The second weekend of Emergenza Festival at Fletchers in Baltimore promised to be even more wild and wooly than the last. A new year of promise and a group of bands that couldn’t be more involved and excited about being the next musicians to play the festival with each other. The Thursday night proceedings began with the lights low and a blue sheen on the stage. ‘Plague of Shadows’ put on a great show determined to teach the audience about destructive metal and speed with thundering bass lines. They did just that. Their big guy up front screamed raspy vocals until ‘Under Command’ took the stage. True form of traditional and progressive rock Maryland style, two guys, and two girls a seven-string guitar and a damn good time. Then ‘Scoundrel’ one part glam one part rock always a successful mix. Throw in a Billy Idol cover and you have a leather clad band named ‘Scoundrel’. ‘Blame Jeffrey’ with traces of grunge and lots of screeching guitars creating feedback had the entire audience applauding. ‘Stolen Element’ put together elements of reggae, ska and funk to give fletches an island feel for their set. Metal for the strong and the free is what ‘Crimson Orchid’ play these are great guys and they packed the house. Blazing metal left with only the audience to answer to. ‘Empty Gratitude’ alt. rock favorites filled the stage and room with their brand of music. ‘Foretold’ closed the evening with gallant style and an exceptional vocalist; they will be touring the Baltimore and D.C. area in the not so distant future. After a nice warm Friday ‘Be(lie)ve’ took the stage to begin the evening with a sonic assault of metal mayhem and raging vocals. They led into ‘Bloodscript’ who continued the pounding rhythms and slashing guitars that all good metal bands provide. ‘165 1/2’ is a strong rock band with a quirky comical edge. A heavy drummer who enjoys big girls kept their rhythm. ‘Blurd Imij’ are seasoned musicians, a troupe with power and style that only an experienced group can truly bring to light. It’s always good to see a band with energy to spare ‘Forever once lost’ is just that band. They were followed by ‘Celia Kipp and The Last Ditch’ who provided Fletchers audience with acoustic rock with women’s consciousness and left the audience strumming along. ‘Anubis’ brings thick burly metal that pounds through the air hard enough to loosen your belt buckle. ‘Out of Hatred’ finished the night by dropping the heavy metal axe and growled through their set to end the night. Saturday, the threat of one of the largest snowstorms in history threatened the Baltimore area and the entire northwestern area. Not a problem for the hearty Maryland folk. The venue was packed the show went on and what a show it was! ‘Nil’ began with slow rhythmic rock and steadily got heavier and more impressive through the length of their performance. ‘August’ are a young band with great talent acoustic guitars a steady bass sound and a really impressive mandolin player jammed beginning to end. ‘Mr. Shepard and the teachers’ are an art troupe from the Maryland area grinding guitar interesting lyrics and booklet distribution make these guys individuals. ‘John Kennelly and the chocolate factory’ play enviable blues/rock with great talent and precision and did just that Saturday night. ‘Arioch’ was next on the stage at Fletchers with a strong tight set. ‘Elise Major’ scheduled to make her long awaited ep release at Fletchers played her acoustic set with pure energy and enthusiasm. The audience had waited long enough when ‘Devils Radio’ took the stage and played brilliantly straight through their set hard rock and metal surly influence these guys and they tote some really good merch to their shows as well. ‘Sri Lanka Marionettes of Doom closed the night with pure punk fervor and traditional short speedy songs including a cover of DK’s California Uber Ales. Sunday the snow began to melt and Fletchers heated up as well beginning with an emo cor