Kicking off this Saturday at an absolutely packed Red Gate was the phenomenal hard-hitting quartet EMMA GOLDMAN.
I only caught the last few songs, but they were tight, loud, and smash-aroundable. Even if I only got half the set, it’s always a treat.
Both vocals were too quiet and unusual, as the lead vocals usually rage above everything else.
The crowd was in full-blown flail mode, with the pit seething already. Portends good things to come.
Next, it was a killer offering from the trio NATLAK. After the issues plagued their previous offering, this was on the money.
Their blend of art, noise, and punk provides a bevy of original and interesting songs. Some dip into the art side, with some spoken word/poetry, while others go almost full-blown punk.
They never lost the noise aesthetic. The chaotic sound was always there, and no song struck me as boring or cliché.
Killer vocals. Love their screams. Their frantic guitar playing and emotion-filled voice blended so fucking beautifully.
Next was an offering from the island, the hardcore trio JOBSITE, who burned their way through a short but intense set.
Screaming vocals with a fully engaged singer, even coming into the crowd.
The bassist, also in QUEENS PARK, got into the screaming act, giving the band such an intense flavor.
Everything was played fast and kept short, the prototypical hardcore offering. Great drums, blast beats, and such smashing.
The crowd was full-blown still, more of a hardcore pit than a smashing and banging one. By the end, though, it was just full smashing.
Finally, it was a band I have been chasing for a while now: the quartet TALL MARY, offering a delicious dose of art/noise/performative rock that was the perfect cap to the evening.
The set leaned toward the art side of things, where the songs felt like a mosaic, with the singer weaving us through it, even a little beer pouring on their head.
The final song had some serious length, a story about a deer being hunted, which would oscillate between slow and manic, with perfect imagery. Loved it.
He was pleased.