Blog - 09/21/2026 | One Year of Alleycats DIY @ Love it Vegan Torrington, CT 09/19/2026

One year of AlleyCats

I wasn't here for all of it, but it has been a year since the local DIY collective Alleycats has been operating in Connecticut. Everyone here was celebrating, this time I managed to get the time off for the full show. I have been anticipating this show for a couple weeks and was very excited to see all these bands play. This show had the following bands on the bill, Still Warm, a local hardcore band, Milk, they have a keytar and an amazingly weird vibe, Porcelain, they had 3 guitarist and a giant wall of sound, Siren Siren, this band had a mix of things going on, was a lot of fun to listen to, then lastly we had My Body Was Found in a Hollow Tree. I believe they do metalcore and heard the vocalist has a cutting voice.

If you read the last KOYO show blog, you should know what to expect.

Pre-Show

I arrived a bit early this time, probably 10 minutes early. I walked through the door feeling a bit nervous and awkward as usual; I brought a food donation and the $10 for the door and did the exchange. With the Polaroid camera and the loads of film in a bag around my shoulder I went ahead and was greeted by a familiar face. At the first Alleycats show I attended I befriended a photographer involved in the collective. We will just call him Brink. We caught up and I attempted some small talk, mostly nerdy stuff, I excitedly talked about the photos I wanted to take and eventually found myself attempting to help a bit set up the PA speakers.

All I really did was help hold it up with another guy, who would be in one of the bands on the set, while Brink tightened the stand down. Eventually I found myself chatting with someone else who was also taking film photos, we nerded out a little bit on film, we will call her Fuji. Because eventually the conversation shifted to how she swapped to a Fujifilm Instax from Polaroid because the film was a lot cheaper and more consistent. She didn't really seem to be too interested in my more experimental film techniques such as film destruction and such, but Fuji was cool to talk to. I asked the Keytarist what setup she was using, if it was a MIDI controller or if it had an onboard synth. The answer it was a MIDI controller, specifically an Alesis Vortex. The Keytarist was for the band Milk. I recall after while standing around awkwardly until the first band came on stage, Still Warm. I recall asking about the Epiphone bass the bassist was using. I didn't know at the time, and neither did he. But after some research I did later, it was a Wanderlust Green Metallic Epiphone Embassy.

Still Warm

My only regret with the Still Warm set is I only took 2 photos, I was having trouble getting the camera angles I wanted and it was a very high energy Hardcore set. For reasons that will be explained later, the band got one of the photos, so you will only see one photo here. But anyways, I recall awkwardly shifting in the front row trying to find angles to fit the whole band in the photo. This would be a problem that would persist during the night, making me really want to get a Instax Wide so I can have it for whole band shots. The Polaroid is great for focused or more experimental shots, but the moment you try to fit multiple band members or the whole band in a frame it fails. Maybe Fuji is on to something here...

Of course aside from taking photos I was there for the music, so lets go over that. I liked all the vocalist that played this night, but easily the Still Warm vocalist was one of the most energetic vocalist of them all. He wasn't screeching or anything, obviously it was in style with the genre. But you can see him moving around and his face contourting as the vocals come out, he was very much into the performance. In fact, I've noticed the hardcore adjacent vocalist in the scene tend to command the most aggressive energy overall. Of course the instrumental was classic hardcore, I recall watching the bassist dance on the fretboard, the guitarist was playing an Epiphone SG Special or a Tribute, not sure which one as I didn't ask. The drummer had a lovely snare crack texture I really appreciated, a very consistent drumming style that focused on rhythmic consistency that also kept interest with the occassional deviation. Though, after awhile, I was just living in the sound. At this point I gave up on photos as I wasn't sure how to move around the permiter of the stage for photos at this point in the night. And though I shoulda mentioned this at the start of this section, someone forgot to hit the lights for this set for whatever reason. It did however birth a very gritty blurry photo of the band I absolutely love.

Still Warm played a fantastic set, and it was fast and hard. When it comes to hardcore what else is there to look for, you kind of just had to be there and experience your own heart pump to the noise.

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At the end of every set there's always a transition, some people go outside for a few and maybe puff a smoke and get some fresh air. The band changes over, during this time I showed Brink the photo's I took and asked how to get around for photos. He mentioned showing the camera and people usually move out the way, sure enough this simple trick would absolutely change my ability to take the photos I needed. I tried to show Fuji, she seemed to be proccupied. I don't seem to recall exactly what I did during the transition, obviously I prepped the camera for the next set. But I probably awkwardly stood around, paced, and attempted to engage in small talk. But eventually the next band would be ready for their set and this time the lights would come off, signaling me to experience the moment and document it.

