Third Thursday at the Porch: November 2022

By Hannah Walls
Web Content Assistant

Despite the chilly weather, I was met with a decently-sized crowd when I stepped into The Porch Thursday night. The dim lighting and gentle hum of scattered conversations as we eagerly waited for the first band to start made it quite cozy, and I took some time to chat with some familiar faces before taking my seat at the bar. A few more bundled-up patrons trickled in as Distorted Ends took the stage.

I had no clue what to expect from Thursday’s lineup as I wasn’t super familiar with the artists prior to the show. Distorted Ends, the self-proclaimed “loud a*s punk band,” kicked off their set with clamorous drums and guitar that had me out of my seat immediately. The intense energy of the band resonated throughout the room, and a few people pushed closer to the stage and began dancing.

Despite it being 9:00pm on a Thursday night, Distorted Ends certainly woke the square up and jump started a lively evening of tunes. They finished their set with a few nu metal-esque elements in the form of screeching guitar solos and guttural yelling. I can absolutely say I’m a fan after seeing Distorted Ends, and their performance surprised me in the best way possible.

After a short break to set up, Champagne took the stage. I was once again pleasantly surprised as they began with some dreamy synth chords followed by bright vocals and guitar that reminded me of the indie pop and rock bands that frequented my playlist in high school.

Champagne finished off their set with some definite bedroom pop elements that reminded me a lot of Cuco, another artist I really enjoy. I loved seeing Champagne perform because something about their sound felt very nostalgic to me, yet the group definitely brings something fresh and exciting to the San Marcos local music scene.

In typical bar fashion, The Porch slowly filled with more people and the ambient noise of chatting became a wave of sound as the night progressed. Coffin Fits was the last band to take the stage, and I think they were the perfect choice to close out the show. When I try to conceptualize the San Marcos live music scene as a whole, I find myself thinking of D-I-Y, garage rock, psychedelic rock and blues. Coffin Fits definitely fit the bill for this sound, but with a fresh approach and twist to it that I really enjoyed.

I definitely feel like the rest of The Porch felt the same as I did. Coffin Fits was pretty interactive with the crowd as well, occasionally interjecting with a few conversational quips in between songs. Their set had nearly everyone in the room out of their seats to share one last dance. The floaty vocals and groovy guitar of Coffin Fits had nearly everyone in the room out of their seats to share one last dance before saying their goodbyes of the night and closing out their tabs.

Despite the vast differences between the three bands, I thoroughly enjoyed all of them, and feel like the progression of different sounds throughout the night told a story. From the boisterous wake-up call of Distorted Ends, to a refreshing and bright performance by Champagne, to the familiar yet exciting and dreamy conclusion by Coffin Fits, I think these bands paired exceptionally well together in a way I did not expect.

It’s sad to say this is the last Third Thursday of the semester, but I know The Porch will be waiting for me when next semester kicks off with new bands, new faces and new nights to spend enjoying live music. See you there!

Featured Image by Hannah Walls