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On Saturday, the fourth and final installment of the Flying Dog Brewery Summer Sessions was like being at a close friend’s backyard BBQ — but with a better inventory of beers, paired with the balanced flavorings of live bands. The vibe was relaxed, friendly, and at capacity– attracting an exceptional infusion of about a thousand beer and music enthusiasts.

It was the golden-hour when Colin McGuire of Frederick Playlist, whose bright, orange koozies peppered the scene, introduced local indie band Heavy Lights. The last opening remark to the audience was a reminder that guitarist and vocalist Ryan Nicholson “is really sexy.” Nicholson smiled graciously taking the microphone.

Heavy Lights is made up of the talents of Chris Morris on drums, Brian Weakly on bass, and the triple-threat Derek Salazar, on guitar, synth, and vocals. Colin Shultzaberger, a recent keys addition to their live shows, also performed with the band. This was his first local show with Heavy Lights, but Nicholson told theMUES in an email that Shultzaberger has been on tour with them since August, so we might be seeing more of him in the near future!

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Describing themselves as our very own “friendly, neighborhood band,” this Frederick-based group certainly set the tone for the event: warm, approachable, and leaving us wanting to consume more.

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The title track off their new album, Mad Minds, reaffirmed that their brand of psychedelic rock is entrancing for your ears with lyrics to make your inner-muse do a summersault in delight.

“Try, and hope to succeed.

Fight, and learn you can bleed.  

Welcome to the animal in you.

You’re no different.”

 They closed their 45-minute set with more thanks and their song “Wurli.” (Hint: Their new album Mad Minds is streaming on Spotify and via Bandcamp.)

Real Estate arrived straight from Cincinnati’s Midpoint Music Festival, doing their sound check in front of the crowd, describing their summer as “such a crazy tour.”

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Later in the show, they even admitted that usually they make a setlist for shows, but tonight they did not. “So we are maybe taking requests?” joked singer and guitarist Martin Courtney. Real Estate must have felt the responsive vibe from the crowd as they continued, “we should play at breweries all the time.”

During soundcheck bassist Alex Bleeker laughed, “just drink some Dogfish Head while you wait!” Whoops. Wrong dog…  And although everyone laughed at the slip, Bleeker apologized again when they took the stage, joking that he was drinking Flying Dog’s Gonzo brew and he was so gone-zo’d (get it?).

DSC02774The band has had a few musician changes in the past, but currently the lineup includes Matt Mondanile on guitar, Jackson Pollis on drums, and Matthew Kallman on keyboards. Both Pollis and Kallman took their shoes off and played in their socks, which only reflected the laid back atmosphere of the concert.

Before jumping into their song, “Crime,” off their new album Atlas, Courtney remarked, “this is the most industrial-park-ish venue we have every played.” And it suited their dreamy but still edging-on-darkness style.

And by the time they got to “Talking Backwards,” no one remembered they didn’t have a setlist from the start.

“And I might as well be talking backwards.

Am I making any sense to you?

And the only thing that really matters,

Is the one thing I can’t seem to do.”

We are sure to be hearing more and more of their music beyond our backyard of Frederick, Maryland, so to get this chance to see them now was a real treat. Erin Weston, Flying Dog Director of Communications, told theMUES “’Tis the season for pumpkin beers!” as the most popular beer Saturday was a cask of The Fear Imperial Pumpkin Ale with toasted coconut added, reassuring us that although we are now transitioning into autumn, the sun doesn’t have to set on great shows or exceptional seasonal flavors.

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So, if you can already pair your great taste in music with the company of friends and a favorite Ralph Steadman-adorned brew (or two), well then, you’re one lucky dog.

Article and Photos by Cristina Rayas

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