Let the music speak: Pullman house show draws full house

Performers included Gatman, Half Step Ahead, Bathtub Toasters, Sanity Point, Staring at the Sun and Hardly Known

A+past+performance+at+Gatmans+house%2C+the+same+venue+of+the+house+show+last+Saturday.

COURTESY OF WILL KENYON

A past performance at Gatman’s house, the same venue of the house show last Saturday.

NASRULAH AL AJMI, Evergreen reporter

People from all over Pullman packed one local home full last Saturday while singing, dancing and cheering to the performances of six local artists and bands.

The house show, hosted by the Palouse Music Community, featured Gatman, Half Step Ahead, Bathtub Toasters, Sanity Point, Staring at the Sun and Hardly Known.

Ben Forbeck, Half Step Ahead member, said the purpose of the house show was to bring together the community by presenting a variety of local bands and performers. Because of the packed schedule and short set times, Forbeck said he knew Half Step Ahead could only showcase so much of themselves, but that they were more than happy to do so anyway.

“Truthfully, this event was for the people,” Forbeck said. “Our greatest contribution to the community [Saturday] night might have been running the sound for everyone.”

Gatman, who won the most recent Cougs Got Talent show, performed first. He sang a selection of original songs, which included “6SPIRATION,” “Oh No” and more.

“Gatman showed a lot of energy,” WSU student David Worthington said. “And the way he put himself out there, he’s very confident, it shows that he really wants this.”

Half Step Ahead then performed both original songs and covers. One song they performed was “Clint Eastwood” by Gorillaz, which got the crowd singing and dancing along.

After Half Step Ahead, Bathtub Toasters took over the stage and performed original songs “My Opioid,” “Gaslighter” and more.

Bathtub Toasters were followed by Sanity Point, then Staring at the Sun, then Hardly Known, all three of whom performed covers. The covers ranged from Alice In Chains’ “Would?” to Phoebe Bridgers’ “Motion Sickness.”

The crowd cheered for the performers, applauding and singing along with each song. By 8:30 p.m., the house had reached its maximum capacity of almost 80 people.

Gatman said he had never seen such a large crowd at one of his shows. The Palouse Music Community did some good marketing, Gatman said, so he was expecting a lot of people to attend.

“We have an insane amount of people here, more than I can fathom,” Gatman said.

Anthony De Luca, Half Step Ahead member, wanted to demonstrate what music is capable of.

“In my opinion, bringing people together is one of those happy consequences of what [Forbeck] and I do,” said De Luca.