Milk

I don't want to say I play favorites, but I can't lie, I am playing favorites here. I have a love for the weird when it comes to music, and when you bring a Keytar on stage with a bunch of dissonant synth textures and a guitarist and basist melting the low end into one obscene entity. How can I not, like even the vocalist had this style that was unhinged in the best ways possible. The drummer I believe was a fill in, the drummer for Still Warm helped them due the drummer not being able to make it. In fact, I think they are actively looking for a drummer at the time of writing. I took a lot of photos, I used the entire black and white I-Film pack I had for this band specifically. It just worked for their style, originally I was gonna split that pack between two bands, but it never worked out that way in the heat of the moment.

Though outwardly I was a lot more confident this time around, internally, I wanted to die. My nerves were on fire when it came to moving around people, and I felt really anxious, but I pushed through it. I experimented with different camera angles, from one end of the front row to the other, even in the back of the band. I did capture a few of my best photos so far I think, but lets focus on the music. The music was a stimulating bout of raw, pained like screaming of the lyrics. It's very difficult to accurately describe, but backed by the dissonance and steadfast drumming it sounded like an unstopable dying machine. I am unaware if the music is already a genre of somekind, but that hardly matters, it's weird, fresh to me, and I love it.

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It's worth noting the one who runs the PA is also the bassist for Milk and she has a sick Schecter Bass, I did ask the Keytarist what program was used for the MIDI on the Keytar. Unfortunately I forgot, I need to start bringing a damn notebook to these events if im gonna ask questions. Originally I was gonna keep all my photos I took, but at the end of the set I went to go show the guitarist a photo I took and he kinda took it and said thank you with genuine enthusiasm. I didn't exactly plan to give any away, but it was an idea that crossed my mind, so I had no problem with it. I then went and gave as many photos to the band as I can spare. I don't remember when, but sometime later between a set, I did give one of the members of Still Warm a photo. Since there was only two, I let him choose. Giving photos to the band would become a reoccuring pattern throughout the night.

At some point Brink was helping me to break out of my extremely introverted and anxiety riddled shell, so he had me make it a goal to exchange two Instagrams. I agreed, and at some point word got around about my photos and I kinda got the oh shit, all eyes are on me now feeling. Whether that was actually the case, I don't really know, the anxiety was speaking then. I didn't really do much between the set here, at least nothing memorable enough for me to remember. But eventually the lights would dim again, and the next band would setup.

Porcelain

Porcelain spoke another one of my languages, pure wall of noise, emo and shoegaze is always an interesting sonic world combo to lose yourself in. But considering it was the PA girls birthday as well, she got a fun happy birthday song before the set. It genuinely brought a smile to my face, but I also felt bad, it looked like she wanted to die on the booth with the PA mixer. Hands buried in her face and all, but it was all sweet nonetheless. I was ready to take photos when it all unexpectedly happened and I just, rolled with the punches. When they did start playing, I took a double exposure photo with the drummer and other band members that came out nice. But as I do in between photos usually, I was intently watching how each band member plays their instrument with an unwavering focus.

How the drummer bangs the sticks on the kit, listening and watching the footwork when applicable. How the bassist frets and plucks their strings, how the guitarist plays their guitars, maybe the rigs their using. The emotion pouring out of the vocalist, I believe this time around the vocalist also played bass. The whole band was a monstrous concoction of guitars, this band had three guitarist, I found it hard to hear their lyrics at times. I failed to bring any ear protection and was too stubborn to ask, but I think it was more of a venue limitation than anything. If I recall correctly they tried to correct the volume, but any louder and the mic just went microphonic. Do note, I could be misremembering which set this occured on, but looking at the photos I believe it was on Porcelain's set that this occurred on. I think at some point though it leveled out and the vocals got nicely buried into its own pocket in the mix, it might have been one of the guitarist turning down the amp or something. I've seen multiple bands mess with their rigs midset, but anyhow, something happened.

I don't really have a lot to say about the music, I was kinda in ecstasy getting swallowed by the wall of guitars and just vibing. In a small intimate venue setting like this, I find it hard to not loose myself in the music. And when you got as dense of a wall of sound as what this band was putting on, it was even harder than the others. I remember all the band members really being into it, there was a lot of them just feeling the music as they played. Obviously I took more photos and kinda got in and out of that vibe, until suddenly the set was over.

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I went to just about every band member, or every band member, I don't really remember. I then handed them a photo, I do recall everytime I do this they got really excited about it and word got around more. Eventually a couple people walked up to me and complimented my photos, I was very bashful though. I never was a fan of being in the spotlight, ironic considering I create music as well, but it's true. I believe Brink helped me track down band members around this time to hand out the photos to them. Outside of that, it was the usual awkwardness and waiting for the next set. Then the lights were murderered again and the next band was ready after a short time.

