RARITY “LOWER FEELING” ALBUM RELEASE SHOW
Rarity is a punk/post-hardcore band from Hamilton, Ontario that officially formed in 2014 after a couple name changes. The band just finished supporting Trophy Eyes’ headline USA Tour and released their third full length studio album “Lower Feeling” on June 7, 2024 via New Damage Records.
Six singles were released before the album, along with a surprise free album release show at Dine Alone Records Store less than two weeks before the album’s release. In total, there were about 150 people who attended the event.
Walking into the store, I was immediately greeted by the band’s latest album “Lower Feeling” being displayed on all the walls and on every record shelf. You were not able to look at a different record without seeing Rarity’s latest effort.
Along with being able to buy the latest record from Rarity, Dine Alone Records also did a limited edition screen printed lithograph cover for the vinyl record that was exclusive to the record release show and limited to just 25 copies. I decided to pick one up myself to commemorate attending the event.
Everyone who attended the event was friendly and chatted with each other. This felt like a large friends and family event rather than a release party. Dine Alone Records supplied two complimentary beverages for all the attendees as well.
The stage was located in the back end of the shop and the set design immediately reminded me of an intimate punk basement show. A hardcore punk band named Bad Bet, also from Hamilton, Ontario with only six songs in their current catalog, started the show off in high energy fashion.
Even though the local band is fairly new to the scene, that did not stop the crowd from starting to mosh and hardcore dance in the small room. The band went through their entire catalog as well as playing an unreleased song.
Rarity came out swinging with two singles from their latest album, “Brain Dance” and “OKAY.” The room seemed a little more packed than it did for the opener, Bad Bet. The band’s frontman, Loeden Ray Learn, demanded movement from the crowd the entire show except when he went unplugged for the band’s ballad “Worn Down.” Learn gave an emotional performance during the song and intertwined the single “who gives a fuck?” with the song.
After the acoustic ballad, the band went back into another new song, “Kiss!,” and then ended with the songs “Exhale” and “Passenger” from their debut album.
Learn stated during the show that his goal was to increase the 40% of movement from the beginning of the show to 60% by the end of the show. I would say the crowd exceeded the goal during the last two songs of the show.
The band ended the show calling for a “wall of death” from the crowd, while the band did an extended breakdown. It was an ending to remember from the band’s 12 song set.
When the show ended, the hardcore dancers and moshers hugged while apologizing for possibly hurting one another. A lot of laughs were shared.
The band spent the rest of the time hanging out and talking with all of the attendees in the Dine Alone Records shop. It was truly a celebration for Rarity’s third full-length record.
I listened to Rarity’s debut album “I Couldn’t Be Weaker” quite a bit while I attended university. I went to many basement/small shows during that period of my life and this record release show brought back those good memories for me. Even though my time in university was not the best, whenever I went to one of these types of shows, I knew I was not alone.
These intimate concerts show people that everyone is going through something yet everyone can still get together and celebrate an album and a band. To me, that is why a band like Rarity and record labels such as Dine Alone and New Damage Records are important. They show us through music that we are not alone and other people feel the way they do. They show people, including myself, that we are not alone in this world.