Amid the pitchers and the dimly lit atmosphere of The Gardens, the band Empire! Empire!, hailing from Fenton Michigan, played to a student audience.
“We like to play colleges because it is always a fun time,” said Cathy Latinen, guitarist and vocalist for the band.
Laramie is only college show on the four-piece emo-revival band’s 7 week tour promoting their newest album “You Will Eventually Be Forgotten.” The album was released August 19 as a co-release between Count Your Lucky Stars and Topshelf Records and is the band’s second LP. But this tour was not just for promotional purposes.
“We have spent some time out west and in Wyoming and love the natural beauty,” said Latinen. “Laramie seemed like a fun city! My cousin lives here too, so that helps.”
Latinen and her husband Keith started the band as a husband and wife duo, but the band now incorporates two new members on drums, vocals and bass. Prior to their marriage, Cary and Keith had played together in different bands. Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) grew out of Keith’s solo project, and the band has performed national and international tours since then. The band has been featured on Stereogum’s “12 Bands To Know From The Emo Revival.”
“I do not have words for how excited I am,” said Madison Marquer, a senior in education programs.
Marquer is a vocalist and guitarist for Medicine Bow, one of the openers for Empire! Empire! The homegrown emo-punk trio consists of two UW students and one member from CSU. The band had played UW before, but according to Marquer, the venue was not ideal. Excited about playing the Gardens, Marquer described the venue as “really intimate.”
“They are a band not like any other,” said senior in Psychology and Disability Studies Kylie Olsen. “I’m super stoked that they are opening for Empire! Empire!”
Aside from Medicine Bow, Empire! Empire! is supported by Free Throw, a band from Nashville, Tenn. The band describes its interests on its Facebook page as “Shows, shows, more shows, and beer,” making The Gardens more than an apt venue for their performance.
After Laramie, Empire! Empire! is off to Omaha, Neb. to play at rock club and bar named Slowdown.
