could have it their way, the show would go on with the headlining band or not.
“Let’s just fucking do it – damn it,” expressed guitarist Curtis Hazen. “Every show must go on.”
It is a statement that I am sure you can agree with. You spent ten dollars on this ticket and were sure to request the night off work – you alone have gone through some trouble to attend this show. Imagine what the bands expecting to take the stage, like High Fives Died in the 80’s, had to go through to prepare for this cancelled show.
“Everyone invests so much into shows; time, money and creativity,” said Baumgartel. “It is worth the show going on and people coming out to – no matter who is playing.”
When the show goes on, the local acts that were planning on taking the stage are then presented with a new challenge – how to make a ticket to a show without the headlining band the fans were planning on seeing worth it.
“You step up your game,” explained Thompson. “Bring everything a big headliner would – stage show, crowd hyping, musical content – you play a show.”
High Fives Died in the 80′s is an unexpected and outrageous sound that will knock you right off your feet – they are by far not your average local metal band.
As a unique sounding band, you cannot help but wonder, “Do they have trouble keeping and getting shows because of their sound?“
“Luckily, our sound spans a few genres,” explains Haley Moss who dominates the keys in the band. “So we can easily blend into almost every show we sign up for.”
Hazen added, “We look for look for places [to play] that the fans enjoy the most. We love Qballs in Fredericksburg and Jaxx in Springfield, plus they treat us like rock stars.”
With a decent number of shows under their belts and a handful of cancelled shows marking the notches, High Fives Died in the 80’s has a decent the handle on shows.
Currently High Fives Died in the 80’s frequents the stages at KC’s Music Alley in Fredericksburg, Va. or at Qballs also located in Fredericksburg, Va., but currently they are pumped for the show with The Human Abstract.
The Human Abstract released their latest album, Digital Veil, on March 8 after band member rearrangements and staff members fell ill. The Human Abstract packed up into their tour bus and drove to Washington D.C. to kick start their tour promoting Digital Veil in February.
Ready to take the stage once again, The Human Abstract will make their way back to Northern Virginia on March 30 ready to rock; if High Fives Died in the 80’s has any luck – The Human Abstract wont bail.
Lucky for you, that ten dollar ticket you bought in February – it will gain you access to High Fives Died in the 80’s show on March 30 with The Human Abstract. That is of course, assuming the show does go on.
Posted in New Music, News, Shows, The Music
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