On Friday, Feb. 21, the band Splatter played at Birdies on Main Street in Keene. After the performance, Entertainment Manager Gavin Key announced that Splatter held the highest attended performance at Birdies since their opening in October 2024.
Splatter played two roughly 60-minute sets with downbeat at 7 p.m. and a brief intermission in-between.
In a pre-concert interview with Splatter, the members voiced their excitement to be playing at Birdies, with band member Julia Baer adding this was their first gig “of this sort.” Fellow band member Max Orio added that “as a unit we’ve had over a dozen [performances so far].”
Key, a ‘24 KSC alum, said he was also excited to have Splatter at Birdies as well, saying “Technically, it’s not their first time playing here.”
“When we got our sound system installed, I invited them to come after we had closed to test it out. [I wasn’t sure] how many people can that [the stage] even fit. I wasn’t sure it would be too loud or anything, so they came and did a little rehearsal,” added Key.
During intermission, Tracy Beard, aunt of drummer Emma Toscano, Tracy Beard, added that she really enjoyed Birdies and the band, saying “It’s not my first time at Birdies. This is my first time seeing [the] band, but I have been here for another community event, for the suicide prevention walk in Novermber and it was lovely and welcoming and warming. That’s an emotional event.”
Beard added, “I love the band.”
KSC junior Myles Osterhout, a self-described “music enjoyer,” said he had a good time at Splatter’s performance as well. “I love the emphasis on the classic rock, 60’s [and] 70’s stuff. They paid homage [to the music] for sure, it was a good show,” added Osterhout.
After the band’s performance on Friday, Baer said, “I think the night was a success, and I’m grateful for the turnout. It’s always a pretty heavy lift to put a show together, and it was really fulfilling to have the set be well received, and so many people there to support us.”
Toscano shared a similar feeling, stating that she was very excited about the atmosphere the band and the crowd created. She added, “It felt like everyone was having a great time, including us on stage, and that has really been our goal from the beginning.”
Key said he was very excited and pleased after the performance as well, stating “Friday’s show was our best selling show yet! I think it went very well, and we hope to have Splatter back again later in the year.”
Splatter closed out their performance with the whole crowd singing along to “Centerfold” by J. Geils Band with them, ending the night with a standing ovation.
The band said it has more things in the works, so those who are looking to keep up with them can follow them on the band’s Instagram page @splatterbandofficial.
Birdies hosts live music every Friday night as well as other events. Those interested can find Birdies at 18 Main St. in Keene, N.H. or at birdieskeene.com. The next performance at the venue will be Jay Faires on February 28.
Timothy Fitzpatrick can be contacted at
tfitzpatrick@kscequinox.com
