Settle in; this is a long one.

If you’ve read any of my other reviews, I’ve made it clear that I’m often wrong, and this was no exception. Still, compared to a lot of shows, it was very buttoned up. The bar was clean and it was lit in an artistic way, not a careless one. Even the troublemakers were well dressed (and harmless). Though the bar is welcoming and the staff are really nice, I felt underdressed and restless while I sat with my beer. That’s no fault of W&W’s own – I’m just awkward. 

Then the music started, and I thought to myself, “oh, this makes sense.” The venue did fit the music, but not in an obvious way. Yes, the sounds were heavier, yes, the vocals were rougher, yes, the drums were loud – but none of that mattered. What mattered was how professional the groups were. 

They were sometimes goofy, gross, and occasionally actually punk, but each of them sounded exactly how they wanted to sound. The artistic choices made sense, and I didn’t hear anything fall apart significantly. No set is perfect, but any mistakes were negligible. I’ll talk about the groups individually in a moment – but I want to give a shoutout to whoever booked this show. These bands complimented one another perfectly, and the order in which they played was great. 

The Museum Direktors, a self-described power pop group who have been playing together since they were teenagers, opened the show. After a few songs, I started to worry that they’d be the best act of the night (and they weren’t not, depending on your taste). They’re very good. The co-vocalists were a treat. Not only were they in tune while still having enough edge to pull off the music, they looked like they were having a blast.

Each member seemed equally matched and their years of experience shows. Usually three-pieces sound a little thin regardless of their technical ability, but that’s not the case for the Museum Direktors. Their general appeal made them a perfect opener as well. 

Key of Caustic is a group I regret not seeing live earlier. Their music is polished and they have great stage presence. Like the other groups, each member is talented, but what I noticed first was that they use really unique effects. 

Usually, gear-heavy bands stress me out because so many things can go wrong, but KoC used their gear comfortably and did it well. The vocals were on an intense delay and/or reverb, but it didn’t get muddy. The bass was very chunky. That’s really the only way to describe it other than very percussive. I could hear fingers/strings in the mix despite the drums.

Speaking of drums, the drummer was just flat-out great. He made great choices, and sounded at home while using the house kit. 

The lead guitar had a bright tone with distortion I couldn’t quite place, and that combo made it easy to pick out in the mix. The vocalist is also the rhythm guitarist, and he kept his guitar neutral, which is what the sound needed. 

Though there were a few technical difficulties, none were the fault of the musicians. Regardless, their set was fun, and I hope to see them again. 

I don’t see bands like Hammered Saint often. This was the most punk rock performance of the night. Each member is talented, but it’s the kind of talented that comes with extensive practice. They were comfortable onstage. And because they were comfortable, they were able to take the performance to a place most other acts just don’t go. 

The lead guitar sounded fantastic and his interactions with the other band members were lovely, for lack of a better descriptor. His writing is creative, and like the bassist’s, very melodic. Percussion was tight, and made the music danceable. 

I do want to spotlight the bass here. I’m sure they get it all the time, but they’re incredible. The basslines on these tracks are wild; they function like second melodies rather than rhythm parts, though they do also fulfill that need. If you get to see Hammered Saint, I recommend focusing on the bass for one song (at least). It is a lot, but it never tips over into gratuitous. With the vocal part – which is insane, I’ll get there – a prominent bassline makes sense. 

The vocalist is a performer in exactly the way a punk singer should be. They have very little shame, which is what makes them compelling. Usually I talk about wanting to see musicians have fun, and I do, but beyond that, I like to see them surrender to the music. This performance was exactly that. I imagine it takes a lot out of them. 

They were so intense that I had to close my eyes to focus on the vocal itself, and that was stellar, too. They have trained their voice well, and aren’t afraid to take vocal risks, but that’s no surprise. I was very impressed with the writing – and like I said, it’s the perfect match for their bandmate’s complicated bass work. 

The last act of the night, Burp, was a perfect closer. Hilarious name, serious musicianship. The addition of a saxophonist – maybe just for that performance, because I can’t find them in any other show photos –  was an inspired choice. They call themselves “punk-adjacent,” and I’d agree. Their sound, though heavy, is almost dancey and it left me with a tasty post-show high. 

The vocalist has a writing style that straddles indie rock and punk, and he was in tune live, which I loved. After listening to some of their music post-show, I realized that though I try really hard to pay attention, I missed a lot of guitar work. The lead guitarist is doing some heavy lifting, and I didn’t realize the extent of it. If you want to see what I mean, listen to “My Back Hurts,” their 2022 single, sometime. 

There must be something in the air, because I want to talk about bass again. Burp’s bassist is amazing. Not only is he technically proficient, but he is full of energy. I was grinning at him for half of their set. Kind of like Hammered Saint’s vocalist, he really listens to his body when performing. Often, that means jumping, running, saying hello to his bandmates – whatever he’s feeling, you can tell he’s doing it. 

Go see Burp. They’re great musicians, and they’re just having a great goddamn time. They’ll make you smile. 

Actually, if you have the time, go see any/all of the acts I reviewed here. They’re great bands, great artists, and honestly, they just seemed like good people.

Author:
PNT, BLTN Contributor