Farewell Letter, Lurgee, Fenix Down & Amden

Amden opened up with a fairly polished sounding set, which was a little surprising given their obvious youthfulness. They definitely had a firm grasp on the style they were trying to exemplify as they ran through their set of pop-y emotional songs with punchy choruses. Yet overall, their songs were somewhat repetitive and their performance felt somehow insincere.
It always amazes me that Fenix Down remains such an unknown in Chico's music community. Mark my words, someday you'll pay $16.99 for their CD, on sale no less, and think to yourself, “Why aren't there any bands this good around here,” not realizing that they used to live just down the street from you. Their elaborate layering of instruments, melodic tones, effects and ebb and flow of music intensity could be easily likened to modern alt-rock such as The Cure; however, Fenix Down’s style is still definitely their own. Their delivery, enhanced by Mathew Petyo's vocals, is sincere and passionate without being cliché. This performance was an excellent example of their talent and passion for the music they make. My only complaint was the short length of their set as they tried to leave extra time for Lurgee and Farewell Letter to play.
Everything I said about Fenix Down being a largely overlooked band goes double for Lurgee. Unfortunately for you, this was announced to be their final show together, but keep your eyes and ears open for new projects coming from the talented members from this band. Lurgee and Fenix Down compliment each other well with similar, yet amply individual styles. With three guitars, bass, drums, occasional keyboards and, of course, vocals, Lurgee can definitely create a wall of sound. However, they also know when to show restraint, letting a moment build and then exploding into the inevitable conclusion. While I wouldn't expect any less than a passionate performance from this band, this show proved to be especially emotional due largely to it being their farewell performance and their friends turning out to wish them well. It's too bad it has to end, but I can't imagine a better goodbye.
Farewell Letter was given a difficult task trying to follow such an emotional set. They didn't seem dissuaded, however, as they launched into their crisp and energetic brand of indie rock. Despite the band’s energy and determination the crowd gave in to musical overload at the late hour and quickly began to disappear. Better luck next time, guys.

– Words and photos by Chris Schreiber

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