Post Animal and Ron Gallo: A Night at Blue Moose Tap House

by Georgia Sampson
Photos by Hayley Anderson

On March 4th, the University of Iowa’s Scope Production presented Ron Gallo and Post Animal to the crowd at the Blue Moose Tap House in Iowa City. The show, which originally was scheduled for January 30th, but was rescheduled due to the polar vortex that came through the Midwest. However, the groups made up for it with a performance that left the crowd dreaming of mosh pits and jams.

The doors opened and the show started around 7 pm. Post Animal took the stage first and groups of people gathered in the intimate venue to look as the group began playing their hits. The Chicago-based band showed off their psychedelic indie-rock style with tracks from their new album, “When I Think Of You In A Castle.” The crowd pushed closer with the enticing, upbeat energy of “Ralphie” and stayed close to the band for their soft rock classic, “When I Get Home,” bringing new and old fans into the sensation.

“This is it,” Dalton Allison said to the crowd in reference to the last song which would not only be their last song in Iowa City but also their last song on the tour. “We got to put our best foot forward with this one.”

The band commanded the attention of the crowd one last time with their headbanger, “Gelatin Mode.”

Ron Gallo followed the group, bringing more punk-rock energy to the venue. Gallo showcased his newest single, “Love Supreme (Work Together!), mixing talking, singing and vibrant guitar that seemed reminiscent of the Talking Heads. With every chord of his songs, Gallo engaged with the audience. He captivated the pit with songs like “Kill the Medicine Man” and “Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me,” sending the masses into a moshing frenzy.

“I started touring right after college, which was nine years ago,” Gallo said, going onto remark that this tour was the best and most developed. A lesson to those in the audience that sometimes things take time, patience, and practice to develop.

As the groups said goodbye to the crowd, members did one last crowd surf while Gallo and his band strummed along to Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash Into Me.” This final image left both the bands and the crowd with a lasting memory of the night.