Third Spaces, New Music, and Secondhand Fashion were Assembled Seamlessly at Sustain the Sound

Indie bands, local vendors, and hot dogs -- the makings of a perfect Saturday night, all presented by the Boston- and- NYC- based group, Sustainable Swaps. They're dedicated to reducing the detrimental environmental impacts of fashion by hosting clothing swaps and other events where people can build community based in love of fashion and environmentalism. "Sustain the Sound" was their first soirée dedicated to musical performance, a battle of the bands that delegated voting on a winner to the audience. Four bands competed for prizes like gift cards, Boston Calling passes, and a recording studio session.

next stop: union square

In the spirit of a fashion-forward evenings, I'll run you through my fit check -- I boarded the T in (about 10 year old, fraying, scuffed) Doc Martens, Tripp pants, and a "Venice Beach" t-shirt that I procured at a small shop on the boardwalk when I visited my best friend in LA a few years ago. My roommates and I boarded an atypically unbusy green line car with a digital camera and various lip glosses in hands.

the venue

Warehouse XI was an excellent space that I'm so happy to have experienced. There was a large, main room outfitted with a small bar (that was serving a specialty Sustainable Swaps cocktail), various seating areas, and a stage. Behind the bar was a lounge area featuring vendors such as Hotside Hilldogs and various artists. There was plenty of space just in front of the stage to dip your head along with the bands or politely mosh, as well as numerous spots to tuck away and continue to enjoy the music off your feet.

The venue was chic and charmingly casual. The retro arcade game wasn't a feature of Warehouse itself but the venue next door -- still, it established an exciting sense of whimsical grunge. Sustainable Swaps elevated a baseline super cool venue with activities like a table to sign, a Polaroid photo area, and a name tag station. Of course, the audience gathered to hear some great music, but Sustainable Swaps remained committed to fostering community by cultivating an atmosphere that encouraged conversation.

the bands (and, spoiler alert, the winner)

Makeout Palace, Jammwich, Fossil, and Mood Rings competed for the crowd's favor, garnered new fans, and performed a variety of tracks (originals, covers, demos). Each set was unique but the groups cohesively presented a collage of sound. Makeout Palace's track list sounded like a string of confessions in the absolute best way. The performers banged their heads along with us and I adored their audience engagement. Their vocalist was exquisite, the band was wildly talented, and that SAXOPHONE. They kicked off the event with an excellent set. Jammwich made me feel like I was in a chase scene in a dream. Harmonious, playful, a well-composed sonic jest, and wicked good. I had a lot of fun during their set! Fossil blew me away with their drums and made me wish I were wearing leather. I was immediately nostalgic for my my middle school playlist -- their songs fit snugly in the realm of Arctic Monkeys, 5SOS, and Paramore. Mood Rings cooked up jazz that could play in a VHS store -- they were gentle, vibey, and a real hip swayer. I pictured denim skirts, checkerboard, and terracotta when they floated their sound into the space.

Organizers noted that voting was close and I can see why. Each band blew me away and infused an entirely unique energy into the space. My Spotify playlist was touched up after each performance. Ultimately, Fossil was victorious in the competition! But each band was truly magical to experience.

The battle of the bands was the main event but my friends Sam, Jillian, Maegan, and I had a lot of laughs and a lot of fun even when we weren't taking in the main stage. We ate hot dogs, drank beer, and took home mementos from the local artists vending in the lounge.

Sustainable Swaps did an outstanding job organizing the event -- a great space, a great vibe, and a great time. Tickets under $20, local bands, and hot dogs make up a Saturday night that can't be beat.

Events like Sustain the Sound are a breath of fresh air in the era of Ticket Master crashes, unhinged concert crowds, and triple...quadruple...quintuple-figure tickets ravaging the live music scene. I and many others in my sphere, physically and online, are craving genuine, affordable connection rooted in art, sustainability, and self-expression. Amidst conversations around the loneliness epidemic, the death of third spaces, and economic barriers making something as simple as meeting up with friends publicly financially inaccessible, it is critical to secure some tickets to a local music gig and start showing face in a small scene near you. You don't have to initiate the mosh pit, you just have to be there. Our economy is ripping us away from stadium shows, or environment is begging us to ditch Shein, and it's becoming evermore tempting to skip a meal with friends for Saturday nights in. Sustainable Swaps invites us to shop secondhand, get into some local tunes, and bring your friends. And meet some new ones too, while you're at it.

Follow Sustainable Swaps for inside scoops on upcoming events and check out Makeout Palace, Jammwich, Fossil, and Mood Rings to liven up your playlist.