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Mon, 23 Aug 2004
Schoolyard Heroes at Graceland
Sergey and I drove through a torrential downpour to see Seattle rockers Schoolyard Heroes open for Three Days Grace. I saw Schoolyard several weeks ago at the Capitol Hill Block Party, and was blown away by their high energy and original sound.
The Schoolyard Heroes play an aggressive post-punk. Although unafraid to scream, lead vocalist Ryann Donnelly sings with a refreshingly melodic voice which complements, but does not overwhelm, the heavy guitar and bass riffs laid down by Steve Bonnell and Jonah Bergman. Brian Turner's drums provide a solid foundation for the band's fast-moving numbers. The resulting sound is powerful, and reminds me of a louder, darker and more intense Save Ferris.
Graceland's stage is a small, but provided sufficient space for the band to perform. Steve attacked his bass the flair of a lead guitarist. However, the real stage show is Ryann. One moment she looks almost shy, awestruck by the lights and the crowd; the next she is screaming and writhing with music. Some female rockers sell themselves with sex appeal. Ryann doesn't. Although she is undeniably cute, she moves to express the music, not flaunt herself. Indie rockers don't, as a rule, dance, but Ryan does, and she does so well.
The Schoolyard Heroes, put on a fantastic stage show and play innovative music. Their set was well worth a trip in the rain. I hope to see (and hear) a lot more of them soon.