Photo of TX2’s Evan Thomas by Jen Ruff
A few months ago, I confessed that I root for the underdog. I knew going into that Kiss of Death 2 tour that I was most pumped for TX2’s performance that night, even though the rest of the bands are in my top ten personal favorites and I’d never even heard a TX2 song. I love an outcast, someone who’s underestimated, the misunderstood, perhaps broken. It brings vulnerability and an appreciation for those who dare go against the current and have a much broader mind. That night, TX2 gained my curiosity and respect. I knew I’d see them again. Meanwhile another member of that tour is someone with whom I’ve kept in touch with for almost a decade now: Joe Occhiuti is the bassist for Ice Nine Kills and, besides being a great guy, we bond over our veganism. He doesn’t get to venture off much into cities while on tour so I wanted to bring something to rock his world. We arranged to meet up and he just so happens to have a separate band that he fronts and plays guitar for. Flat Out is a five-piece band from all over the world (mostly California) with sounds and an unexpected three vocalists.
So I grabbed some Terror Tacos and met up with Flat Out before their show here at Red Flag opening for TX2. It was fun to see the guys again as always, but to get to spend a few hours of their down time in their small bus telling stories and smoking a little bit sparked a fun idea. Joe is a barrel of fun and did a thing on an Ice Nine Kills tour called “Joe Eats Ziti.” We joked about that but then put a plan into motion to have Joe Eats Pasta open the evening’s show. So I got a shopping list and we all took pics and hugged goodbye for then. Without fail, trains in Illinois hate me as I rush to make it to shows on time, but I had all the necessary tools for Joe Eats Pasta to perform so the panic was all too real. I got there in enough time and the show began. A table, a chair… enter a grown man being seated. Out comes champagne (it was apple cider), then a vegan microwavable pasta dish. Then, Joe Ate Pasta. It was hilarious just observing someone enjoying a delicious pasta and I’ve seen MUCH less entertaining openers for a show. The crowd laughed and the night was off to a delicious start.
Flat Out is like Weezer meets the Beastie Boys and they get high and perform. Joe plays guitar and his vocals are classic pop punk, Michael Meaney had a more soulful feel contributing the underlying melodic voice to the tracks, and then Tony Fortes lays some lyrical freestyle over the top. Ryan Browne is a great fit on drums and keeps anyone with ADHD entertained with twirling and tossing his sticks while playing. The band rounds out with Robert Bolton on bass. Without a full length and just a handful of singles so far, they really make fans quick. Their music is catchy, they have an amazing energy, and they are fun. It’d be a running theme during the show and our night was barely just beginning.
I’d never heard of Tillie, but she hooked me in quick. It was just her and a guitar and the aforementioned Ryan Browne on drums. Her style was very young No Doubt/Gwen Stefani, a bit of Royal & the Serpent, a bit Billie Eilish, but a WHOLE lot of Tillie! Between fun-spirited songs advocating individuality, being uniquely yourself, and having zero fucks about anyone’s opinion were great and melodic tales of her trials and tribulations from Atlanta and throughout her Tillieverse. “kooL aiD mAn” is about him handling some business with a guy who engaged in domestic assault to a friend of hers; “bLeSs uR hEaRt” was a fun stab at people who hate on others for no reason other than their happiness. Tillie kept the energy high and fun throughout. I was left wanting so much more.
Then it was TX2 time. The crowd was quite electric and the energy went from great to fever pitch in a heartbeat. The band took the stage and owned Red Flag for the next hour or so. From “Black Wedding” into “Violent Nature,” “Swing at Me,” and “Cruel World,” an outsider could take a wild guess that something may be sad/emo but nothing is further from the truth. The crowd and band co-mingled with singing, screaming, jumping, and interacting, and the love was so pure. I think that’s vocalist Evan Thomas’s secret sauce: he’s so genuine and caring for everyone on the tour (even thanking venue staff, lighting, etc.), incredibly engaged with his fans in every way possible (from joining them multiple times to accepting every friendship bracelet held out to him); and having THE best time with his band. Guitarist Cameron Rostami, bassist Corky Howard, and new drummer Ethan Church all fed off each other’s musicianship and fun vibes. Ending the show with “Mad” and “I Would Hate Me Too,” Thomas made it clear that his greatest wish is for his crowd to feel empowered and not alone. To reach out to other fans and realize people need each other now more than ever. He was there that day shortly after I showed up with Terror Tacos and he stayed until well after the show meeting every single person. He had a pre-show VIP so he didn’t have to engage beyond that at all, but he did. That to me adds a quality to an artist that you just don’t find is common. One not in it for the money or fame, but the connection of the human thread. The music is contagious, catchy, and upbeat. This is an artist everyone should experience live at least once for the absolute joy you get from having participated in the experience. | Diane Ruff
