Recognized as one of the best live music venues in Deep Ellum, Three Links has been a staple for concert goers for years – seven years as of this past Sunday to be exact. A lot has changed in Deep Ellum over the past decade. Despite the changes, Three Links is one of the few places that has withstood the test of time. On Sunday night the fine folks at Three Links put together quite the extravaganza to celebrate the occasion. It was only fitting that Rosegarden Funeral Party, who are definitely no strangers to the Three Link’s stage, headlined the event. Their good friends, and also Three Links regulars Duell, Sub-Sahara, and All Clean rounded out the line-up.
The weeknight party didn’t stop fans from showing up early and staying late. The show was packed from start to finish. All Clean kicked the festivities off with a heavy dose of electronic rock. The beers were flowing, the crowd was moving, and the music was loud. It was a perfect start for what promised to be an incredible night. This was my first time seeing All Clean live and they blew me away. Psychedelic samples, thunderous rhythms, and heavy rock riffs spewed from the venue into the street as even more fans filtered inside. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this quartet.
DFW favorites Sub-Sahara then took the stage. If you’ve never witnessed the self proclaimed “flower boys” live, you’re missing out. Don’t let the flowers and aura of love mislead you, Sub-Sahara will also kick your teeth in. Their in-your-face funky punk set sent the crowd into a frenzy. The floor opened up as leather jackets and spikes crashed into each other and crowd surfers tumbled around overhead. The room was electric as the fans fed off the energy released from the stage. As fellow musicians and friends joined frontman Aaron Mireles, both on stage and off, to assist with vocals throughout the set, it was evident that this wasn’t your ordinary rock show. This was a gathering of friends and passionate individuals who truly love what they do and love each other. This isn’t a band who’s just going through the motions of writing riffs and smashing together words that rhyme just to be in a band. Sub-Sahara embodies true passion for their art and they brought that feeling to the stage.
Next up to the stage came Duell. This is another DFW band that I personally didn’t know much about until Sunday. I’ve seen the name around, but hadn’t had a chance to witness them live in the past. It was evident from the sheer energy from the crowd though that this wasn’t their first rodeo. Unfortunately, for me and through no fault of the band, Duell’s sound came across as muddled. Something seemed off in the mix. This didn’t stop anyone in the band or the crowd from leaving their blood and sweat on the floor. Duell was also joined on stage by a very special guest, Leah Lane from Rosegarden Funeral Party. The dual vocals sent chilling wavelengths through the PA that left me with goosebumps. It should also be noted that Leah and Duell bassist Scott White have also joined forces to create Deep Red, a side project that released their first EP Before You Leave late last week. I can’t wait to give that a spin now after seeing a live collaboration.
Last, but certainly not least, was Rosegarden Funeral Party. My first time seeing these post punk aficionados was at Three Links years ago. I’ve been hooked ever since. Their synthesized brand of post-punk sounded just as good as ever on Sunday night. There’s something especially captivating about Rosegarden Funeral Party’s stage presence that can’t be explained in words. This show was no exception. Leah Lane led the charge with her haunting vocals and tasteful punk guitar riffs. The blood red backdrop and brick walls of Three Links is always a visual bonus for a Rosegarden set. “Martyr” sparked a singalong from the crowd that was so loud it almost overtook the PA. The drums and bass were tight and emotions were high. The setlist consisted of tracks both new and old, and had a little something for everyone. This show was a perfect celebration for Three Links’ seventh year. It brought family, friends, and some of the best musicians from the DFW area together for an unforgettable night.
– Corey Smith
