Four rising Florida bands to perform at High Dive

High Dive will host four Florida-based rock bands tonight. The bands scheduled to perform are flipturn, from Fernandina Beach; Brightside, based out of Tallahassee; Colours, from Sarasota; and Gainesville’s own Arrows in Action.

The bands range from pop-punk to alternative rock, with a few variations in between. And, despite a difference in online fan-base size, the core values and practices the bands follow are similar.  

Brightside, who has a pop/rock sound, was formed about 2 1/2 ago. Jake Long, the band’s vocalist and guitarist, said that members of the group were playing in different bands before they decided that it would be better to play together.

“I feel like we finally found a group of people who all really wanted to make the band their No. 1 priority and make it happen,” he said.

For the band, playing and practicing is a full-time job. Although most of the bandmates have other side work that they do, they meet every day of the week.

Brightside, who is playing one of the headlining slots for today’s show, is stopping in Gainesville as part of an eight-stop summer tour.

Arrows in Action, who will be playing an opening slot at the show as well, also considers playing and practicing to be a full-time gig. For them, putting their time and money into their band is how they know they’re serious, said vocalist and guitarist Victor Viramontes-Pattison.

Viramontes-Pattison said writing from a young adult’s perspective is something he cherishes because of its relatability among listeners.

“I feel like this is a good time frame to be writing about, because so many people go through this period in their life (of) getting into the workplace (and) figuring out what you want to do,” he said.

Viramontes-Pattison said although Arrows in Action has a pop-punk style, the members would like to eventually expand their sound to avoid being pigeonholed into one particular genre.

He said even though the lyrics mostly come from him, the songwriting process is a group effort for the band. Viramontes-Pattison brings his songs to drummer Jesse Frimmel for critique and later Adrian De Zayas, a vocalist and guitarist, will interject different ideas.

“It’s a whole process, and sometimes it does take a little bit, but we like to give our music time to mature,” he said. “We don’t like to rush it.”

Although Arrows in Action will be opening up for Brightside tonight, both bands share a similar creative process. Brightside band members bring in different song ideas and collaborate with each other.

Will Dunaway, Brightside’s bass player, said because the members have their own experiences with instruments and different genres, they’re able to add interesting riffs and melodies that give the songs personality.

Most of the members have their own musical interests and experiences outside of the band, which adds to the compositeness of its music.

“It’s definitely a really organic process for all five of us,” Dunaway said. “I think at the end of it what we’re really interested in is making music people can connect to and get interested in right away.”

Viramontes-Pattison said an inward focus is what helps him when it comes to songwriting.

“It kind of makes you … a hermit. You kind of hyper focus on (what) sound you want or music you want,” Viramontes-Pattison said.

While an inward focus is good, having those outside influences are also needed when making music. For Brightside drummer Cory Clark, being in nature helps bring about inspiration for ideas about songs and life.

“I think of a lot of parts when I’m outside (in) nature” he said. “It clears my mind.”

Both bands are planning for the future with tours and new music. Brightside hopes to expand touring through the rest of the U.S.

“Our main goal right now is to just get farther and farther away,” Long said.

For Arrows in Action, playing different gigs and releasing new music is what’s on the horizon.

“Our band is here for the indefinite future. We have no plans to stop,” Viramontes-Pattison said.

For today’s show, doors will open at 8 p.m., and the show will be from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 in advance and $9 at the door, with a $3 under 21 fee.