Criteria
The Social / Common Grounds
Words: MacKenzie Pause
Photos: MacKenzie Pause

Fighting the winds Ernesto brought through downtown Orlando with my umbrella, I entered The Social and noticed I was soaked from the knees down. It's disorienting to walk into a venue that's so often deafening, sweaty, crowded and smoky to find it quiet, cold and vacant. The air was virtually breathable. The Smoking Popes and Criteria hung out in the back, setting up band merchandise and eating pizza.

My band, History, had the pleasure of opening the show. Unloading gear during the wrath of Ernesto sucked. Ok, so it wasn't a full blown hurricane ripping through Downtown Orlando, blowing away our guitars and drenching equipment with sideways rain. It was, however, wet, but a little rain wouldn't keep us away. Surprisingly, the storm didn't affect attendance. Instead of "hunkering" down, eager fans of Chicago's alternapoppunk band The Smoking Popes filled The Social.

The Popes may have seen larger crowds circa 1995, but even competing with Sam Rivers' final Will's Pub performance and the closing night of the best bar in Orlando, the venue filled up with young and old fans alike. The common quote for the night was, "I feel like I'm 16 again." While The Popes ended each night with energized performances that made their fans relive their high school days, Criteria's guitar driven indie rock captivated current fans while gaining many new ones.

Criteria, the latest incarnation of Stephen Pederson's projects, is part of the Saddle Creek Records roster. Pederson isn't new to the Omaha scene, though. He contributed his guitar skills to early Cursive and continued on to form The White Octave, while pursuing a law degree at Duke University. A legal career didn't end his musical endeavors, which soon evolved in a basement into a one man project known as Criteria. Eventually Pederson rallied up some musicians to complete the line-up and traded law for his love of music.

While offstage they seem like average guys from Nebraska, onstage they morph into their musical alter-egos. Pre-show, bassist AJ Mogis sat quietly reading a book, but once onstage, he contributed not only an energetic performance, but also a very impressive lumberjack beard. Aaron Druery's quiet and polite demeanor contradicted his fervent performance, where his magnetic presence and guitar tone dominated the right side of the stage. Chris Enriquez, who recently joined the tour, took the stage with solid, tight drumming and an intensity that completed the back bone of the band. Pederson, the founding father of Criteria, is also the tallest member. His height is intimidating to someone of my short stature, but Pederson is nothing less than approachable and friendly. This tour he came complete with a sense of humor and a self-described "pedophile" moustache. Pederson fronts the band with powerful, passionate, conscious lyrics and guitar licks that will stick in your head for days.

The newest rock formation from this lawyer by day, rocker by night, gripped the Orlando audience with a set infused with Jawbox influences and Foo Fighteresque rock anthems. Three part vocals, loud guitar and raw energy spanned across the narrow stage. Criteria convey nothing short of honest, emotive, intelligent rock.

Orlando music fans proved that it would take more than Ernesto to keep them away.
No matter what hurricanes threaten Florida, the rain ceases to deter the rock.
www.criteriamusic.com