Siren Siren

Siren Siren was a band I felt on a spiritual level, more on that later. The guitarist was actually one of the ones helping set up the PA at the beginning, I remember him being very chill. He also played a sick SG, you always got to appreciate an SG and you can quote me on this. The bassist also brought out a Stingray, another lovely guitar to appreciate. The last guitarist had a telecaster, I recall seeing a Dr. Robotnik sticker on the body which was unexpected. But enough gear talk, how did they sound?

Well, I'm gonna be honest. I don't remember the exact sonic details because something else was more memorable to me, I recall the sheer vulnerability on stage from the vocalist. She spoke before a song on her set and it was something that stuck with me and was kind of relatable, and for the entirety of that set when I was listening that vulnerability was all I heard. The music at that point internally became an engine and I recall moving around the stage to get a few more photos, but that feeling lingered up until the lights turned back on.

Even when the guitarist took over and played a cover of another local bands song, that feeling lingered a bit. And for anyone who needs to know, it was "Taking a Xanax to Space Mountain by Brownie Points". Go check it out by the way, it's a great fucking song! I really have no idea what happened, but that really was a strange moment I cannot explain well. Maybe someone else reading has felt this before? But sure enough the lights would eventually kick back on for the final band changeover.

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I went to the stage and distributed the photos to the band, and kept a few as usual. Eventually Brink asked if I added anyone, I don't think at this point I did so he asked me if I asked the other photographer who was talking to me. I thought he meant Fuji at first, but he said the other one, the gears turned in my head and I knew who he was talking about and ran outside to find her. Eventually I found her and we exchanged Instagrams, I don't remember if it was this conversation or the one during the last set change over. I said it was my first time taking band photos like this, then she said it was really good and that I should keep doing it.

After I went back inside, I got curious about the merch stand and wanted to buy something from Siren Siren, I believe them and My Body was Found in a Hollow Tree were the only ones with a merch stand. I found out that Siren Siren was out of T-Shirts but still had bracelets via an idle conversation from Brink and someone else. Brink stated he was broke and couldn't get a bracelet, but I also knew he was collecting them from local bands. So I bought both me and him one, however as I was about to rush to find Brink and give it to him. The vocalist for Siren Siren approached me, she was a pretty sweet person and I really digged her hair style, she thanked me the photos and was complimenting my photos and stuff.

I did awkwardly thank her and tried to exit the conversation, it seemed she wanted to keep it going. However my brain was in hyperfocus mode to find Brink and give him the bracelet, and also I was dying socially speaking. It didn't even occur to me that it might have been rude, but I did think about it before the final set. Eventually I found Brink after running outside, though I don't recall if I gave it to him outside or looked for him and failed to find him outside only to find him inside and give it to him. The point is he got it, and the last set was getting ready.

My Body was Found in a Hollow Tree

I distinctly remember waiting in the back for them to start behind the band to take a photo, I also remember the guitarist playing random metal riffs during setup. At this time, I found another photographer standing near me who was taking photos too. I believe we were talking before about the photos I took so I asked for his Instagram. We made the exchange, and when they started playing, damn, it was accurate. This chicks voice cut like a knife through butter, it was so high pitched and she was writhing all over the stage as she sang, the band matching this chaos with the exact kind of backing you would expect. As usual I took a bunch of photos, but I was running out of film at this point. I believe only 5 was left and I had to make them count, so only one experimental photo was taken.

I know the band mentioned doing a couple recordings for a release soon at the beginning of their set, I also recall them doing a cover of another local band. Though this time I didn't recognize them and barely heard the name of the band. I was gonna ask when the set ended, but my social battery was officially dead dead at this point and I had just enough to run on autopilot basically. But like all sets, I felt the band out, and lived in the moment in between and after camera shots. Then the lights came on and the show was officially over.

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After it was all done, I went to the merch table and found a line waiting to buy stuff for My Body was Found in a Hollow Tree. Then I spotted someone I recognized, another person who came up to me and complimented the photos. I awkwardly looked to the ground beside me, and walked around the table to the person and asked if they were a photographer. He said no but that he was in another band Dead Name, I was interested because I have heard of them around. So I asked for an Instagram, he said personal or the bands, and I replied with both. I recieved the Instagrams and went back around to the table to purchase a black band logo T-Shirt and paid with card.

I put the shirt on over my existing shirt and walked to Brink, I don't remember exactly what it was we talked about. It ended in me pulling him into a bro hug, only to realize my hands were full. But he seemed to get it and patted me over the shoulder, we said our goodbyes and I went on my way. I recall finding the singer to Still Warm exiting the venue not too long after, I complimented him in person and fist bumped then took off home.

Photos and Last Word

This one went a lot better than the first show I documented, I defintely pushed myself a lot more this time around. My only real regret is that I didn't bring more film to take more photos, I kinda left myself with mostly the experimental photos as all the clear photos of band members went to the bands themeselves when possible. Though I easily have the most photos of Milk considering I dumped an entire Black and White I-Film cart on them. Speaking of photos here they are!

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