Manic Vision & Ice Station Zebra Join Forces in Birmingham on Friday August 16, 2021 13:17

Calling all Birmingham music fans. If you're itching for some killer live music this weekend, we've got exactly what you need. If you've followed the Alabama jam scene in recent years, you're likely familiar with both Manic Vision and Ice Station Zebra. Both acts have been grinding across the state: building a strong, diverse following. While the lineups have evolved since their early years, they have both continued to hone in on their original sound and build on their craft in impressive fashion.

We couldn't be more excited to see these two acts join forces on the big stage at Birmingham's Avondale Brewery on Friday night. In preparation for the show, Live & Listen is giving away a pair of tickets on both our Facebook and Instagram pages. To enter the contest, please share this post from our Facebook page and tag a friend in the comments on the post. You can also enter by heading to our Instagram page and following instructions there.

It's always a special occasion when we get to celebrate multiple, local acts in one night. Friday night will be no exception. This will be somewhat of a sendoff show for keyboardist Benton Crane, a founding member of Ice Station Zebra and current member of Manic Vision. Crane, a valued member of the Birmingham music scene, will be relocating to Colorado in the near future. We wish him well and thank him for his countless contributions over the years.

We caught up with both bands over the weekend to get a little more insight on Friday night's show. Check out their quotes below, and make sure to spread the word about this show!

What has been the focal point for the band as shows have resurfaced this summer?
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"The focal point has been to make each show better than the last, as well as getting our name out there to new places. Birmingham is home, and it’s safe to say that we feel very comfortable here, so now it’s time to take what we’ve learned and produced and get it out to new places and audiences." 

- Carter Speidel, Manic Vision

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"Our focus for the summer has been playing some tight and fun shows as a band after taking almost a year off. Since Benton is leaving to do bigger and better things with his music career, we have also focused on enjoying our time together and getting pumped for the Avondale show!"

-Davis Collman, Ice Station Zebra
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What does it mean to you guys to get back on the big stage at Avondale for a hometown show?
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"We’re all really excited. There’s always so much energy at these types of shows. This particular show is a bittersweet experience for me personally. I’ve been with ISZ since the beginning over 4 years ago and have been with MV for over a year and this will be my last show in Birmingham and with either band before I move out west. It feels right saying goodbye from the Avondale stage."

- Benton Crane, Ice Station Zebra & Manic Vision
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How has the summer been thus far? Highlights? Anything exciting on the horizon?
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“Just being able to play these new songs throughout the southeast has been great. We’ve got some soundboard recordings with video that we’re sitting on, might be looking at a live album sometime soon.” 

- Andrew Krist, Manic Vision
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What can fans expect from the Avondale show next weekend?
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“We will be slicing up a grand tour of our song catalogue along with a choice cover or two. Folks should come out to Avondale ready to hear well-crafted songwriting as well as improvisational jamming out of both bands. We’re excited for the show!” 

- Ethan Maas, Ice Station Zebra
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“I think our fans can expect a great show. We have been putting in the time and effort during practice to get tighter, more dynamic, and have added different experimentation.”