Sonia, a venue in Cambridge that offers intimate, entertaining experiences with primarily local and smaller artists, rocked with the sounds of drums, bass and guitar July 20. Pop-punk and alternative rock bands Reservations at 8, local to Wrentham, and American Ink and Off Wing, both from Boston, performed. The night showcased the spirit and talent of local bands as well as the support from family, friends and fans that filled the venue.
Reservations at 8, also known as “Rezzies,” kicked off the show with one of their most popular songs, “Speaker Breakup,” energizing the crowd with high-energy drum and guitar instrumentals coupled with steady vocals from lead singer Peter Tuohy.
Their performance included songs from their EP, “Don’t Tell Me Yet,” and their newest single, “Come Around / Not So Easy St.” The band also played covers, including “Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones.
At one point, the bassist, Tom Dalton, stepped down from the stage, playing while surrounded by the crowd and feeding off its energy.
“Tonight was one of the nights where our performance was shining as bright as the music,” said drummer Flynn Duffy.
As Rezzies wound down their set, the band members thanked the audience and their fans before ushering American Ink onstage.
Despite shifting to a visually darker tone where the members were backlit, American Ink kept the energy up with its active stage presence.
Michael Romano, the guitarist, and Aidan Crotty, the bassist, couldn’t seem to keep their feet in one place, moving constantly around the stage, jumping up and down and only stopping to sing into the microphone. This performance was matched by the audience, who formed a mosh pit, throwing themselves around during a particularly intense song.
The band played songs off its most recent album “What I See, What People See,” including “Wishing,” as well as one of its newest singles “Your Hero.”
Crotty also made his way into the crowd, with fans surging around him as he played.
Off Wing entered to close the night with its less mobile but equally passionate performance, which included songs off its recent self-titled album, like “Sedated” and “Colorblind.”
“You have to start at home,” Duffy said. He described how Reservations at 8 began by garnering support from family and friends, who now follow them to their performances at different venues.
Concerts like these have allowed bands to grow both their fan bases and their connections within the music scene. The support that each band received from the others was consistently seen throughout the night, from shoutouts telling fans to listen to the other bands to cheering in the crowd. Fans that were there to support one band enjoyed the other two, with the artists and fans feeding off each other.
The night was a celebration of the best elements of local music and the audiences that support these bands’ growth.
