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Written by Emily Chamberlin
March 2022
There is little in life that surpasses the feeling of dancing to live music.
For dancing and live music, Man Made Tragedies (MMT) is a small and upcoming band comprised of three local high school teens. MMT performed at Stage 33 Live in Bellows Falls on Saturday, March 5th. Afterward, band members expressed gratitude to the larger-than-normal audience consisting of about 30 or more people.
Frontman Ezra Holloway was euphoric about the show. “I think this has been our best show yet,” he said.
Man Made Tragedies has been around since 2018. However, as young bands tend to do, they’ve gone through changes of names and members. Currently, the band consists of Ezra Holloway on vocals and bass, guitarist Jake Tretler (both from Bellows Falls Union High School), and most recently drummer, Kiegan Eastman, a Springfield High School student.
MMT mostly plays punk-rock, including their singles “Late May” and “I Don’t Know,” both of which are available on YouTube. Most important, though, the band has energy. As witnessed by this reporter, Holloway does a phenomenal job of getting the crowd involved in dancing along to the music. Energy radiates through their music, making it impossible not to start tapping along to the beat.
In many ways, Stage 33 Live was the perfect setting for this small and upcoming band. Stage 33 Live is a small venue. It was organized this way on purpose.“It’s about honoring the stage, that one thing. No bar, no kitchen, the stage is the mission” is how the Stage 33 web page describes the venue. They’re located at 33 Bridge Street, in downtown Bellows Falls, entrance prices depend on the artists since the venue is a non-profit. They host all sorts of artists, from poets to garage bands. No one is too big or too small to perform at Stage 33.
Those behind the Stage 33 setting are proud of the music setting, which has been established in an industrial-era, rustic former factory. Stage 33 is open with plenty of room for fans to dance to their favorite small artists. With chairs, it fits 40 people and the total cut-off for attendance is at 50.
“I only expected like 5 or 6 people to show up, so the fact that we almost sold out is insane.” Holloway said. “People were actually getting into the music which was also a surprise because nobody of my age that I know of really listens to rock music or its sub-genres. I guess to sum it up it was a great first show [back] in like four months.”
Stage 33–nonprofit, run by volunteers–allows no covers by the musicians and singers. All music played is original. Additionally, those who run Stage 33 only host bands that reach out to them. They don’t use a booking service.
As stated on the Stage 33 web page: “The people on the stage and the people in the audience are both there because they chose each other. It’s a beautiful symbiosis.”
Man Made Tragedies’ gig at Stage 33 Live surely was an important stepping stone for their future. Their performance was unforgettable, for both fans and the band members. The venue perfectly complimented the band’s performance, the way a sunny day complements a good mood. Their punk sound and the rustic-industrial venue fit together well. The musicians who comprise Man Made Tragedies are highly talented. If given the opportunity, they are a must-see band.
Although they are small and don’t have a large following now, they—without a doubt—have the potential to be something bigger somewhere down the line from here. They have two singles available on their Spotify, and an EP coming soon.
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