An 18th birthday bash in the form of a rock concert with local bands, screaming vocals and moshing stormed DiPiazza’s on March 3.
Local bands 2Dust, Reject Your Reality, Side Chicks and Slaves To Humanity all came together to put on a special birthday show for Speed of Light’s drummer, Tyler Christensen, whose band played that night as well.
Made up of three siblings, Speed of Light has a residency at DiPiazza’s, playing a monthly show. It is one of their favorite venues to play, according to the band.
Starting off the show was rock duo, 2Dust, a band consisting of members vocalist/guitarist, Michael Gatto, and drummer, Malin Bird. They played a good mix of songs, getting everyone to jam out.
When Reject Your Reality took the stage, there was a bit of a mood shift. The energy of the crowd somehow got amped up even further.
Frontman, Azi Bendersky, led his band with a fierceness that could be felt all throughout the venue and the crowd really started to mosh at this point in the show.
With it being his birthday show, Bendersky finished off the set by jumping on the birthday boy’s shoulders, while singing, a welcome surprise.
When the guitarist, Griffin Zund, got close to the crowd, everyone eagerly reached their hands out, trying to get a taste of the action.
They performed a rendition of “School” by Nirvana, a song the entire audience sang the lyrics to.
Bendersky gave some insight on how the band started and where they are now.
“Me and Griffin have known eachother since we were 5 years old and we’ve been playing music together for a long time…Now we’re seventeen. Officially as Reject Your Reality it started in August of two years ago (2021),” Bendersky reveals, talking about the origins of the band.
“Our first show was actually Speed of Light’s first residency,” making a full circle moment with the bands playing together once again. Bendersky adds, “we’ve known Tyler for years.”
Up next was the female powerhouse group, Side Chicks, who gave an energetic performance, successfully keeping the crowd engaged throughout.
Their song “Pretty Boy,” was a standout and a feminist anthem.“Guys that breach trust, thinking that they deserve more…what they deserve is a punch to the face,” according to lead singer, Marilaine Montero.
By the time Christensen’s band was about to play, the venue was packed, everyone wanting to see the family band, Speed of Light.
Tyler and guitarist Cameron, not only are strong instrumentalists, but back their sister Riley, who is the lead singer and bassist, on vocals as well. They’ve seemed to master their screams.
The band ended their set with a big finish, Riley jumped into the mosh pit, screaming in the mic.
Then, a big security guard carries her off and out of the venue, leaving the crowd in shock and awe at the scene.
Wrapping up the show was Slaves to Humanity. The band’s unique chemistry was special to see, each member riffing off of the other in a playful way.
Frontman, Aidan Amini, was engaging throughout, hopping around stage without an ounce of fatigue. His melodic vocals and the band’s sound really complimented each other.
The crowd was enthralled by them, especially when their guitarist, Pierce Akers, would lean over them while playing a solo.
Akers was so evidently in his element while playing, that it created a serene atmosphere, where you couldn’t help but to be absorbed in the music.
One of the fans that attended the event was high school student, Franky Moon. He attended the show after hearing about it from a friend.
Moon was one of the many attendees that was going off in the mosh pit and even lost his hat from moshing too hard.
After the show, when talking to Speed of Light about the event, the band seemed very pleased with the turnout.