Piece Comment

Review of Friday Night At Epiphany's


Radio pieces about music you LIKE are a dime a dozen. Radio pieces about music towards which you're a little squeamish, however, are truly unique - and "Friday Night At Epiphany's" unique angle is one of the many things that make this story worth a listen.
Protagonist Claudia's initial feelings toward metal, punk, and hardcore would be easy for most listeners to identify with: her first experience on MySpace turns out to be more than a little unappetizing. However, the piece has a nicely timed story arc: Claudia goes to a local show and, after talking to the musicians and bystanders, eventually finds herself appreciating and even enjoying these new genres. The story could easily be told in a preachy or cliched way, but it avoids that pitfall well: Claudia's words sound like her own, and many listeners will likely find common ground and shared experiences.
This piece is long enough to stand comfortably on its own, but it would also fit well within a show about teen activities or any of the musical genres involved.