We often hear (as most people who aren’t in Chicago, LA, or New York do) that there isn’t enough to do in Richmond.  And when we hear that we often laugh.

You might not be into all kinds of music.  You might not be into going to smoky bars all the time. But never let it be said that Richmond doesn’t attract quality bands from all over the region across a broad range of musical styles.

And E Street Pub is right in the middle of the scene. Tonight you could have closed your eyes and imagined you were in a world-class venue in a major city.  All the elements were present except for the kind of crowd such a show deserves.

Long gone are the terrible local garage bands with no skill, terrible sound, and junior high school talent.  If that’s what you think of when you think live music in Wayne County, it’s time to change your thinking.

Tonight was a punk-themed night with 4 bands:

Safety Pin

A local band with Brian Wells on guitar and vocals, Jason Carter on bass, and Brian Elstro on drums.  Pin played a crazy Marcy Playground cover tonight along with a tight, inspired punk set.  Follow Safety Pin on Facebook.

Switchblade Syndicate

From Kentucky (yes, though people who live around Richmond might not want to make a drive all the way to E Street, the bands come from far away just to play here) this band rocked the stage with a lighter style when it comes to true punk music.  But their presence and showman (woman) ship was spot on. Follow on Facebook.

Situation Red

This was true punk.  These guys hail from Cincinnati and they came to play – HARD.  Lots of original tunes and some covers.  They had Richmond’s own “Joan Jett” out of her seat and into what can only be described as a tizzy.  Much respect from true punk fans in attendance.

Misunderstood

From Richmond, this band does punk justice.  Follow them on Facebook and support quality local musicians!

Bottom line: When it comes to live music, whether it is open mic, 80′s bands, tribute bands, originals, or cover bands, E Street Pub has something going on that rivals anything you’d see in places 100 times our size.

Richmond is still very much a music town.  The popular genres have changed along with the times, but this area is set, once again, to be a major hub for musicians to showcase their talent from all over the Midwest. How many towns like ours get a second chance?

Whatever your favorite music is, Richmond and surrounding towns attract it.

The amount of revenue this town can generate from the music scene alone is revenue we desperately need.  Buying local is sometimes just a matter of showing up and making entertainment choices beyond watching Dancing With The Stars.

There are no boring towns.  Just boring people.

Bringing the life back to the communities of Wayne County is partly about us locals showing up when great events  happen in our area (organized by people who work really hard to put together great entertainment experiences).

Special thanks to Brad Bales for attracting bands of all kinds to Richmond.  And to Brian Elstro for his hard work to give traveling and local bands a top-notch sound experience.