Nashville - For those of you who have never been to Rocketown in Nashville, TN, let me give you a little tidbit of information: there are two buildings. That will save you from looking like an out-of-town moron, which is exactly how I came across as I wandered around the main building for ten minutes unsure of why it looked dead until I noticed a white building across the street. This one looked more lively (at least there were people there) and, lo and behold, it, too, said ‘Rocketown’ across the front. The White Building portion of Rocketown is an intimate setting – large enough floor for a standing room capacity of 500 while also allowing for every single person to have a great view of the performers.

It was here that I set up my things beside the sound booth and waited for Mike Mains & the Branches to take the stage. Clad in formal wear (suits, ties, a dress) this Michigan-based band made up of Mike Mains (vocals/guitar), Shannon Mains (keyboard), and Nathan Wethy (bass) marched onto the stage with such proper decorum that I thought, “How on earth can this be a rock and roll band?”

Let there be no mistake: Mike Mains & the Branches most certainly do rock out. The leader of the group, Mike, has such an abundance of energy that the band name became literal as everyone in the room fed off of his vivacity. This man leapt around as if he was Spiderman and yet retained enough breath to sing effortlessly. It was a walking contradiction: prim and proper in photographs and dress, but absolute animals on stage.

Perhaps another contribution to the band’s image was the way in which the music was performed. Infectious tunes with easily understood lyrics that the audience could sing along to would pour out of the speakers for roughly three to four minutes before suddenly cutting off. Half of the time the audience seemed unsure as to if the song had actually come to an end or if there was going to be a big finish: after a few seconds of hesitation clapping and cheers would ring out, a clear sign that the crowd was pleased with what they had heard despite the abrupt conclusions. The swift discontinuations of these tunes were perhaps the band paying homage to the image they were trying to convey: put together, easily understood, nicely progressing songs that seem to have no conceptual ending.

The most interesting part of the show, unusually enough, was the finale. As the band wrapped up the last of its intoxicating, fun tunes, it characteristically came to a shockingly abrupt halt. The lights went out; instruments were laid aside, and the band marched off stage without so much as a thank you. I have never seen a more confused audience; a few random hopefuls called out for one more song while people hesitatingly began to clap, realizing that the show was, unfortunately, over. I was somewhat bewildered and even had to ask the sound engineer if the set was over.

While it was an unconventional finish to an overall beautifully done show, I will say that it certainly cemented this particular band in my mind as being unique. Mike Mains & the Branches never lost the crowd’s attention from the moment the first note was played, hence the clear disappointment from attendees at the realization that the show was over. My only complaint, I wish it had gone on longer

Mike Mains & the Branches are currently touring to promote their recently released album Calm Down, Everything is Fine and they are currently lined up to play at SXSW in Austin, Texas.