 "Photo: Julie Foster")
On recent Thursday nights, passers-by have surely noticed strange sounds emanating from the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library's parking garage, 325 N. Michigan St.
For the past five weeks, the library has hosted "Garage Rock II," an opportunity for local musicians to move from their own garages to a much larger, more public one.
This year's event is a follow-up to last year's "Garage Rock," conceived by Chris Kozack, media relations officer for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.
Kozack said he was looking for an unconventional event to host at the library that would make use of the substantial space available in the parking garage.
After last year's success, "Garage Rock" is back, turning up the volume and annoying local businesses.
"So far two buildings have complained about the noise, so I figure we have to be doing something right," Kozack said.
To find bands to play at the six weekly events, event organizers put out the word on the radio and in the weekly Toledo Free Press, he said.
30 different musical groups submitted CDs in hopes of scoring one of the 18 available performance slots over six weeks.
Different types of acts have been performing - everything from rap to Christian rock.
The band 2nd Life, which performed on July 7, featured a keyboard, saxophone, rhythm and lead guitar, bass and drums.
Pawn, which played June 30, provided heavy riffs and spiritual lyrics praising Jesus Christ.
The groups that performs tonight, the series' final concert, will continue the diversity.
Starting the evening off is Society's Ugly Son, a five-member band that plays "Southern-fried-psychedelic-blues-metal for the intelligent," vocalist Michael J. Fisher said.
"Lyrically, we try to get past the generalized 'We're angry about everything,'" he said.
Having worked with gang members for ten years, Fisher has plenty of sources for his material.
Through his music, Fisher tells stories of people he has met and explores trends he has seen, he said.
The band uses story telling rather than focusing on the members' personal feelings, Fisher added.
They use the technique of old country and folk artists, musically from which they could not be farther apart, he said.
Since the band members come from different musical backgrounds, they combine into a different form of music, he said.
"Think Allman Brothers meets up with old-school Metallica," Fisher said.
Following Society's Ugly Son is Burnt Notion, an alternative rock group of three students who have played together for three years, including at last year's "Garage Rock."
Their grunge sound seems to take influences from Nirvana, Chevelle and the Foo Fighters.
Moonmen will wrap up the evening.
This group released the EP "Monstars," and features between five and seven members, including rhythm and lead guitar, drums, keyboard, a synthesizer/laptop combination, bass guitar and a vocalist.
Moonmen band member Patrick Kolodgy described the band's sound as "as eclectic as possible while still being rooted in indie rock."
Moonmen count the Microphones among their influences, he added.
"Usually the songs will develop from a few of us jamming, and then we work out a structure, try to get the parts to flow, then add one instrument at a time," Kolodgy said.
The final session of "Garage Rock II" is tonight at the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library main branch, 325 N. Michigan St.
Parking and admission are free, and Red Bull and free hot dogs are provided.
Kozack said he's very happy with the event's current success.
At the June 30 session, he said, "How many libraries had a moshpit tonight?"
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