Saturday night I decided to take a trip out to Heather’s Hideaway. It was the one-year anniversary weekend, and I had never been there before, so I thought there would be no better time to satisfy my curiosity, and I am glad that I took the chance to visit.
If you like punk or indie rock, you would love the Hideaway. The lights are dim, the bar has stickers all over it giving it that punkish atmosphere and, to beat it all, the drinks aren’t that high – for a bar that is.
Overall, I have to say the Hideaway has a great, laid-back atmosphere. I wore pink to the show (the dominant color was black) and I didn’t get even one funny look.
Six bands played at the Hideaway. The list includes such acts as Winter of Seventy 4, Disenfranchised Youth, Mossy Jaw, Fantastic Life, The Shape, Your Favorite Hero and Kudzu Wish. They were all pretty good sets, but as a critic, I have to break it down.
Winter of Seventy 4 was, in my opinion, the headliner of the show. They were great. They play mostly British pop and power rock. I am usually indifferent to that genre, but this was the best show I have seen by a local band since I have lived in Johnson City, which is coming up on about three years. If you ever hear about Winter of Seventy 4 playing somewhere local, pay the cover and go see them – it is worth it.
My second pick is definitely a tough call. I really like Kudzu Wish and Fantastic Life. I hate to say I like Fantastic Life, because when I was talking to the bands before the show, everyone was really friendly, but they acted like I was just annoying them. And all I did was ask them if I could get a CD!
Kudzu Wish and Fantastic Life were more rock than a lot of the other shows, and that is probably why I like them so much. I got a copy of both of their CDs and they were definitely worth the cash.
Kudzu Wish was a really great band. They play in Johnson City every now and then, but they are a touring band, having played for six years.
Disenfranchised Youth was an awesome band too. They were all original punk, with the exception of two covers. They played their version of “Zombie” by the Cranberries and I though that was the highlight of their set. I snagged a copy of their CD, and I would recommend it to any fan of “real” punk, not that fake high-pitched nasally sound of “new punk” like Dashboard Confessionals – not to be mean.
All the other bands, although I didn’t go on and on about them, were pretty good, too. I heard Your Favorite Hero, was better on CD than at the Hideaway, partially because the speakers were turned up too much for the size of the venue.
Mossy Jaw and the Shape were also great bands. They showed a lot of talent, and I think that I will probably hear those names again.
Like I said, Winter of Seventy 4 stole the show in my opinion, but with the great lineup of all the bands, I could not have asked for a better show for my first time visiting Heather’s Hideaway. I will go back, and you should check it out if you haven’t been there.

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