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The Blind Pig<\/a> provides a haven for burgeoning musical talent in Ann Arbor. On Jan. 22, however, it doubled as a sanctuary from the brutal cold and incessant snowfall blanketing the city as of late. That evening, the venue hosted four bands in collaboration with the Warming A2 project<\/a>, an organization that collects clothing donations and reallocates them to unhoused individuals across Washtenaw County. Once inside, it was easy to forget the everyday student worries of impending homework assignments and extravagant rent payments \u2014\u00a0the scene was nothing short of intoxicating. With an impressive crowd for a weeknight, the bands performing offered a series of diverse and electrifying sets.<\/p>\n First up: Fetti Fuego<\/a>, a Detroit-based artist whose music combines grunge\u2019s infectious hooks and metal\u2019s unfettered emotion. With heavy guitar chords anchoring Fuego\u2019s self-assured vocals, he effortlessly commanded the audience, resulting in some early-evening moshing that always indicates a great show. He played several original songs, such as \u201cRage\u201d and \u201cTake Me Home,\u201d as well as a couple of covers \u2014 a highlight from the tracklist was his take on Nirvana\u2019s \u201cBreed,\u201d a rock classic that he breathed new life into with a raw, unbridled vocal delivery.<\/p>\n Following Fuego\u2019s performance, the Ann Arbor band Tell Me When<\/a> took the stage. I found myself wondering if I had accidentally stepped through a portal to the year 2007. From the outfits \u2014 leather jackets, flannels and a fur baseball hat \u2014 to the songs performed (\u201cYou Oughta Know\u201d by Alanis Morissette kicked things off, with \u201cZombie\u201d by The Cranberries in tow), the group embodied the pop-rock aesthetic of the era without ever seeming trite or derivative. Lead singer Meghan Tuttle\u2019s vocal performance was versatile and effortless, commanding belt-heavy choruses at certain moments and flipping to gorgeous falsetto at others.<\/p>\n Despite the high bar set by the first two performances, the following band, Metro Detroit trio Mass Dispute<\/a>, more than lived up to the established precedent. Their set acted as a masterclass in controlling and engaging the crowd; the front few rows were absolutely thrashing around, and at one moment, they had strangers link arms and jump up and down together as if they were old friends at a wedding. The setlist itself comprised pure punk-pop bliss, including crowd-pleasers like \u201cBasket Case\u201d by Green Day as well as many original selections. The band concluded their first national tour in 2025 and will be releasing a live album on Feb. 13.<\/p>\n