If someone ever needs justification of the DIY ethic, they would do themselves good to check out a show at the new Charm City Art Space (www.ccspace.org) in Baltimore. After the MD/DC/VA area suffered a huge loss with the shutdown of St. Andrew’s Church in College Park and several other such venues, the Baltimore area had been sorely lacking a venue that truly belonged to the community. Hopefully, the CC Space will flourish and continue to host shows half as good as this one.

Baltimore’s own FAILURE DESIGN opened the show in excellent fashion. This was my first experience with these guys, and judging by their set, it will certainly not be the last. Fronted by a vocalist with an in your face (literally!) stage presence and a ridiculously strong set of pipes, The FAILURE DESIGN do a unique take on the whole blood-curdling-scream-over-sugary-sweet-melodies thing that is so huge these days. Although the acoustics in a steaming basement are far from ideal, I was able to pick up the intriguing bass lines that bore a strong PRIMUS influence. What really struck me about this band was their vocalist, who reminded me very much of footage I’ve seen of Dennis from the late, great Refused. Oozing confidence, he shook and thrashed about the crowd, howling like a mad man. At one point, the mic became disconnected, but looking around it seemed nobody else noticed, as the lyrics were simply screamed louder to compensate. I look forward to hearing more from these guys, if they ever tour in your area, they come with my stamp of approval.

Next up was the surprise of the night for me – IN PIECES. Quite simply, this five piece from Connecticut stole the show. Not only did they manage to sound enormous in such an unforgiving environment, they were all over the place. The two guitarists seemd to paint aural landscapes over top of some drumming that really set the tone for the set. While many drummers seem to try to steal the show, the drummer knew his place and allowed his silence to have just as much effect as his displays of break neck speed and intricate timing changes. Don’t let this fool you though, IN PIECES knows how to rock as well, and if the room would have been any bigger, I have a feeling the mosh would have been spread far and wide. The build up to some of the heavier bits could send even a nursing home into a frenzy. The vocals varied again from melodic singing to screams not unlike TAKING BACK SUNDAY, a band I found myself comparing IN PIECES to often. The highlight of their set was the first track from their full length “”Learning to Accept Silence”" on Escape Artist Records, “”Anchor.”" Everything seemed to click on this song and a magical vibe was flowing through the room as everyone witnessed this band blossoming from a good to a great band right before their eyes. If their performance is any indication, this will hardly be all we hear from them, though it may be the last time we see them without hundreds of people singing along. Expect big things from these guys.

Recently added to the EVR roster, TIME IN MALTA had the difficult task of following up an amazing set from IN PIECES. The first thing I took note of during their set was how loud they were. These guys undoubtedly went to 11, maybe even then some! It was the first time in three years that TIME IN MALTA had visited the east coast, and they certainly gave it their all. Their bass player nearly sent the headstock of his bass into me and others in the crowd on multiple occasions, while the rest of the band moved about with a sense of urgency

that was a joy to watch. Unfortunately, the vocals fell victim to the room and were largely inaudible for the vast majority of the set. While their set seemed to blend together a bit, this wasn’t a huge problem as it was an excellent blend of melody and aggresiveness that set the stage well for the closing acts.

The buzz about KNIVES OUT seems to be growing everyday, but frankly I’m just not seeing the merit for it after their performance at this show. The music itself was typical hardcore and actually played pretty well. However, it seemed to me that the band was simply going through the motions on this night. The crowd seemd to feel the same way, with half the room filing out in one big posse while the band prepared for the next song. KNIVES OUT handled this in humorous fashion sending the next song to “”the kids who just left.”" For a minute, this seemed to inspire the band to give just a little more, but seemingly in an instant, their set was over and the band had stormed outside, which didn’t sit too well with me. While it may be easier to be disgruntled with a tough crowd, it is far more rewarding to up the ante and win them over. Granted, their set could easily have stood out at many other shows, but they were surrounded by some truly great acts here that could easily make an amazing act seem a tad lackluster. Perhaps if KNIVES OUT are willing to give the Baltimore kids another chance, they can stand out a little more. I doubt I’d pass up the opportunity to see them try.

I’ve always wondered how metalcore acts like CURL UP AND DIE manage to stay on the road with all the wear and tear on their throats. I think I figured out the answer at this show – CUAD keep it short and sweet. Playing stuff off their Revelation debut, “”Unfortunately We’re Not Robots,”" I don’t think these guys eclipsed the twenty minute mark in their set. This didn’t stop them from nearly destroying the foundation of the building though. I officially had gotten my money’s worth when they ripped into “”Ted Nugent Goes AOL.”" Let me tell you, if there ever was a soundtrack to breaking bones, it would be written by these guys, and that song would be on it. I just wish that the

crowd had been more into their performance, but I suppose this is forgivable as this was CUAD’s first visit to Charm City. The only thing I could hope to ask from the band themselves would be another twenty minutes, as they were most excellent.

Any of these bands could probably headline a show and draw a solid crowd. To manage to get them all in one sitting was almost too much to stomach, but not in a nauseating way, more like on Thanksgiving or at an all you can eat pizza joint. To top it off, it took place at a fantastic new venue that isn’t concerned with anything but the music. Good people, good bands, good venue, great show!