CHLOE KOWALYK
Editor in Chief
The Local Lo-Down has done it again.
They’ve managed to make the small, forgotten village of Fredonia move, making a wave in the harshly set quiet and almost desolate demeanor.
The often-missed 59th exit off the I-90 hides an extravagant scene.
It’s a scene that features crowd-surfing in a small, yet charming venue that typically hosts theater performances.
It’s a scene that many bands know so well, they rave about their excitement to play in.
And yet, most importantly, the Fredonia scene is a welcoming, friendly scene; a group of happy college kids who would be happy to let you into the mosh or headbang in sync with you.
The Local Lo-Down is at the heart of that scene.
A podcast led by SUNY Fredonia students at Fredonia Radio Systems, The Local Lo-Down features local artists from the Western New York and surrounding areas.
Similar to NPR’s “Tiny Desk” series, The Local Lo-Down interviews artists on the show, and has them play a live set right in the studio.
The show airs every Wednesday at 8–9 p.m. on WCVF 88.9 and WDVL 89.5, as well as on Fredonia Radio’s YouTube page.
In addition, The Local Lo-Down also hosts “Little Lo-Downs,” in which they do five to ten minute field interviews with artists after their sets.
Within the past few years, The Local Lo-Down has started putting concerts together at Main Street Studios. The most recent show was held on Saturday, Sept. 9.
Consistent with the show’s name, the concert featured three local artists—The Weather Might Say Otherwise (TWMSO), Del Paxton and Relentless Moisture—all of whom have unique ties to Fredonia.
TWMSO played first.
TWMSO was a vital aspect of the Fredonia scene before they graduated a few years back. They hosted basement shows at North Pole Strip Club (NPSC), the provocative name of the house where they resided.
NPSC was memorable. Shows at NPSC were irresistible, an almost addicting nature that everyone wanted to be a part of, and TWMSO led it.
When TWMSO returned to The Local Lo-Down concert this year, the crowd buzzed with nostalgic excitement, ready to hear the band’s return to their college town.
It didn’t take long for the crowd to start swirling like a whirlpool, as they tossed each other across the wooden stage to TWMSO’s strong, hard-hitting guitar.
Undoubtedly, the best part of the set was when the band covered Simple Plan’s “What’s New Scooby Doo.”
As soon as the song started, the crowd was jolted with energy.
The green gleams on the band’s guitars added flashes of color as they jumped around the stage.
Everything—from the scrunch of the lead singer’s nose while he sang to the gentle shrugging of the drummer’s shoulders as he laid a booming beat were alluring to the eyes.
Even the shyest of students couldn’t help but at least tap their feet.
After TWMSO’s exciting set, Del Paxton brought a new type of energy to the stage.
Del Paxton has members who are SUNY Fredonia alumni.
It was obvious how happy the band was to be back at their old stomping grounds.
Invisible strings tied the group’s hearts together, stretching out into the audience who grew to love them the more they played.
Del Paxton’s set started out with a synchronized,
1… 2… 1, 2, 3, go!
It was obvious it wasn’t the group’s first time rehearsing the start of their set, and the joyous smiles on their faces revealed just how happy they were to be playing together.
At the end of the set, arms outstretched in the air with fingers curled into hearts as Fredonia students showed love to Fredonia alums.
Relentless moisture took the stage last, but my energy was as high as ever.
I was quick to ignore the pain in my feet that comes along with going to a show after a long day.
They came onto the stage, generally wearing all black clothes, but one member wore a wizard hat, a site of bizarity that you come to expect if you’ve ever seen Relentless Moisture play.
Relentless Moisture rocks. I mean, really, rocks.
In the physical sense, the crowd moshed so hard that really no one kept their balance. Instead, people flung around, relinquishing the control over their bodies, letting themselves be taken by the music.
In the emotional sense, Relentless Moisture knows how to get certain feelings out of you.
They yell, and you want to yell.
A cover of the song “Warning” by Incubus slowed the crowd down, providing a peaceful break during a heavy night.
The band charmed the audience like snakes swaying back and forth to the music.
The lyrics, “Don’t ever let life pass you by,” rang true for the young crowd who took the moment to feel.
Soon after, the crowd started dancing and moshing once more.
Perhaps the most passionate crowd member was the one who also dressed up as a wizard in a full cloak.
The band applauded him, telling the crowd that “this is the proper attire for a Relentless Moisture show.”
The wizard was loved by the audience, and they eventually lifted his body up into the air, gently bouncing him to the beat. He laid with his arms outstretched on top of a bed of loving hands.
After playing an encore for an ever-loving audience, the end of the show was met with an extreme silence once the band stopped playing.
It took me looking over at my friends and doing a nod of confirmation to realize the night had ended.
As The Local Lo-Down banners were lowered, I felt a slight sadness wash over me.
The show is over, but it’s not the end.
The Local Lo-Down continues to be the soul of the Fredonia scene.
Chloe Kowalyk is an A&R assistant for The Local Lo-Down and the station manager of Fredonia Radio Systems.