Last Stand of The Roach Motel


The Roach Motel,
Decatur Alabama
Saturday June 23rd

This was an all day event that began at 2pm. I wasn't able to get there until about 6, just as X.Y. Spaces was beginning. The Roach Motel is located in a storage unit, a long one, it's almost in the center. If you go in one side there's a print shop, you can go through into the venue space that also has an exit that lets you out the other side. It's a spacious area with a stage and sound equipment, the only problem is it's a metal tin can with nowhere for the sound to escape. I saw 5 bands and each of them put on terrific shows full of heart, audience participation and gimmicks. X.Y. Spaces had lamp light, which created great shadows in the room, the singer Brady also passed out headshots of himself for people to distribute around town, in hopes he will get discovered. Avowed all wore Hawaiian shirts, and Meadows had matching plain hunter green. They were great performances that had a lot of thought, practice, and effort in them. The audience in Decatur does not mosh, instead they.. I guess thrash about one at a time with fists of fury and high kicks, it looked super dangerous and made me uncomfortable, however they seemed accustomed to one another and each did their little "release". Random Conflict was straight up great as always, the owner of The Roach Motel got on stage and sang with them and made sure to point out what Alabama legends they are. Last I saw Katabasis. They were lights, metal, performance, flowing hair, deep screams, melodic singing, and an odd guitar, it was missing its head. They were very on point with one another, I hope to see them again. I missed seeing Widowmaker, because I could not physically hear another band in the space. Overall it was a good time, with what appeared to be a good turnout, I saw lots of new faces and talked with folks, our region needs an all ages venue is a definite consensus, because once again I made it just in time to experience a final show at a closing venue. 
-Salina Brilla

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