Arenda Light rocks The Post during the last string of shows at the closing music venue. Photo: Jessica Waffles
As you may have heard, beloved Fort Worth music venue The Post at River East is getting ready to permanently shut its doors.
Last Thursday’s show with The Grae, Arenda Light and Joey Kendall was first billed as the “last show” at The Post, but complications with the lease have extended the venue’s life by one more month.
Joey Kendall opened up the show with a solo set at The Post. Photo: Jessica Waffles
The music-loving crowd at The Post on February 29, 2024. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Arenda Light’s last single “When You Ran Away” dropped in 2022, with a new EP set to release this Summer. Photo: Jessica Waffles
“There’s a stipulation in our lease that we thought the landlord wasn’t going to hold us to,” Afallon Productions President Brooks Kendall said in a phone interview in KXT. “So we’re still open for another month in a limited capacity.”
A handful of shows will be announced for the month of March at The Post, including the already listed monthly residency of Mike Graham and Michael Hearne on March 10.
Arenda Light’s set list from their last show at The Post. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Nick Tittle is the charismatic leader of Fort Worth band Arenda Light. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Rowdy Carter on stage with Arenda Light at The Post. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Thursday’s concert showcased the bold, gritty rock vibes of Fort Worth, featuring Arenda Light following Joey Kendall.
Arenda Light’s edgy guitar distortions and deep, catchy basslines bring back the ’90s rock feel, reminiscent of the greats from back then. Tittle’s heartfelt vocals, echoing the raw emotion of Chris Cornell and Candlebox’s Kevin Martin, added an extra punch to the show, keeping the crowd hooked.
The beast himself Matt Mabe on drums with Arenda Light at The Post. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Arenda Light is a heavy hitter in the Fort Worth music scene. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Rowdy Carter (left) and Nick Tittle (right) take a little squat at drummer Matt Mabe slays a drum solo. Photo: Jessica Waffles
The band hasn’t released new music since their 2022 single “When You Ran Away,” but has been hard at work on their new EP that’s planned for release in early Summer of 2024.
Fans can catch Arenda Light this Saturday March 9 at The Cicada’s 1 Year Anniversary party – a free event that includes live tattooing, food pop-up, and performances by Arenda Light, The Me-Thinks and J/O/E.
Matt Mabe stands up and takes a breath after a rigorous drum solo at The Post.Photo: Jessica Waffles
Max Kusin from The Grae hopped on stage to join Arenda Light for their rendition of “Unbelievable” by EMP. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Nick Tittle gives main character energy. Photo: Jessica Waffles
The Grae closed out the show, and also celebrated the release of their new single, “Cautionary Tale.”
“The instrumentation for ‘Cautionary Tale’ was written because Nick Tittle and I were hanging out and he told me I should try and build the foundation for a song only using the bass,” band leader Max Kusin said. “I came up with the bass line for the song and added everything else on top.”
The song was recorded at Tittle and audio engineer Mark Randall’s sound studio Blackstone Recording Studio, a Fort Worth outfit that’s seen many artists from the DFW music scene come through since their opening last year.
The Grae celebrated the release of their single “Cautionary Tale” at The Post. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Max Kusin is a tornado of hair on stage when he’s in the zone. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Chris Davis on drums with The Grae at The Post. Davis also plays with Trash Puppies and Tiny Giants. Photo: Jessica Waffles
“Without getting too personal, [“Cautionary Tale”] is about being angry with someone and not realizing how selfish the feelings were,” Kusin said.
The Grae has a slwe of shows coming up, including March 9 at Dr. Jeckyll’s Beer Lab, March 15 at Reno’s Chop Shop and March 30 at Pouring Glory.
The Grae’s set list from their first and last show at The Post. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Connor Bailey on bass with The Grae; Bailey is also in Tiny Giants. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Max Kusin leads The Grae with intensity. Photo: Jessica Waffles
As for the future of Afallon Productions, the team behind The Post, their efforts continue through the many shows they help book in the DFW scene as well as their search for a new music venue location.
“We don’t have a place yet, but we’re actively looking for a place to open a new music venue,” Brooks Kendall said. “It likely wouldn’t still be called The Post, but a similar concept. It’s not something that will happen quickly, depending on what kind of condition the place we find is and how long it takes to get it ready for our use.”
The new venture will most likely stay in Fort Worth, although they’re still shopping neighborhoods with a realtor.
The crowd enjoyed a night of rock & roll at The Post while they still could with The Grae. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Monte Vasquez on guitar and backup vocals with The Grae. Photo: Jessica Waffles
“With all the places that have closed lately, it’s kind of spooked some people,” Kendall said. “I think our scene is healthy and good. Places close, but more places will open. People are changing how they interact with and consume music a lot since the pandemic; the strongest case for keeping small venues open in town is people going to them.”
Keep up to date on ticketed events happening at The Post this month on the Afallon Productions event listing page and The Post Instagram page.
Support live music at these upcoming Afallon Production events:
- March 8: Matt Anderson @ The Rose Chapel at Southside Preservation Hall
- March 8: Greyhounds @ The Cicada
- March 10: Mike Graham and Michael Hearne @ The Post at River East
- March 13: Jeff Plankenhorn & Michael O’Connor @ The Rose Chapel at Southside Preservation Hall
- March 21: Wheatus (Acoustic): Dirtbags Across America @ Southside Preservation Hall
- March 22: Joseph Neville @ The Rose Chapel at Southside Preservation Hall
- March 23: Tyler Ramsey @ The Cicada
- April 4: Matt Mason @ Southside Preservation Hall
- April 7: Sunday Supper Club: Courtney Patton & John Bauman @ Southside Preservation Hall
- April 7: Jeff Crosby @ Fort Brewery & Pizza
Happiness is contagious with The Grae. Photo: Jessica Waffles
Jessica Waffles is a freelance photographer/videographer and regular contributor to KXT.
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