Opening the show is the peripherally local Stepleader. With some recent touring and a new split 7-inch with Fly Everywhere (Stepleader's side of the single is an effortlessly catchy piece of poppish punk called "Seeing Is Bereaving"), Stepleader is poised to (cough) step up to the next level.

Hand numbered and limited to 500 copies, this simple-looking split 7" joins two bands from the upper Midwest in musical matrimony. Stepleader provides the listening public with "Seeing is Bereaving", a sundry number that lives on the border between grungy pop and emo. The pristine guitar work brings to mind Number One Cup, as it weaves in between tight drums and a chorus that ties everything together. While the vocal presentation is a bit muddy, it's inoffensive, ultimately creating a cohesive glue for the instrumentation.
Fly Everywhere stakes claim on the other side with the Thrush Hermit inspired "Yeah, Cliffhanger". This raw-edged, low-key track includes a lightweight keyboard breakdown in the middle, which teeters on the brink of sugary pop stardom.

Overall, both bands show potential and have a definite musical objective in mind, but neither fully reaches its proposed idealistic musical state, leaving you clawing for something a bit more tangible. A whirl through this 7" leaves you wondering if either Fly Everywhere or Stepleader have better offerings in their respective musical arsenals.