A Night of Feel Good Rock with Couch Porch
Photo by Sofia Lisena
Although I love my hardcore and emo shows, sometimes your girl needs a break. So when I got a message from the New York rock band Porch Couch about a Sunday evening show at the Mercury Lounge, I knew I needed to go. I was so excited to have the chance to see an easy rock show, and although I do love the thrill, I didn’t have to worry about getting punched in the face!
Flyer for the show.
Porch Couch, based in Ithaca, is a band made up of brothers Nick Santamarina on guitar and vocals and Vin E Santamarina on drums, along with Joel Teitelbaum on bass. They also had their friend Quory Soluri on keys that night. The band describes themselves as “Chill enough to sink into a couch and vibe, lively enough to make you bop on your porch,” a very accurate descriptor of their chill, indie, classic-inspired rock sound. Along with the other acts, Angelica Gianna and Dylan Taganas and the Suitepaler, the night was full of laughs, catching up, and great music.
On the day of the show, August 16th, I brought my dear friend Karen. The Mercury Lounge isn’t our favorite venue, but it’s always a great time with the right people! We entered and were greeted by Angelica Gianna, who thanked us for coming and gave us a sticker to stream her first single, “You Know” (which is a great single, by the way). Then we met our friend Dylan Taganas. We chatted with him and other photographers and scene documenters, all excited about the show.
Photo by Sofia Lisena
The first act of the night was Angelica Gianna, a pop-rock artist who took the audience by surprise! She is incredibly talented; her vocals alone are beautiful. Angelica was energetic and expressive. You could tell she was having so much fun on stage with her band, which is always great to see. I love seeing the chemistry between performers. Each band member brought their own energy to the performance, especially the guitarist, who went all out, jumping and dancing along to the music. Her songs were catchy and made you want to dance. Angelica is clearly inspired by other women pop-rock artists of the late 70s and early 80s, like Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. This set was a great opener to the night ahead.
Photo by Sofia Lisena
Photo by Sofia Lisena
Sometimes, middle acts can struggle and create a lull between performances, causing audiences to disengage. However, Dylan Taganas and the Suitepaler kept the energy high, even raising it a few notches, getting more people comfortable dancing and having a good time. I’ve seen Dylan and the band a couple of times, and it never gets old. They always put on an amazing show. His sound is inspired by classic rock from the 70s and even some 90s rock, but it has a new-age feel that doesn’t sound like a cover band. Dylan and the band are explosive, capturing the audience's attention from the first song. Dylan also interacts with the audience, getting them to sing along and sharing stories behind the songs. It’s thrilling, infectious rock that’ll be stuck in your head for days. He closed the set by bringing out a gong, which is perfect for the glam-rock sound and feel he's going for and a great closer.
Photo by Sofia Lisena
Photo by Sofia Lisena
Photo by Sofia Lisena
Last but not least, Porch Couch followed. Before they started to play, I heard multiple audience members raving about the band. They did not disappoint! Again, their sound is calming, the type of indie rock that makes you want to sit on a porch (haha), kick back, open a beer, and talk all night with the homies. It’s upbeat and optimistic, a stark contrast to the world outside, making the room at the Mercury Lounge that night feel like a tiny escape. Their sound is also heavily inspired by classic rock and even a little country, creating a thread of similar sounds throughout the night and into their final form. Each band member had fun playing together and interacting with the crowd. Their music is also super rhythmic, with the bass adding a bit of funk and encouraging people to dance. It was truly a joyful experience, and I would love to see them again! And you can! You can catch this exact lineup in New Jersey at the Asbury Park Brewery on September 25th for FREE! I truly suggest you do; these guys are amazing, and you will have a super fun night.
Photo by Sofia Lisena
Photo by Sofia Lisena
We ended the night by getting somewhat kicked out of the Mercury Lounge because they had another show right after this one, but I had a great time meeting new people and catching up with old friends for the sake of music. It truly felt nice to have a chill, relaxed vibe at a show. Anyways, back to the hardcore and emo shit.
You can find Angelica Gianna and Dylan Taganas on Instagram at @itsangelicagianna and @dylantaganas. You can find Porch Couch online at @porchcouchband, and their music and upcoming performances here!
Until next time :)
