Back then, witnessing the Heroes for the first time, I stood in front of the stage, my mouth gaping, for the duration of their 30-minute set. I was completely floored by Steve Bonnell's wailing (that's right, I said wailing) guitar and Ryann Donnelly's wicked voice. Stylistically, Donnelly was all over the map, slapping us across the face with whispers, screams, and operatic attacks.
Jonah Bergman pounded thrashing bass lines while growling out background vocals, and Brian Turner was hitting the drums probably harder than he should have been. The energy was thick and intense, and it was refreshing to see a young band finally kick emo in the crotch and scream goodbye to the "too sad to rock" trend.
I could tell by the crowd's response that I wasn't the only one immediately converted, and I knew right then and there that the Heroes had a very bright future ahead of them.
The future is now.
Not even a year since they took second place, the band has signed with local label The Control Group and recorded their first full-length album, The Funeral Sciences. And it's really, really good.
All the intensity of a live show is captured on songs like "Bury the Tooth of the Hydra and a Skeleton Army Will Arise," and "All-You-Can-Eat Cancer." For the most part, the record is really heavy, noisy, and dramatic. There are a couple of poppier tunes like "Blood-Spattered Sundress," and "Boyfriend," but they still have that dark Heroes spin to them. And while I could name countless apparent influences (the Misfits, for one), Schoolyard Heroes have honestly created a sound all their own. And Donnelly's voice! Her blood-curdling screaming of the line "Check the body before it gets cold!" during "Sincerely Yours, Jonathan Harker," gives me chills every time I hear it, and that alone is worth the price of the record.
With many of the songs inspired by the horror and sci-fi genre, it's perfect that the Heroes celebrate the release of the CD on Halloween night at the Vera Project.
Kane Hodder opens the show, Alien Crime Syndicate closes, it's only seven bucks (six if you have a Vera club card), and it starts at 8 pm.
And if that's not enough to get you in the door, how could you not love a song with the line, "I vomit out my heart for you"? That right there is my personal favorite. MEGAN SELING
Need more? You can hear my personal picks for the week on 107.7 The End every Monday and Friday at 5:30 pm during DJ No Name's Afternoon Experiment.
