The Dive Bar of Eternal Youth

Left to right: Grant Mullen and Henry LaVallee.

The Empty Bottle is not just a bar or a venue; it’s something more.

It’s a dark, unpolished dive, charmingly rough around the edges, where the walls feel like they’ve absorbed sweat and spilled drinks over countless unforgettable nights. It’s a place where the beer is exceptional, the floors are affectionately sticky, and the music is loud—beautifully so, chaotically so. Expect a shot, a beer, and to hear a little-known band give a live performance that might just change the game.

Furthering the dive’s repertoire of performers on April 1 was Naked Giants. Equal parts garage-rock mischief and mature intentionality, they personify youthful vigor seasoned with purpose. At the Empty Bottle, they proved one can age without losing their spunk, tempering the volatility of angst into art.

Formed in 2014, Naked Giants initially served as an outlet for the band members as they confronted the turbulence of their teenage years. There’s a particular intimacy to watching a band who has grown up together. At times, it seemed as if they weren’t performing for the audience; they were performing for each other, improvising a telepathic connection and transcending the Empty Bottle’s crowded interior…

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