Fredericksburg - I know it’s hard to believe, but yes, Fredericksburg All Ages (FAA) has now had 100 shows.  In only four short years since its conception, FAA has hosted a plethora of bands, and kept entertainment available for everyone, regardless of age.  As these years have passed, FAA has managed to expand tremendously while maintaining its core values.  Coming from a humble beginning, FAA began as an idea conceived by local musicians who were dissatisfied with Fredericksburg’s complete lack of youth-friendly venues.  The first show took place during September 2006 in the Loft, a bar that agreed to host an all-ages night.  It was an immediate hit, with 130 people in attendance.  The organization began to expand rapidly, hosting a minimum of one concert a month and gaining support from outside organizations, such as the Fredericksburg Athenaeum and the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, and by booking both local and touring bands.  They are now a 501(c)(3) tax-deductable, non-profit organization.

Saturday’s concert took place at Eyeclopes Studios.  Greeted by the faint smell of incense and the swirling lights and lasers radiating their glow throughout the room, it is perhaps the best place in all of downtown Fredericksburg to host a rock show.  Drums from every corner of the world are displayed throughout the room, while Buddhist prayer flags dangle from the ceiling.  The entire building is a collection of modern art, such as sculptures fabricated from dismembered Barbie dolls, as well the Eyeclopes trademark: paintings and sculptures modified to have only one eye.  The room was jam packed with crowds of mostly students from every major high school in the area.  The concert had already sold out.  The entire scene emanated coolness, which was soon to be enhanced by the band that was taking the stage.

Carlos, I’m Pregnant is a name held near and dear to all of FAA.  Having been around since the beginning, and playing a total of nineteen shows, they have more than a fare share of loyal followers.  They were the first band that I ever saw play at FAA, but sadly, this was to be their last concert.  Carlos, I’m Pregnant is composed of singer/guitarist Ben Wood, drummer Mikey Blackburn, guitarist Chris Carr, and bassist Kevin Jones.  Both Ben and Mikey have been with Carlos for four years, during which the band’s music has undergone some transformation.  When I first saw them, they played indie rock, but with a brighter, more pop-oriented sound.  What I experienced on Saturday was a darker, more mature Carlos.  While still playing indie rock, their lyrics evoke much more emotional response, and their music is much more melodic.  Their sound is largely guitar driven, trading between clean, arpeggiated verses and distortion laden choruses, and topped by Ben Woods distressed yet melodious voice.  Their music takes the listener on a roller coaster ride of crescendos and hooks, pulling you through a variety of emotions, from angst to joy to everything in between.  A melancholy air settled over the crowd as Carlos, I’m Pregnant announced their last song.  Time seemed to slow as people reflected on the good times they’d had with Carlos, and finally realized that this was the end.  The audience stood transfixed as they played the final verse of their final song.  A burst of applause then spread throughout the room as Carlos exited the stage.

The next band to play was Typefighter, an indie folk band from D.C.  They have played other FAA shows, so many people were already familiar with their music, but I had not yet heard them.  Let’s just say that after their first song, I was hooked.  The four-piece band was comprised of Thomas Orgren on guitar, John Crum on bass and banjo, Ryan McLaughlin on vocals and guitar, and Will Waikart on drums.  Trading off between indie rock and calmer indie folk, their music made for a captivating performance.  These switches were accentuated by John Crum’s multi-instrumental capabilities.  For their more electric oriented songs he would play electric bass but trade off to banjo for the indie-folk songs.  These changes were handled seamlessly, and kept the audience wondering what was coming next.  My  personal favorite was their closer, “I Wrote This Song for You.”  Featuring Ryan McLaughlin on guitar and lead vocals, and everyone else on backup vocals, it was Typefighter at their folkiest.  The song had a catchy and easy to remember chorus of “It’s all I think about, it’s all I want.  I’m gonna work it out,” and closed the set nicely.  By the end of the first chorus, most of the people in the audience had the lyrics memorized, and joined the band in singing the rest of the song.  People swayed along with the soft rhythm of the guitar, and it created a tranquil air throughout Eyeclopes.   

This tranquil air was soon smashed to smithereens by the thunderous sousaphone riffing of Seth Casana. He took the stage alone, and began to play the bass line to Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon.”  Outside, off in the distance, I heard the response of a horn section.  During the next measure, the music grew louder, and closer. All of a sudden, Elby Brass burst through the back door and marched onto the stage.  They were dressed in their signature purple and gold marching band uniforms, and armed with their horns.  They formed only a little more than a year ago when Seth Casana purchased 150 marching band uniforms and a sousaphone off of craigslist.  They have already gained a huge following, and usually sell out any venue they play, and people go out of their way to see them time and time again, myself included.

Applause spread like wildfire as they finished the song.  Elby Brass is a unique band, to say the least.  With fifteen members, twelve of whom play horns, and three who play marching percussion, and no electric instruments, they differ greatly from anyone else who has ever played FAA.  Their music is a hodgepodge of music styles, namely, funk, jazz, hip-hop, and marching band music.  Playing an energetic set of covers from musicians such as Sugarhill Gang, N.E.R.D., and Herbie Hancock, as well as many originals.  Their music is held together by an irresistibly funky beat.  Some of their songs are instrumental horn funk, usually featuring face melting tenor sax solos by Nate Masters.  Many more of their songs are interjected with rapping, singing, and shout choruses.  Elby Brass thrives on audience interaction, and it’s no surprise.  Their music elicits an uncontrollable urge to dance and to shout along at the top of your lungs.  This is made easy by their catchy lyrics, their call and response with the audience, and their unbelievably funkiness.  Song include “We’re Broke,” a song we can all relate to, the instrumental “Virginia Creeper,” and my all time favorite, “KFC.”  KFC encompasses all that is Elby Brass, with its funk sousaphone, rapped lyrics, danceable beat, catchy chorus, and mind-blowing solos.  I found myself jumping and dancing around along with practically everyone else in the room.

They played their final song and marched back outside.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t quite enough of Elby Brass to satisfy everybody.  “One More! One More!” the crowd screamed.  Sure enough, Elby Brass returned for one more.  But, rather than play their encore on stage, they decided to play on the floor, in the middle of the room.  They formed a massive, fifteen person circle around the crowd and began their last song.  The entire room began to dance, jumping up and down in every direction.  Strangers bumped into each other, people stepped on other people’s toes, personal bubbles were gone, but nobody paid it any mind.  By the time Elby Brass was done, everyone was too wiped out to call for another encore.

There’s a certain post-Elby Brass feeling, one that consists of sore calf muscles, sore throats, complete exhaustion, the sti cky feeling of being covered in other people’s sweat, along with that “I’ve never felt so alive!” feeling that keeps sending people back for more Elby.

By Correspondent: David Brunson

David Brunson is a Fredericksburg local, born in 1994.  He spent two years living in the Bahamas in his early childhood and enjoys spending his summers in Costa Rica.  He began playing piano in first grade but discovered his true passion for music in the sixth grade when he first picked up the guitar.  He is involved in both his school music program and the local music scene.  This includes playing guitar in the James Monroe jazz band and his own band the Bassic Needs.  His interests include traveling, surfing, writing, relaxing, and of course, music. 

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