Vanna
Vans Warped Tour
Mansfield, MA
July 13, 2016

I stumbled upon this next band. I didn’t feel like fighting the crowds, so I waited by the Monster Energy South stage for whatever band was starting in 15 minutes.  I watched Ice Kills Nine finish their set on the Monster Energy North stage, and as soon as they were done, a tattooed rockstar ran on stage.  He was waving his band’s flag in the air, while the crowd screamed in excitement.

Apparently this was Davey Muise, the lead singer of Vanna.  I didn’t know what to expect from this band, but for some reason, I thought it would be a female fronted band.  Instead what appeared in front of me was a group of guys that may have just walked off the Sons of Anarchy set.

The band was formed in 2004 in the Boston area by the guitarist Nicholas Lambert.  Band members and record labels have changed in the 12 years they have been together. Right now they are signed to Pure Noise Records, and the current line up includes Nicholas, Joel Pastuszak, Shawn Marquis, Seamus Menihane and Davey Muise.

Davey Muise made a lot of references throughout his performance of the band being so happy to be in the area, and how he understood what it was like to be us. Most bands say generic things to the crowds. Things from “this is our favorite city” to “you guys are the loudest band” and the ever more generic chants of swear words.  Davey seemed to be honest, and caring.

As I watched his performance, and the way he interacted with the crowd, it was almost mesmerizing. His voice isn’t particularly good. It isn’t suppose to be.  It’s loud and abrasive. He is screaming his point across, to snap you into paying attention. The riffs are good, the drums are loud.  It’s aggressive hardcore music. It’s music to listen to, to get your frustrations out, to let it all go.

Davey is heavily involved with a non-profit organization called Hope For The Day. Their mission is to help youth manage depression and suicide issues through music and the arts.  He is a former school teacher and is still doing what he can to teach the youth of America.  Davey uses his own setbacks in his personal life to help others learn that they can overcome.  

They were not the perfect band, but they were perfect for this crowd.  They gave their all and then some. They connected with the crowd. They showed a crowd full of young people, faced with growing up in a world of Hillary Vs. Trump to believe in themselves and find hope for a better tomorrow.