words and photos by Cam Penner

The Knights of Columbus doesn’t scream hardcore music. It looks more like it should host a pancake feed with stacks of chairs and tables lining the wall.

Yet, last Thursday night at The Knights of Columbus in Kearney, six hardcore bands everywhere from North Dakota to Virginia took the stage.

The long lineup of bands included Homewrecker, Comrades, Lost Boys, Lighthouses, It Came From The Sea, and I, Apparatus. Five of these bands were on tour, and Lost Boys were about to set out on their first tour.

“It’s a nice fresh breath when we come through Kearney,” says Braden Hendershot who is the guitarist and vocalist of Bismarck, N.D., hardcore band, It Came From The Sea. “People actually come to shows here.”

There were well over 50 people in attendance.

Thursday night was a special night, too, as it was the last tour for Minot, N.D. noisecore band, I, Apparatus.

“This is our fourth to last show ever and I wouldn’t have wanted to play it anywhere but here in this area,” said I, Apparatus’ Cody Hamm (bassist) to the audience.

In the past, I, Apparatus has helped Kearney hardcore band, Lighthouses with setting up tours and booking shows. Lighthouses’ guitarist Nathan Richardson said the band would miss the help.

During one of I, Apparatus’ last songs, there was a dog pile around the mic that included members from Lighthouses, Lost Boys, and It Came From The Sea. There was more audience participation during It Came From The Sea’s set when guitarist Dennis Mikula of I, Apparatus added to Zach Mullholland’s guitar parts by holding low notes for him.

Check out the photos from the night below.

Cam Penner is a Hear Nebraska intern. He is very excited to take pictures at Warped Tour Tuesday. Reach him at camp@hearnebraska.org.