LIVE REVIEW: Lowboy, Bronco, Sheebie and the Lovemakers, Daylight Savings @ The Mousetrap

WORDS and photos by AIDEEN GABBAI

It was Hello Kitty night at the Mousetrap, a staple venue in the Madison DIY scene. People showed up prepared with cat ear headbands, Dan and Phil era whiskers and Hello Kitty merch, ready to have a good time.

The Mousetrap has a new location this year in an old church near James Madison Park. The stage is set up behind a huge arched decorative window and the high ceilings yield amazing acoustics. Sacrilegious? Maybe. Cool? Absolutely. Flags are hung up all along the walls, ranging from the nonbinary pride flag to a photo of a mouse with an alarmed expression and “RATZ” written in the Bratz font.

Lowboy kicked off the night strong, leading a lineup of alt-rock bands. They played a host of rock and jazz fusion songs that lifted the crowd and got them energized for the rest of the bands. Lowboy was followed by Bronco, whose set was simultaneously rocking and moody. Towards the end of their set, they launched into a slow ballad, and people in the crowd raised their phone flashlights to sway with the music.

(Bronco)

Sheebie and the Lovemakers had a more upbeat mood, and for their second song, they played an awesome cover of “Brazil” by Declan McKenna.

(Sheebie and the Lovemakers)

Daylight Savings was the final act of the night, playing their last ever set, saying, “It’s our last night as a group, but not our last night as friends.” Red and blue lights flashed from the window and the band joked that they “might be playing on a time limit.” Two cop cars had parked outside, but Daylight Savings managed to finish their final set without a hitch and the cop cars pulled off into the night, probably moved by how good of a show it was.

The night was everything the Mousetrap specializes in: cool, fun, and intimate. The music was part of the fun, but so was getting to talk to new people as the next band set up their gear, and the overall energy and joy that everyone brought to the performances, the bands and crowd alike.

(Daylight Savings)