It’s Not Just a Phase Mom!
emo and pop-punk cover band Quarter Life Crisis to headline JAMF Theater at the Pablo Center
While many bands may start with big dreams of fame and glory, Quarter Life Crisis is the opposite. Starting as all self-taught musicians and friends, the band began playing together on weeknights as a hobby, simply to play the music they grew up loving.
Eventually, the group ended up wanting to play live. A real show, for real people (mostly their friends) at a venue as classic as they come.
Just kidding, it was a steakhouse. Specifically, it was a steakhouse the band's singer bartended at part-time, so, they basically had the “in.”
“Most of our friends showed up just to make fun of us,” Brandon Robinson, bassist and Chippewa Valley native, said. (Transparently, he's also my longtime best friend).
But then something happened – people thought they were actually... good?
After a few sold out shows at the steakhouse, Quarter Life Crisis graduated into larger and more popular venues like Amsterdam Bar & Hall and the Fine Line in Minneapolis, Minn., selling out shows along the way — but never taking themselves too seriously.
"Our shows are starting to feel a bit like an island of misfit toys, where people have a space to authentically be themselves."
BRANDON ROBINSON
BASSIST, QUARTER LIFE CRISIS
“We are good at being average and average at being good,” Brandon said.
While many cover bands pride themselves on not being the center of attention while you’re out at your favorite bar, brewery, or restaurant — Quarter Life Crisis wants their show to be what people came for.
Featuring dynamic production elements — from moving visuals to signed guitar giveaways and on-stage antics like guitar tossing and crowd surfing — what they focus on most is the fan experience.
“Our shows are starting to feel a bit like an island of misfit toys, where people have a space to authentically be themselves,” Brandon said.
Bringing their act to Eau Claire for “Emo Night Live” at the Pablo Center at the Confluence (128 Graham Ave.) — as opposed to continuing just playing the Twin Cities — was a very intentional move.
“Growing up in Eau Claire, I felt like we always got skipped over,” Brandon said. “I couldn’t see a band I wanted unless I drove two hours.”
Emo Night Live plans to deliver all the nostalgia, lots of screaming, and listening to tracks which defined “the best (and most dramatic) years of our lives,” the website reads. The performance will bring Quarter Life Crisis, Retro // Modern, and Sugarcoat to the Pablo Center's JAMF Theater stage on Nov. 14.
To catch Quarter Life Crisis in all their “average” glory — and to relive your questionable haircut days — you can see them on Nov. 14 at the JAMF Theater at the Pablo Center at the Confluence (128 Graham Ave., Eau Claire). To purchase tickets ($20.70 each) to the one-night performance, visit pablocenter.org.
