Friday night with Chase Petra at The Independent in San Francisco, CA

It’s Friday night, and I’m spending it seeing Chase Petra at The Independent in San Francisco. I’ve been looking forward to this show for a while. It was originally scheduled for April and finally happened tonight. Chase Petra is an Alternative/Indie Rock band from Long Beach, CA, made up of Hunter Allen, Brooke Dickson, and Evan Schaid. They recently toured this past spring in support of their second album, Lullabies for Dogs.

Walking into the venue, the room was full of fans ready for the show to kick off. I was stoked to discover that both opening bands, Polkadot and Small Crush, are in the Bay Area. 

Chase Petra blew me away. They kicked things off with fan favorites like “Reliable Narrator” and “In an Emergency Such as the End of the World.” Their sound has influences from 2000s pop punk, but with a brand-new twist.

One song I was especially looking forward to hearing live was “Centrifugal Force.” The way the bass and guitar blend with Hunter’s vocals is just so good live.

And yes, I did notice the fan recording the show with a Nintendo DS. It’s become a must-have at shows now, and I’m not mad about it. I headed up to the balcony for a different view and could see the entire crowd dancing and singing along. The energy spiked during “Catharsis,” “Soapy Water,” and “Nature vs. Nature.”

What stood out most was the band’s genuine connection with their fans. There’s something special about going to a show where you feel like you can be 100% yourself.

As the show neared its end, the band had one more thing to teach us: how to call them back out for an encore. Turns out, the secret is to chant “Gay Rights!” and let’s say the crowd did not hold back. 

They returned to the stage for their final songs, wrapping up an unforgettable night. Next time I see Chase Petra, I’m bringing a list of fun facts to shout from the crowd. They have gained another fan tonight, and that fan is me.

Check out the full gallery here.