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"THE FESTIVAL NO ONE WANTS" REVIEW (6/11/26) | iodine rae

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5 bands, 5 genres, and 1 rager of an event under the Amsterdam Bar and Hall roof in St. Paul. You might think that a Thursday night isn’t optimal for a show like this, but that didn’t stop the pit from opening up and the kids colliding with big grins on their faces. In the Twin Cities, any day of the week will do.

The night kicked off with Minneapolis’ Hello Willson, making their St. Paul debut and filling in the time slot for THR333 who unfortunately had to drop off the bill. The impromptu nature of the performance didn’t prove to be a problem for the group, as they fit right in with the rest of the lineup and made for a quality act. Their set consisted of funky guitar pedal usage, strong bass lines, and overall casual shreddage with a dash of old school punk rock speed.

Their vocal style was especially intriguing to me—it was a sort of blend between rich and gritty, something rife with minor chords and desperate rasp. They had a lot of recognizable influences infused into their sound—a 90’s rock cadence I dug, but also moments of sharp, quick, punky beats, which I’m especially partial to. This was my very first introduction to these guys, and I was impressed with their ability to slip into the fest and totally rock it.

Nice and Blue (also from Minneapolis) delivered next, following Hello Willson up with a soothed, aurally scintillating performance that can be simply described as pretty. With melodious vocals that wavered and sliced through fun bass lines and triumphing percussion, they very much invoked the image of a grassy field on a sunny day. Between the three of them, they really know how to set the mood.

Their sound incorporated elements of shoegaze, tempering their set with quiet moments that allowed the sweetness of the frontman’s voice to shine through. I feel compelled to mention, on their last song of the night, the bassist (wielding a 6 STRING BASS, BY THE WAY—I HAD TO COUNT) used a pedal that made sounds comparable to whale calls—I just thought that was neat. These guys were another late addition to the fest—filling Honeygrl’s timeslot but delivering absolutely. While I was bummed to miss out on a Honeygrl set, Nice and Blue were truly excellent.

Next up were Station Zero (from, you’ll never guess… also Minneapolis) and this bunch brought the house down. More shoegaze vibes followed emotionally charged vocals accompanied by raw screams that were paired together with perfection. The drums were kick heavy, pumping up the energy in a way that I found really unique and fresh. Generally speaking, the band had a fun energy about them, their chemistry as clear cut as it could be. Their collective musicality was tuned in and solid.

This was when the crowd really started moving—the dancing bug was officially got. It was hard not to at least catch the bounce, even with my chronically fatigued ass, I was positively grooving. Station Zero offered something exciting and different, not your average emo rock band by any stretch of the imagination. They’ve got a really cool sound and feel going on, and I hope to catch them again very soon!

blimey

Blimey (Minneapolis… lol) was the second to last act, and they’re one of those bands that I’ve definitely heard the name of more than once before but wasn’t familiar with. Anyway, what a bundle of joy these guys were! Their set was so fun and whimsical, so many big smiles on their faces. You could tell that they were having a good time, and that absolutely reflected back onto the audience. Once again, the pit broke out and we danced to our hearts content.

Their basslines were bouncy, their guitars were glossy, and their vocals were, surprisingly, very chill. I thought they balanced the two levels of energy well, avoiding something that could have been potentially jarring, and I couldn’t help myself but to smile along. Blimey’s got this happy-go-lucky demeanor that’s certain to cheer anybody up. I had a lot of fun with their set.

Finally, Last Minute Dream from Moorhead took the stage. This is my second time seeing them (certainly not the last), and I’m both unsurprised and delighted to report that they did not disappoint. They were the perfect way to end the night—explosive and volatile, and furiously passionate. They’ve got a punky, 90’s type of sound going on that’s nostalgic to me, reminiscent of the music I love, and no doubt the stuff that they love, too.

Riotgrrrl-isms overscore driving guitars and plucky, fun basswork. All of this doesn’t even begin to mention their stage presence, which was so lively and demanding of your attention. Their punk attitude hit the crowd with a force that was to be reckoned with, inspiring the pit to mosh and jive. LMD ended the night with a definitive BANG! They’ve got a lot of attitude, and impeccable vibes. Catch them next time they’re in the cities, they have a lot to offer.

I had a blast, and I know I'm not alone in saying that I, for one, certainly did want this festival.

(Published 6-17-26)