Momentum

The Lost Horizon is exactly what Syracuse needs – another venue bringing a variety of acts to a hungry crowd. 

I hadn’t looked up the bands before the 4:20 Scream show presented by 95X and The Saturday Night Scream, but I trusted Lost promoter Scott Dixon when he told me it would be a killer show.

Dixon, you’ve won me over.

Though the Westcott had Badfish, a Sublime Tribute Band (no doubt a hit…especially on 4/20), The Lost still brought in a solid crowd  of at least 100 to support four local bands, each with something different to offer. If venues are packing ‘em in, even on a Wednesday night, I think the message is clear: we’re jonesin’ for more music. And The Lost is helping to bring it in.

The night started off with instrumental group Ohne-ka and the Burning River. It’s always impressive when a lyric-less band can draw you in with language not communicated with words. Ohne-ka could. The group let the music eb and flow from intricate softer parts to explosive, hard rock and kept me guessing which way the music would turn. 

But it was a quick shift to devastatingly loud and powerful Engineer, whose lead singer was literally swinging from the ceiling and hanging from poles on the sides of the stage at various points in the set. Their energy and focus was pointed and cut through the crowd, entranced perhaps most by the lead singer’s crushing vocals.

The following band, Black Throat Wind, my favorite of the night, provided another switch as they set up two drum sets, three guitars, a bass and keys all on the stage. Though the drummer and lead singer switched among instruments, the entire set had massive depth. It was the kind of full-sound that made me feel like I was choking as the bass came up through my throat. That's metal.

Their mix of piano rock, double drums and energetic overall performance had the crowd moving the most of any band throughout the night. 

The final group of the showcase, Oak and Bone, performed on the side stage of the venue on a raised platform beside the booths. The crowd pushed in for the last band of the night, so much that I found myself standing right on the stage. Oak and Bone was tight with forceful drums and close-knit guitar and bass lines and riled the crowd up for one last, driving set.

The Lost is providing Syracuse with more musical alternatives in a newly renovated facility perfect for housing bands of all kinds. Within the next few weeks, everything from local to national, country to Saliva, will all be passing through the legendary venue, hopefully leaving a wake of expectation behind. Keep it up, Lost.