Show Review

Karmella's Game spent most of June and a small part of July touring the east coast and midwest. This show was a last minute show, and the band, who hadn't played together since coming off their July tour, seemed poised to tear the walls down at one of my favorite bars in Baltimore.

Karmella's Game are a four-piece indie-pop rock band, and their energy in a live performance is just about as good as it gets. Seeing how this was about the fifteenth time I've seen this band, I was expecting a great show. They delivered just this.

The sound at the Sidebar is average at best, but this was only a minor annoyance. Karmella's Game blistered through a handful of songs from their new album "The Art of Distraction," kicking their set off with "Diversions." By the end of this song, it was obvious that Karmella's Game's small break from playing live shows wasn't going to hinder their performance. One of my favorite aspects of this band is the fact that they do an amazing job of getting the crowd dancing and singing and clapping and having an overall good time. They have a blast on stage and their infectious energy always seems to bleed over to the crowd. If you're tired of going to shows where the crowd kind of just stands around, giving a modest head bob every once in a while, do yourself a favor and catch KG live.

The highlights of their set were "Cyberspace Lip Gloss" and a brand new song, which I have yet to catch the title of. It's like an orchestra of Nintendo music meets high-octane pop. I'm eagerly awaiting their next album and their next live show.

My only complaint was the fact that their set seemed to be over just as it was starting. I mean it's always great when a band leaves you wanting more, but when you're singing and dancing and having a grand time, time seems to pass way too fast. I wouldn't have complained if they threw in a few more songs to their set, especially "Safely Negative."

On a side note, the opening bands did a great job of setting the mood for KG. The second band, Dead Mechanical, a three-piece from Baltimore and the surrounding metro areas was my favorite of the three opening bands. They've only been playing for a few months, but I'm expecting lots of fist-pumping, punk-rock music from them in the future. If you're a fan of the Lawrence Arms, definitely check out Dead Mechanical. And if you haven't picked up a copy of Karmella's Game's recent release "The Art of Distraction," all I have to ask is, what are you waiting for?

review by Robby Lester