On The Scene

by Clint Burgess


This weekend was filled with the excitement and madness of Hoopfest and a variety of festivities and extracurricular activities. This being the case, I decided to check out the B-Side for some sure-fire rock 'n' roll and a little bit of that Hoopfest freak-on.


I arrived at the club just about the time things started to happen. I was pumped to see that Death Kills Time was ripping into their set and leaving nothing on the stage. This local five-piece put on a spectacle that found the band flailing and contorting all over. I've seen these guys before, and both times they brought the goods to the table. Outstanding instrumentation, intricate and alternating guitar work and screamo-ish vocals give this band a unique package worth checking out.


I was impressed with Death Kills Time and hadn't yet had a chance to talk with them. So I skipped out on the second band and hung out on the sidewalk with the guys of DKT. It turns out vocalist Scott Sisco was not in high spirits. Seems he had mixed feelings about the show. "We almost had our set cut," Sisco told me. "We were running late, and then we forgot some stuff, and they told us we were cut, so I took off and the guys had to persuade me to come back." Despite all the behind-the-scenes drama, the show came off well.


We also chatted about the scene in Spokane. There was a consensus that things are getting better but that there was still room for improvement. At one point, I was distracted by some music coming from inside the club. It was from a band called Delmag from Alaska. I made out traditional rock tunes with decent vocals and decided to stay out on the sidewalk and talk to DKT guitarist Bob Homburg about vintage gear (we both dig Fender Jaguars).


I eventually parted ways with the guys and headed back into the B-Side to get lubed up for Mourning After. I was looking forward to hearing them live, but I was astonished by what I saw. The stage was overrun by oddly clad "roadies," meticulously setting up the equipment. I couldn't believe it. These guys had a full stage crew to get their gear all set up and fine-tuned. I wasn't sure if I should be impressed or appalled. Then things got even weirder. The roadies started to play as if they were the band. Strangely enough, the roadies weren't roadies at all, they were Mourning After!


Confusing changeover aside, this band brings it. The songs are well crafted, mature and distinct. If you heard them on the radio, you'd think they were the next thing to come off of Sony or Warner or whatever. I'm trying not to gush, but Mourning After definitely has it together.





Publication date: 07/03/03