On Saturday, Jan. 6, Detroit area punks, Daisys, bid farewell to their Southeast Michigan family at the Pike Room, calling it quits for the time-being. Daisys have been performing non-stop since releasing their full length “Guest Room” in May of 2016, but on New Years Eve of 2017, they announced on their Facebook page that this show would be the last show on the east side of the state.
The band said they were putting things to rest only for the time being, leaving the door open for potential reunion. They said that “issues of mental health, various tensions and bad circumstances” were the reasons for the indefinite hiatus.
Daisys has ruled the do-it-yourself underground music scene for the last year, so a more polished venue like the Crofoot’s Pike Room would almost seem out of place, but the band and attendees quickly made it their own, chatting and playing pool before the first act went onstage.
First up were The Reckless Scamps from Clarkston. The high energy blues inspired punk rock trio quickly set the tone for the entire night, blazing through dancy guitar-solo-laden numbers, leading the crowd in the first of many sing-alongs of the night.
Energy was important to The Reckless Scamps, almost as important as sharing that energy among the crowd.
“You want to get rowdy? Let’s get rowdy,” frontman Sean Neal said to the crowd as they closed out their set.
Next up was Former Critics from Chesterfield. This act was a throwback to the early 2000s style of pop punk, with dramatic melodies, screaming guitars and powerful low end in the bass guitar. The band had very little to say outside of their music, vocalist Jessica Vaugn was getting over a cold, and her powerful vocal melodies were already taking enough of a toll on her.
Third was Pancho Villa’s Skull from Pontiac. The duo was very excited to be playing in their hometown of Pontiac.
“I love playing shows five minutes from my house,” Lead singer and guitar player Tino Ybarra said.
Pancho Villa’s Skull’s music is self described as “Mariachi Punk”, bringing a fierce political edge to the danceable, entirely acoustic musical background. Each song is written in Spanglish, not shying away from criticising American society and the government. They dedicate songs to Donald Trump, the Texas border patrol, and “the politicians and mainstream media who seek to divide us.”
In addition to the fiercely political original songs, Pancho Villa’s Skull covered the song “Un Poco Loco” from the spanish version of the new Disney film Coco, and closed with a cover of Selena’s “Como La Flor.”
Finally, after a night of powerful performances and high emotions, Daisys took to the stage to bring the night to a close and send themselves off, in front of their friends, family, and counterparts in the music scene.
From the first note front woman, Daisy Mosher, hit, the energy and intensity was palpable in the room, with the four piece band stomping and jumping around the stage, sweating and screaming as drums boomed and guitars blared. The crowd returned that energy, with the front of Pike Room’s standing area turning into a giant, swirling mosh pit as they watched what would be the last set of this band.
Beyond just a high energy, high volume band, Daisys was first and foremost a band with something to say, loudly and aggressively promoting diversity and safe spaces within the punk and indie music scenes.
Mosher would often speak to these issues in between songs, and leave the crowd activated with the messages she gave, and tonight was no different.
“I need you all to promise me something,” Mosher said to the crowd. “Keep your friends safe at shows, please.”
As the set came to a close and the band left everything they had on the Pike Room stage, on the floor in the crowd surrounded by her friends and fans, Mosher reminded everyone that the fight isn’t over yet and there is always more progress to be made.
“We might be done for now,” Mosher said as Daisys finished their last song. “But our work isn’t done. Promise you’re going to keep fighting.”
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