Hardcore Friday

It was a hot night in the B-lo, and the ultimate way to kick off a long weekend was with deafening hardcore punk.

Rochester natives Such Gold brought the heat (pun intended) and got the crowd primed in the pit. They mixed up their set with old and new songs, the latter baiting us for their upcoming album release this summer (details to come).

Direct support Rust Belt Lights was a new band to us, though they are favorites in the Buffalo area. They kept the crowd pumped up as Polar Bear Club lingered in wings; and though it was easy for me to deduce that their flavor of punk was right up my alley, they definitely deserve a second and third listen after the show.

When headliner Polar Bear Club struck the first chord, the pit erupted into a throwback hardcore scene. The die hard fans pushed up front to help vocalist Jimmy Stadt round out the set list while those dodging windmill-arms sang every word from the back. Former bassist, Josh Dillon, took the stage in place of Goose who is nursing a busted knee and didn't miss a beat.

The energy was high and the boys seemed more on-point than their September show. However, in a basement like Dubland, who can blame them. PBC played a few favorites, giving a nod to their latest release Chasing Hamburg and also brought listeners back to The Redder the Better with Parked In the Parking Lot of Your Heart dedicated to two newly-engaged fans.

Mark your calendar as they will be back in this neck of the woods July 14th at Warped Tour.

Terrible Things Thursday

Taking Back Sunday + Hot Rod Circuit + Coheed And Cambria = Terrible Things

Though they will be playing a handful of Warped Tour shows out West, this is the ROC's chance to see them in action.

Water Street Music Hall with Anberlin and Story of the Year
Doors: 6 pm
Cash: $18

Happy Anniversary to This Girl

I was so busy rocking the pit on vacation, I forgot my 1 year anniversary last week! Many thanks to my friends and followers who like to get down with the get down, the lovely folks at The Insider (past and present), my partner-in-crime, and of course all the amazing Roc-area local bands who have been totally ok with me stalking them and peering in their windows.

XOXO, PunkROC

Punk Out the West Coast

Vacation is a time to step away from work and personal responsibilities and kick back. But, if you're anything like me, it's also an opportunity to experience what you love in a different setting. Case and point: Cali punk.

On holiday in the Bay Area, I was sure to put some shows on my docket, especially since the larger cities tend to reap better acts. Sorry, Rochester, but you know it's true. Not only did we get to freeze our asses off outside to see Cake (where they played favorites including Love You Madly and Stickshifts and Safetybelts) but we also got a chance to revisit San Francisco's version of Water Street, Slim's, and take in some authentic Golden State punk. I had last visited this venue in 2007 to see the Ataris play, and found it to be just like our ROC counterpart: small, gritty and easily accessible to the stage.

With my perennial partner-in-crime in tow, we unfortunately arrived late, missing opener Title Fight. But, I had seen them back in September at Dubland with Polar Bear Club, so few tears were shed. Comeback Kid was striking their open chords as our hands were stamped and we settled in to the crowd. Though they were pretty unfamiliar to me, CBK brought the noise with their absolutely unforgettable guitar leads and well-timed balance of vocals.
Set Your Goals took the stage and immediately prepared us for a lineup change. Days earlier, lead singer Jordan had gotten sick on stage and would be sitting out the band's closing show in their hometown. Our skepticism about what would result was soon washed away as singer after singer from the tour and other bands took turns cranking out songs. Though we wish we had seen Jordan in action, we were pleased with this opportunity to mix it up a bit.

As expected, Set Your Goals did not disappoint, even with their hodge-podge of band members. Their musicianship stood up to this challenge and the audience received them without missing a beat. I loved seeing a personal favorite, Gaia Bleeds, live as the "bombs away" refrain was picked up by the audience and regurgitated back with such ferocity that it harked back to the 90s hardcore movement. An awesome show to close out the week.

Your week in punk

I am off on vacation this week and missing a few awesome shows in the Greater Roc area. So awesome, that if I weren't seeing Set Your Goals and Cake on my trip, I would be inconsolably jealous. Check these out, and you will not be disappointed:

Punk- Neutron Rats at the Bug Jar 5/10. Between the close quarters at Bug Jar and the way this Albany band shreds, losing your hearing is bound to happen. But, it will be totally worth it for a night of authentic punk.

Christian Metal- We Sail at Dawn at the Bug Jar 5/12. Nothing like the uplifting words of Christianity, melded with the pounding, gut-wrenching guitars that come with deathcore.

Ska/punk- Big D and the Kids Table at Water Street 5/13. Our favorites, Big D, are joining together with locals Mrs. Skannotto for a night of ska/punk/dub to jam to.

Surf rock- The Isotopes at the German House 5/14. Join as these Roc Locals while they film their new live concert DVD. Openers are Mulletude, a hair band cover group.

Promise and Precision and Mess of Youthful Innocence

It's not even Friday yet and I've already got Saturday by FOB in my head. Maybe it's because the other side of this weekend kicks off my first vacation in 3 years, but this catchy tune is heralding Saturday fast as can be. Turn Pat and Pete up to 11, because this Saturday welcomes two awesome shows, of two completely different genres:

Straight-edge hardcore Buffalo punks, Snapcase, are reuniting for one show only at the Town Ballroom. Following their 2004 disbanding and a brief 3-show reunion in 2007, Snapcase's absence is making upstate New York crave some delicious, shredding 90s hardcore. We've always been huge fans of how rythmically demanding Snapcase's music is, focusing on their guitar leads. Not to mention how powerful, often uplifting and compelling their lyrics can be. Snapcase is playing a short tour in Europe and one show only stateside: Buffalo. Be sure to catch them now, as you never know when they'll be back around.

For a shorter drive to a show that's more family friendly than hardcore, Roc-local indie band, Walri, is bringing their psychedelic rock to the Genesee Valley Sports Complex. What's more, they're playing the halftime show for the Roc City Roller Derby's first home bout of the 2010 season. Walri's jams tend to be more ecclectic, drawing influces from punk, bluegrass, bossa nova and rock, making them more accessible to a wider audience. Doors at 6, bout starts at 7, Walri plays halfway through.