Luna Pier and Never Ending Fall Live @ The Blind Pig
by Kenzie Gay
Opening acts. An often overlooked, but critical aspect of every concert. They bring the heat and lure the crowd in, preparing them for the headliners to come: It is a Thursday night in the city of Ann Arbor, just a half hour from Detroit. The Michigan air is crisp with early remnants of fall afoot and the winding line outside of The Blind Pig runs all the way down South 1st Street, filled with eager fans. After a day of rambunctious classes ranging from World History to Shakespeare, this gig is just what I need. I’ve driven two hours east while blasting any and all music to get myself pumped for the night ahead.
The Blind Pig, arguably my favorite concert venue in all of Michigan, has that typical ambiance of mystery. Maybe it’s the intimacy of the floor crowd, maybe it’s the disco ball hanging from the ceiling, maybe it's the wall of mirrors to the right. Nobody can be too sure. Whatever it may be, it disorients the crowd in a way that they are unsuspecting to whatever may occur on that slightly elevated stage. And without a doubt, every time something magical happens.
At 8:00 P.M. on the dot, Luna Pier takes the stage. Named after the lovely Michigan city, Luna Pier is an indie band based in the Detroit/Ann Arbor area made up of Dexter Kaufmann, Joey Shuster, Dylan Amaro, Evan Holifield, and Alex Calderwood. The five piece was an enlightening performance for both me and everyone else; they truly gave it their all for the hometown show and the crowd welcomed them with open arms, especially once they covered Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’. Dexter Kaufmann (guitar, vox) in particular really seemed to gather all attention with his take on the classic and that cowboy hat - You can’t just ignore it.
When Luna Pier got off stage, I found myself saddened, instantly resorting to Spotify to find this new band and all they had to offer. I didn’t have much time to truly envelop myself into the world of Luna Pier because soon enough, the second and final opener got on.
Never Ending Fall, a soul group of young musicians, was definitely a wild card, and a fantastic one at that. Composed of Jack Miller (guitar), Tommy StClair (drums), Conrad Boyd (guitar,keyboards), Pearce Eisenhardt (guitar), and Johnny Hohman (bass), Never Ending Fall checked every box and then some. The set itself was a rollercoaster, shifting from hard rock - esque songs to slower, intimate pieces within a matter of minutes but nobody minded in the slightest. Bassist Johnny Hohman truly stole the show (not something you typically see from bassists in a live setting such as this) with his mesmerizing groove and sly commentary; not to mention the subtle charisma he held throughout the entire performance. Each member of Never Ending Fall was a breath of fresh air and it’s truly a wonder how I didn’t even know they were more than the “Will It Kirkland?” guys all over my Tiktok feed.
Both Luna Pier and Never Ending Fall are bound to bloom as musicians with time and I for one, can’t wait to brag that I saw them BEFORE they became mainstream. Never Ending Fall has been on the road with Quarters of Change since mid September and after tour, who knows what’s in store for them? Luna Pier’s next steps also appear to be a mystery, but some (me) are hoping they’ll play some more shows around Michigan (the west side, perhaps?).
