Like a 20-Something Kid in a Liquor Store

Seeing these guys at the old timey National Theatre in Richmond was definitely a trip back in time. Not only is the venue a beautifully renovated theater, decked out in red brick and vintage wood, but the energy from the Pickups brought back youthful antics, reminiscent of great rock shows in the past.

As a tall guy over 200 lbs. it’s pretty easy to get a good spot at a GA concert, however two songs in, when frontman Brian Auger started shredding his Epiphone Sheraton, I couldn’t resit the urge to bowl through the fairly young crowd and fight my way closer to the front lines. Somehow bailing on my friends in the process. But that’s the good thing about the close-quarters of an animated rock show. You make new friends. I managed to team up with two brothers, no more than 13 or 14, who didn’t mind rocking with some crazy bearded loner twice their age. Together we elevated crowd intensity levels ten-fold. While I couldn’t convince these kids to crowd surf, “That’s too dangerous!” they told me. And there was no way they were getting me up, we did lead the crowd in one of the most fist-pumping, foot-stomping, animated scream-alongs I’ve ever been a part of. A truly fun show from one of the most exciting and lively bands out.

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Matt

Matt is one of the founding members of Merchants of Rock, and an all around good guy. He spends his days as an Art Director at The Meridian Group, a fancy schmancy group of ad wizards, and his nights as a featured writer for MOR

Latest posts by Matt (see all)

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