Post. rock festival coming to The Auricle in Canton with spin-off event featuring Frayle

CANTON − Post-rock is emotionally intense with long songs often absent vocals.

But for a lifelong music lover such as Matt Hisrich, co-owner of Quonset Hut in Canton, the musical genre remains difficult to describe and nail down more specifically.

After pausing and laughing, he gave it a shot: "Broadly, it is rock music that is often pretty heavy guitar and drum forward, but it tends to not be radio friendly. It's going to be longer songs, sort of atmospheric ... and building toward crescendoes; it requires a little more patience than a top-of-the-pops kind of thing.

"I think post-rock is used as a catchall for a pretty broad range of groups," Hisrich added.

While post-rock isn't mainstream, the subgenre has a dedicated following of fans, he noted. But there's not always ample opportunity to see post-rock bands in concert, especially in the Akron-Canton area.

That's why he's excited to partner with The Auricle in downtown Canton for Saturday's Post. Canton mini-festival. Scheduled from 4 to 11:30 p.m., it's a spin-off event of the annual Post. Festival in Indianapolis. Tickets cost $10 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/ by searching for Post. Canton. Tickets cost $15 at the event.

Bands will be Frayle, Narcissus, Seeress, The Battle, Isolation Drills, Brave Arrows and Shame Chamber.

"This is a win for Canton," Hisrich said. "It's something that you're not going to be able to see every weekend."

With an assist from Josh Brewer, owner of The Auricle, and Derek Vorndran, co-owner of the Post. Festival in Indianapolis with Nason Frizzell, here's a closer look at post-rock and the upcoming Canton concerts.

What does post-rock sound like?

Brewer offered this definition of the genre:

"Post-rock or post-hardcore are actually more melodic," he said. "Some of it can be sludgy, some of it can be very soundscapey (and atmospheric), but it can be emotional, but not in the sense of emo. It can be, I don't want to say heartstring tugging, but some of these bands ... wow, it's intense, it's amazing how much intensity there is in the music.

"Some of it is definitely heavier and some of it is melodic rock, and they're all amazing bands. There's an art to them, and they really nailed it."

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Taking his turn, Vorndran broke it down: "Describing post-rock is always an interesting conversation as it overlaps so many other genres or sounds but doesn't directly fit under one umbrella. The music can range from quiet ambient sounds to heavy and hardcore. What makes it unique is the artists are trying to create a connection primarily through just music and build an emotional context without lyrics.

"But even though vocals or lyrics are not mainly incorporated in a majority of post rock bands, this does not mean they are absent entirely."

What is the Post Canton. music festival?

Post. Canton was born from the annual two-day Post. Festival in Indianapolis, although on a smaller scale.

Post. Festival in Indianapolis started in 2018, drawing about 600 people each of the two days it took place in July, Vorndran said.

Vorndran said Post. Festival has done a few one-off sponsored shows in other Midwestern cities. "But for this one, we were a little more involved in the booking and organizing of the event in partnership with (Hisrich)," he said.

"We like the idea of hosting events in your non-typical metro areas and bringing music or a different type of sound to an area that may not get as much exposure."

What post-rock bands are coming to Canton?

Notable bands for Post. Canton include the Cleveland-based Frayle and Isolation Drills, Hisrich said.

Frayle's musical influences include Portishead, Sleep, Björk, Kyuss and Black Sabbath. Frayle released a cover in June of the Soundgarden song, "Head Down."

Another Cleveland band is The Battle, formed in 2016 and known for instrumental rock with elements of post-rock and desert rock.

Seeress is also from Northeast Ohio, playing post-rock, atmospheric metal.

Isolation Drills, meanwhile, blends the alternative genres of post-rock, shoegaze, slowcore and drone, according to its Bandcamp page.

Brave Arrows is from Wadsworth, describing its sound as Midwest electronic rock.

Narcissus is a band with Canton roots.

"They're definitely a lot heavier," Brewer said, referencing the heavy metal band Pantera for a comparison. "And (Narcissus) were originally from the Canton area."

Band members now live in other parts of Ohio as well as Pennsylvania, he noted. One of them still lives in Stark County, he said.

Narcissus consists of John Pope, John LaRussa, Josh King and Collin Simula.

Formed more than 20 years ago, "they have quite a following, especially in other countries, but they hadn't until two years ago performed together in 15 years (at Furnace Fest in Alabama in 2021)," Brewer said.

"This is a great lineup," he said of Post. Canton, crediting Vorndran.

Who is partnering on Post. Canton?

The Auricle and Quonset Hut are working together on Post. Canton.

"Our partnership and friendship with (Hisrich), it was something I guess I had never anticipated happening," Brewer said. "And I'm glad it has, and I guess Matt much like myself is open to different ways of not just bringing art and music to downtown and Canton, but just meeting new people, and yes, it's a pleasant surprise ... and I think it's something we want to continue."

Earlier this summer, Quonset Hut and Erie St Vinyl in Massillon joined with Brewer to host a vinyl record swap event at The Auricle.

Why should music fans check out Post. Canton?

Hisrich invites all music fans to Post. Canton. Devoted fans of post-rock, casual ones, and even those who have never heard of it.

"I hope that people who are fans of the bands and genre will show up and support the festival," he said. "But I also hope those who are curious or looking to explore some new music will come hear it themselves in person because that's pretty awesome, that we get to do that. I believe there's something for everybody."

Will any of these bands get famous?

Post-rock is an example of bands and artists who are recording songs and performing live purely for the passion of music, Hisrich and Brewer said.

"I'm not saying that these bands don't have hopes and desire to somehow get bigger, but post has never been a genre that is ever going to be as you would say, radio friendly," Brewer explained. "Not to say it wouldn't be played on the radio, but it's not something you'd hear played on mainstream radio, but the artists who do it, they do it because they love it.

"They're doing what they want to do," he added. "Not because they're trying to get huge or make a bunch of money. They're doing it because it's what they love, and an it's an extension of who they are."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Post-rock festival Canton: Frayle, Isolation Drills at The Auricle