Adelitas Way is a hard rock band with the kind of sound I’d been craving to hear live since the isolation of 2020 began. Sunday night’s show with Adelitas Way, on the other hand, wasn’t a disappointment. When I walked out the door, desperate for Tylenol and a good night’s sleep, I could still hear the fans chanting “Mojo!” from the street until I reached my car. By the end, over half the crowd had left the venue, perhaps due to the excessive amount of breaks the band took. By the middle of their set, most of the regular patrons had left, leaving only Mojo Nation and a small crowd in the back.ĭuring their set, the band left the stage four times, leaving the club employees working the lights confused as to whether they were coming or going.įor the actual finale, Blacktop Mojo played a cover of ZZ Top’s “Tush,” garnering more applause than their last few songs combined. An indie rock band from Texas, the band relies on on crowdfunding to support their musical projects.ĭie-hard fans with T-shirts featuring the band's logo and regular patrons gravitated toward the stage to see the headliner, but the curiosity and interest didn’t last long. with a smaller crowd than the night had begun with, Blacktop Mojo took the stage. Songs like “Hard to Handle” and “Into the Sunset” got the crowd dancing, while “Monster” and “Dreamin’” were a good sendoff, but their set lost momentum with the extended banter between songs. Finally, Loxias brought the most charisma to the stage out of the openers, but it dwindled over time.
The lead guitarist played killer riffs and carried most of their set, while the lead singer struggled to hit the higher notes of some songs. The next band, The Emma Garell Band, picked things up a bit. Opening act Mostly Outta Line hasn’t had a lot of experience playing professionally, and it showed with their underwhelming performance. The focus is on the music, and every band that plays there should understand. The Canal Club is still no frills and no fuss.
Even the parking options, sketchy though they were, held fond memories of maneuvering my car into the lot with my newly acquired license and a friend in the passenger seat. The neon guitar and music note lights shone just a little brighter above the bar, and the drinks went down a tad smoother than I remembered. I had a greater appreciation of the venue and a brand-new perspective.
Walking into The Canal Club after two years away felt like coming home.
Blacktop Mojo during their set at The Canal Club (Photo by Erik Haugen)