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Rocktoberfest sets the stage for local musicians

The guitarist of Jagweed performs at Rocktoberfest Thursday night in Lowell. (Christina Laderoute/Connector)

Kathryn Leeber
Connector Staff

Halloween weekend was off to a great start Thursday night at UnchARTed with three amazing live performances.

UMass Lowell’s Music Entertainment Industry Student Association (MEISA) hosted Rocktoberfest which featured local bands Bicycle Inn, Jagweed and MILES. The event took place at a small art gallery in downtown Lowell with an intimate crowd of about 30 people.

Surrounded by distinct art pieces and minimal lighting, UnchARTed was the perfect place for this event, as these bands were just as unique and quirky as the gallery itself. Despite the small area, the music was loud and the bands played as if they were performing for a crowded venue in Boston.

First to play was indie rock/punk band Bicycle Inn. They were truly talented, playing as if they had been together for years. The group just released an EP titled “Reruns” and mostly played songs off of it. Lead singer Noah Aguiar displayed his incredible vocal abilities, not only in the band’s songs, but in some covers the group also performed.

Playing a slower song, Moose Blood’s “Cherry,” this performance was just Aguiar and his guitar. It was performed after the group thought they were done for the night, but they did a great job of figuring out what to perform on the spot, displaying a maturity and confidence that most local bands do not possess.

Bassist Declan Moloney and drummer Joshua Carrascal also showed their skills, occasionally singing backing vocals and performing seamlessly through their set. Carrascal said he is a senior in high school, but his talent made it seem as though he were an experienced touring musician.

Next to take the stage was another local group, Jagweed. The group had a more melodic and instrumental feel to their performance. Both the bassist and guitarist sang throughout their set, while the drummer rhythmically followed their lead.

Jagweed’s performance was very theatrical, and the bassist was particularly entertaining. He was dancing all around the stage and holding his bass in various ways. He was so into his performance that he actually broke a string but kept playing as though nothing had happened.

The group was more of an experimental indie rock band, with songs comprised of long instrumental breaks and then smaller bouts of singing. Although there was not a lot of variation in their songs, the group as a whole brought a unique and quirky sound. Jagweed just recorded a new album, but they have not determined when it will be released.

Closing out the night was the in- sanely talented headlining band MILES. Making the trip from Albany, N.Y., this hip hop group was so enjoyable and interactive. They were another theatrical group and played with many instruments, creating an old school hip hop feel.

One member was playing the guitar, flute, saxophone and keyboard to create electronic sounds at various times during the show. There was also a bassist and drummer, who each had many solos showing off their incredible talents. The lead singer had an astonishing voice, effortlessly switching between singing and rapping.

Their first song started with a small instrumental introduction, for which the singer was hanging back in the crowd before popping up to the front. With such a small area, this was a really unique way of making the most of the space and incorporating the crowd. He was incredibly skilled in rapping, spewing out phrases as quickly as possible, in a melodic and pleasing way. Nothing felt over the top with this group, despite the numerous instruments.

What was most enjoyable about MILES was that they sincerely inter- acted with the crowd, even though it was small. The singer would walk around, get some water and start taking a video of himself singing with the crowd near the front. At one point, he stopped performing to talk with them about what they wanted to do with their musical aspirations. He then explained how they all have a variety of talents, but they can join together to make something special, just like MILES themselves did.

All in all, even with a small venue and not a lot of listeners, these talent- ed bands put on an incredible show. A laid back environment with easygoing musicians made the night all the more enjoyable. These are definitely some hardworking, rising bands, so be sure to give them a listen.

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