Peter Manhart, lead singer of the Chicago-based alternative band Molehill, stood on top of a table and chairs singing to a mesmerized crowd at The Thought Lot on Saturday, March 27. Just a week prior, Manhart and his band were in Austin, Texas, performing at debatably one of the hottest music festivals of the year, South by Southwest (SXSW).
While Shippensburg may seem like a drastic change of pace for Molehill, a band that has one ASCAP Plus Songwriting Award under its belt, is not new to The Thought Lot. Saturday was actually the band’s fourth time playing at the local venue. In addition to performing, the show doubled as the band’s release party for its newest EP “Tin God,” which was released in February.
The night started around 7:30 p.m., with opening solo act Evan Crider of Chambersburg. Crider is experienced in the local open mic scene and has played at The Thought Lot once before. His sound was reminiscent of emotional ’90s era alternative bands, but done on an acoustic guitar.
Moody lyrics like “dreaming of a place where I belong // a place to call my own,” accompanied by warm guitar-playing, were a stark contrast to the high-energy bands following him. This made Crider’s coffeehouse-esque vibes the perfect start to the evening.
Following Crider was Chambersburg’s self-proclaimed indie rock band, B-sides. Followers of the local music scene recognized B-sides’ lead singer and guitarist, Daniel Lemus. Lemus is also no stranger to the Thought Lot. He has accrued a following in the local scene through B-sides and through performing as a solo artist at The Thought Lot. B-sides’ opening riffs included a rock rendition of Johann Pechelbel’s famous “Canon in D.” The upbeat band had a great on-stage presence. Lemus and Spencer Bowers, who played bass, often bounced and jumped up and down on stage, which would be hard not to do with the energy they had.
Drummer Jorge Menchu provided a strong backbone for the songs, solidifying the band’s rock ‘n’ roll sound. Songs like “In The Back Of Your Car,” featuring the lyrics “I want to give it to you baby, I want to give it to you right now,” got the crowd on its feet.
While the two opening acts would have satisfied most live-music lovers, the night was just getting started. When Molehill took the stage, the atmosphere in The Thought Lot quickly changed from a local-neighborhood music venue to a full-blown rock stadium. Equipped with colored, vertical stage lights and powerful guitar riffs, audience members soon realized they were in for a treat.
Molehill’s influences, such as Muse, shined through their music. Audience member, Steven Brenize, who had seen Molehill at The Thought Lot before, said in his opinion Molehill is better than Muse. Brenize even went as far to say that, “Molehill is the band Muse wishes they were.”
The band’s set was an emotional rollercoaster. There were moments that borderlined on tear jerking, like during the song “February” — a sensitive, heartfelt ode to the band’s friend who committed suicide. Other songs like “A Thousand Fires,” elicited a warmer feeling in listeners. With a chorus consisting of lyrics, “I’ll burn the whole world down ‘til you feel warm again,” and slow-paced instrumentals, it was hard not to get entranced by the music. The song ended with the band singing a cappella, in unison, which produced an amazingly whole-hearted feeling.
The warm fuzzy feeling did not end there. Near the end of the set, the band stopped to wish a fan in the audience a happy birthday. Like Brenize, Darin Robillard, the birthday boy had also seen Molehill before and is a self-proclaimed “huge fan.”
While Molehill’s music and lyrics are remarkable enough, it was the band’s stage presence and performing skills that secure its spot as a great American rock band. It was clear that Manhart and the rest of the band have a bullet-proof relationship on and off stage and sincerely enjoy performing. The rest of the band is comprised of drummer Devin Staples, bassist Trevor Jones and keyboardist Greg Van Duiden. The night ended with another song off Tin God, “Ghost Town,” which ended in a big slow clap from audience members.
After the show, the band stuck around to chat with fans and pose for photos. The band was staying overnight in Gettysburg, before heading to play in Washington, D.C. the next evening.

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