Redgate Shatters Expectations, and Ice — 20 Watts Magazine

DJ Lucas, 22bb, and Char had Redgate Rumbling on March 22nd

Words and Images by John Turnham / Graphic by Lily Greco

Sub-zero temperatures and icy sidewalks didn’t seem to deter too many people from spending the evening at Redgate on Friday, March 22nd. After performances from Char, 22bb, and DJ Lucas, the adverse weather conditions exited everyone’s mind, being replaced with a post-show euphoria that can only be experienced after watching a superb set of acts. The large turnout clearly didn’t want to miss one of the venue’s final shows: next year’s tenants at the Redgate house will continue to operate a similar style of operation under the title Dazed.

Char kicked off the night with a gritty, relentless, and authentic style of alternative rock that house show-goers can never seem to get enough of. The four-man band consists of drummer Vito Vetere, Trevor Fraticelli on bass guitar, and Vijay Tandon alongside Brunon Kaminski as vocalists/guitarists.

Donning Krispy Kreme paper hats and formalwear, the band wooed the audience with droning lead guitar lines, earworm riffs, moody underlying vocals, and roaring percussion, cultivating a sound that makes it impossible not to bop your head to. The whole band was tight, but the drumwork provided by Vetere stood out as exceptional. The band has yet to release any music, but they are certainly one to keep an eye on.

Char. Front to back/left to right: Vijay Tandon, Brunon Kaminski, Trevor Fraticelli, Vito Vetere.

Next on the bill was the self-proclaimed boyband 22bb, a three-man group hailing from Western Massachusetts. Singer/songwriter/producer Eric Yelle and rapper/vocalists Finesse Fresco and Rydeordie combine their talents by blending elements of genres like emo rap and trap with a prominent acoustic element brought by Yelle.

22bb. Left to right: Eric Yelle, Finesse Fresco, Rydeordie.

The trio deployed melodic hip-hop flows and soaring hooks over hard-hitting beats, treating Redgate to something a bit different than usual.

The third and final act was none other than Amhersts’ very own DJ Lucas. The emcee has been dropping his own brand of eccentric, chaotic rap music for a decade now, demonstrating improvement in every addition to his discography. DJ Lucas stands out for his unique ability to produce hilarious, comedic bars at the same high quality as his lyrics that delve into more introspective topics.

The setlist contained hits like “The Climb,” and “I-91 Corridor,” along with his latest single, “Hanging On The Cliff,” and the title track from his most recent album Lil Old Town. 22bb and DJ Lucas shared the stage until the very end of the night, demonstrating a closeness that can be attributed to their 413 area code roots and 22bb being signed to Dark World Records, a record label founded by DJ Lucas himself.

22bb with Slushroom. Left to right: Slushroom, Finesse Fresco, Eric Yelle, Rydeordie.

Slushroom, a DJ/producer out of Western MA finished the night off with some high octane bangers that maintained the energy until the very last second.