Talk about a mundane Monday. Rain was pissing down, the wind was fiercely cold, and inside The Old Bar, things got real sad – in the best possible way, of course. The lineup of Diecut, Postblue and Self Defense Family suited the dreary conditions outside. It was a night dedicated to the sadder side of punk with a few progressive jams and laughs to smooth things out.
Diecut took the stage first – a six-piece band featuring two guitars, bass, drums, violin and keys, who gave us an impressive set. With heavily distorted guitars, thumping drums and sad, drawn out vocals, Diecut blended the finer parts of several genres to create a miserablist atmosphere. As insistent rhythms washed over the crowd, their sludge-influenced emo tracks covered such unsettling themes as being stalked. It’d be a stretch to compare Diecut to other acts, but the longer song structures were reminiscent of progressive heavy rockers like City of Caterpillar and Cult of Luna.
Up next, Postblue hammered out a set of grungy tracks with throwbacks to ‘90s punk/noise, rounded out by a Slowdive-esque finish. They might seem like an odd fit in between Diecut and Self Defense Family, but Postblue picked things up a bit before the headliners took the stage.
Self Defense Family gave us a lesson in strong showmanship. Patrick Kindlon’s vocals howled dynamically over a mix of upbeat, summery tracks and lengthy prog-jams that got more unsettling as they churned on. Despite being the last show of the tour, Kindlon covered up any trace of weariness during lengthy discussions with, or at the crowd. Speaking as if he squeezed in an eternal bear hug, he offered plenty of quips about international politics, Australians, trigger happy Americans, the English, and how one of the new songs was about the odd topic of “Too many bees.”
The set wrapped up with emotional, post-hardcore power; a brilliantly spacious end of reverberating riffs and Kindlon’s repeating howls.
BY THOMAS BRAND
Loved: Onstage banter from Patrick Kindlon was A+.
Hated: Missing Poison City Weekender.
Drank: $15 Mountain Goat jugs. Bleatin’ good time.
