Mustache Bash Ranked High On Blacksburg's Must-Do Events

Food? Check. Music? Check. Mustaches? Not exactly the first thing you’d think of for the biggest local concert of the year, but that’s exactly what makes the Mustache Bash one of the best things to attend in Blacksburg.

“I went last year, but the turn out this year has been incredible!” said Virginia Tech sophomore Katie DeMoss.

For those who don’t know, the Mustache Bash is an event that happens every year, now in its fourth season, based entirely upon glorifying the mustache. Everyone shows up with a mustache, whether it’s fake or real.

The Mustache Bash has evolved a bit over the years, and while everyone is still with a mustache, the real reason to come this year was for all the music. This year the Bash was hosted at The Lodge, one of the few house show venues in town. Tons of local bands came out to play, and even some bands from as far away as Philadelphia.

The party started out a bit precariously, as the forecast called for thunderstorms. Despite the dreary clouds things got underway smoothly, and people starting funneling in slowly throughout the early afternoon. Mustached men and women waited anxiously for the first band to play.

The "House Floor" opened around 3 p.m. with a short three-song set to get the crowd going. They played quite well, trying out some new material that hadn’t been played before. The crowd was quite perceptive as the band whipped through some Pavement-esque tunes that flowed well with singer Alex Tschan’s trembling voice.

As bands played on in the basement, more and more mustached guests began to show up. Congregating outside mainly, many people were grilling out hamburgers and comparing their mustaches. Mike Skattum, a sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth University, had come all the way from Richmond to attend the event. “As soon as I heard about it I knew I wanted to come,” said Skattum. “A friend of mine is putting me up for the night, so I’m glad to be here.”

After a few hours of chowing down and fluctuating between the house and the yard, a flock of people migrated down to the basement to see one of the traveling bands, Reading Rainbow. No one was really sure what to expect, as the band members admitted that they had only formed two weeks beforehand. Shortly after starting though, it was clear they knew their stuff. The band played about five or six songs, a truly original mix of rushing distorted guitar waves and primitive tribal drumming that manifested itself like a sinister My Bloody Valentine. Though only consisting of two members, they had a very full sound, and the audience responded well.

A number of people decided to stick around for the next band, Mommies, which ended up being the highlight of the day. The crowd was growing antsy as the band set up, their amp feeding back a dull buzz. Finally after a bit of looking around and head nodding, the band crashed into their first song, taking the crowd by sharp surprise.

Everyone bobbed their feet along with the band and soon enough people were starting to really move. The band banged through a few of their trademark brand of duel keyboard dance punk, stopping between to switch instruments. Everyone was clapping heartily, and the band responded back with witty post-song bantering, working up a series of laughs and applause in the crowd. The band played a few more songs and then called it quits, and needless to say, everyone was quite impressed.

“We played another show last night, but today was so much better!” said Nelson of Mommies, “I think we played really well. It’s been a blast.”

Bands played on for the rest of the night, and by the end of the evening everyone was dead tired. Despite the periodic drizzling and gloomy clouds, it seemed as though every would agree that this was the best Mustache Bash by far.