The 5.19.23 Amplified SD Showcase!
Last month's showcase was a huge success for us here at Amplifiedsd. It was the first show here at Amplified to sell out officially! We couldn't have done this without the help from all the bands on the lineup, which consisted of Winnabego, Bobbo, The Microblades, and Sands. This showcase was an unforgettable night filled with dancing, moshing, laughing, and connection. It was what every show's environment should be like- comfortable and full of love. For those of you who missed it (and are getting FOMO while reading this), don't worry! In this article, we will go through the entire night, from the opening act to the headliner, and give you the full scoop of what this Amplifiedsd Showcase consisted of. So, without further ado, let's hop into it!
WINNABEGO
Starting the night was the local act Winnabego. Winnabego is a four-piece indie pop band from Oceanside, California. Their members consist of Keshaun (drums and production), Canaan (bass), Aidan (lead singer and guitar player), and Garzeezy (keys). This was my first time seeing Winnabego live, and I was highly impressed! Not only was each band member undoubtedly in sync with each other, but the time they put into their live setup was the cherry on top of it all. One of my favorite aspects of this performance was the vocals. Winnabego's lead singer Aiden used a Roland VT-4 Voice Controller, which for non-musicians, is an effect processor for the human voice. This piece of gear added an extra element of sparkle to their performance and sound. If you are a fan of bands like The 1975, Steve Lacy, Harry Styles, or Hippo Campus, you will fall in love with Winnabego.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WINNABEGO, CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW.
BOBBO
Second up on the lineup was Bobbo. Are you looking for an artist who will make you laugh and play music you can't help but groove to? Bobbo is your guy. Bobbo is a 21-year-old singer/songwriter from San Diego, California. Bobbo's backing band consists of Owen (drums), Santino (guitar and saxophone), and Joey (bass). One of the most uplifting moments of the night was when Bobbo played simply because of the personalities behind this strong-sounding band. Bobbo makes sure to make things interesting for the audience, not leaving a moment of silence for things to get awkward or stale. Bobbo mentioned in a previous interview that a big inspiration for him is artists like Bo Burnham, who combine music and comedy all into one. You can see this show in his live performances, as he is one of the most well-spoken/attention-grabbing artists I have seen perform in a long time. Not only do you get a fun, upbeat, indie set from Bobbo, but at every single one of his shows, you get to learn a ton of cool animal facts during his "animal of the day" segment he goes into during his set (which I won't spoil/speak on anymore because you have to be there to experience it in its complete form). If you like artists like Weezer, The Walters, Radiator Hospital, or Blvck Hippie, you will be more than satisfied throwing Bobbo into your mix.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BOBBO, CICK THE BUTTON BELOW.
CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW WE DID WITH BOBBO BY CLICKING THE BUTTON BELOW.
THE MICROBLADES
Third up on the lineup was the unique act called The Microblades. I've known of The Microblades for a couple of years now, and watching them grow into such a tight, put-together act has been a beautiful thing for me to watch. The Microblades are a three-piece rock band consisting of members Giulietta Randell (guitar and vox), Imogen Collis (bass), and Lauren Deerinick (drums and backup vox). We interviewed with The Microblades a couple of weeks before the show, in which they were the Artist Spotlight for the month, highlighting their newest release, "Cowboy," out now on all platforms. I saw them play this new single (which carries a strong theme of giving back to the local San Diego DIY music community) and was blown away! It sounded exactly like the recording, and watching them play it live made it even better than the recording for me. Not only were The Microblades the band to start the mosh at this show, but Giulietta even shredded on the Kazoo at one point, which I found extremely cool. If you like artists like The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, and Fleetwood Mac, The Microbaldes will successfully take you back in time to that classic 60s/70s rock sound.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MICROBLADES, CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW.
TO CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW WE DID WITH THE MICROBALDES, CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW.
SANDS
Tearing the house down at the night's end was our headlining act, the local band Sands. Sands put on an incredibly immersive performance with one of the most impressive live setups I have seen. With old-school TVS littering the floor, fur-covered bass amps, football helmets, and...someone in a lobster suit? I know it sounds like a dream, but here at Amplified, we allow fantasies to become reality! Sands is a four-piece garage rock band initially started by Brandon (singer and guitarist) and Basil (bass), later adding in the members Michael (drums) and Carley (guitarist) to complete their sound. You'd have to be insane not to bop your head, at least while Sands plays. It is close to impossible not to feel the groove of this band! Nailing the classic San Diego surf punk sound, Sands's performance brought me chills, as they are a genuine DIY band. During Sands set, everyone was on their feet, dancing, singing, or clapping. The mosh that The Microblades started had continued for the entire Sands set, allowing us to end the night on a high note filled with energy and excitement. If you like bands like Wavves, Death Lens, Fidlar, or Skegss, you will not want to miss out on the next Sands show.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SANDS, CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW.
TO CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW WE DID WITH SANDS, CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW.
In conclusion, 5.19.23 was a night that will never be forgotten by the staff here at Amplified Studios. Again, we would like to give the bands a big thank you for putting on such a fantastic show! Bummed you missed out? Don't worry! We have another great show lined up to happen this month on June 30th. Check out the flyer below and buy some tickets before it sells out!