The show opened up with a one-of-a kind acoustic set by up and comers (and one of my favorite new bands) Blue Sky Blackout, and also featured Strangelights, and The Mood Swings (who also have a new album coming out very soon). The night was closed out by Two Harbors.
But in the “Hollywood headliner” second to last spot was Merc Rage, rocking Saturday night with White Light Riot’s Mark Schwandt in the drum seat. (Schwandt had just hightailed it from Northfield where he’d opened for The Hold Steady.)
Via Twitter, I commissioned a photo by photographer Mike Minehart to get a photo of Mercurial Rage lead singer Michael Grey with Mark Schwandt rocking out in the background. He met the challenge and raised me one, also capturing guitar player extraordinaire Brandon Dalida in the frame.