Okay,
enough of the acoustic shenanigans which have kicked off my 2018 gig year so
far…. It’s time for some big pounding drums and full-on, amped-up, cranked-up,
neighbour annoying punk rock electric guitars! So, tonight was perfect for the
part – an intriguing 3 band US punk rock package tour fronted by The
Menzingers, a Scranton, PA. rabble whom I’d been aware of for some time, but had
only checked out seriously last year thanks to a recommendation from Si and
Matt Hall, co-conspirators of Swindon’s finest, the Mighty Raze*Rebuild. Their
2016 “After The Party” CD became a firm favourite of mine; shades of Jimmy Eat
World and the early 2000’s emo sound, a little Gaslight Anthem subject matter
and song structure, and strong repetitive hooks aplenty, wrapped up in a shiny
guitar-chiming package.
Si
got tickets for this one, and I signed up as designated driver, picking up Si
and fellow R*R uber-fan Paul Carter, then Matt, hitting the road for some rock’n’roll
reminiscing en route to arrival at 20
to 8. Back at this shiny new, albeit inconveniently shaped venue, an
enthusiastic sell-out crowd already being in attendance for openers Cayetana,
prompt at 8. The only band on the bill I was unfamiliar with, and Si had suggested
a low-fi offering; didn’t get that though, as straight out of the blocks, this
all-girl 3-piece screamed pure-bred 90’s post-grunge college pop to me. Nice!
Opener “Dirty Laundry” raced along, powered by some chunky guitars and nuanced,
occasionally yodelly vocals from vocalist Augusta Koch, occasionally reminding
me of Placebo’s Brian Molko, weirdly enough! “Certain For Miles” was a
tub-thumping, pulsating VU-like drone-fest, whilst “Mesa” recalled Magnapop and
Fuzzy in its’ upbeat hookiness. “You guys, Bristol’s fucking gorgeous,” gushed
Augusta before splendid set closer “Hot Dad”, “but I got shin splints from walking
up the hills!”. I hope that doesn’t put them off returning, as I’d love to see
this lot headline, say, The Thekla…!
The
boys grabbed dsrinks and we took a watching brief on the walkway, stage right,
for Pup, on at 9 to a rap backing track. Opener “Doubts” set the tone for their
set with some big chunky tuneage and angular, off-kilter drum patterns, almost
Weezer meets Primus? “Guilt Trip” came across as a punkier Presidents Of The
USA, with some odd rhythms and savage primal screaming vocals from diminutive
vocalist Stefan Babcock, and a later “Sleep In The Heat” had shades of Titus
Andronicus (!) in its’ widescreen savagery. Overall, I liked them fine,
although they were a little too all over the place for me, and I found chunks
of the mid-late set wearing, sailing uncomfortably close to screamy nu-metal
territory for these ears. However penultimate number, “If This Tour Doesn’t
Kill You, I Will” was great, easily their highlight tonight, although by this
point I was chatting to Allegra and the gregarious Kelly from Cayetana at the
merch stand!
Back
to our spot for The Menzingers, on at 10 to a rabid welcome from a totally
rammed dancefloor, singing and fist-pumping along to every song throughout,
pretty much from the opening note of bouncy set opener “Tellin’ Lies”. Swapping
vocal chores between dual guitarists, the livewire, balding ball of enthusiasm
Tom May and his more monolithic partner-in-crime Greg Barnett, they nonetheless
set to their task with equal gusto. A splendid sounding set of their modern-day
emo/ US punk fusion sound ensued, all driving drums, power chords and ringing,
chiming guitar work, topped with soaring, towering choruses. Not a great deal
of light and shade in the set, but the mosh stayed mad for it throughout,
prompting Greg to remark, “holy fuck, this is amazing!” and later blatantly lie
about being born in Bristol – “I was conceived in the Bierkeller!”, prompting a
sardonic response of, “you’re probably not the only one…!” from Tom.
“Charlies
Army” was a Gaslight-esque flag waver worthy of a stadium backdrop; rambunctious
oldie “Casey” had me scrambling for my phone to record a segment for my
like-named daughter; and the boys announced their plans to watch this weekend’s
Superbowl, “after midnight in Kelly’s pub in Antwerp!” before “Your Wild Years”.
My favourite, the driving yet melancholy “Lookers” closed out the set, by which
time I was shaking a leg down the front, in a perfect spot not only to be
showered with streamer confetti during their final, Pixies-ish encore number,
but also grab an easy set-list! Then t’was the usual slow egress and a quick
chat with Cayetana’s vivacious vocalist Augusta at the merch stand, finally home
late at 20 to 1 after dropping the boys off. A nice find in Cayetana, some work
to do on The Menzingers’ back catalogue, but overall a great big boy’s big punk
rock night out, a corking triple bill in fine company, on and off stage!
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