photos by Daniel Muller | words by Andrew Norman
The one band I didn't come to watch Saturday at Slowdown is the one that blew me away.
But I came to see The Menzingers and Hot Water Music, so we'll start with them. The Philadelphia-based Menzingers' first Epitaph Records effort (On the Impossible Past) was my most-played album of the 2012. Their mix of smart, story-driven songwriting, dual-melodic vocals and driving power punk never gets old for me. Their live show never disappoints, led by guitarist Tom May at center stage hopping and jumping and smiling through the entire set, which included songs spanning back to their 2007 debut, A Lesson in the Abuse of Information Technology. After the band's last two stops through town — at the Sandbox and Sokol Underground — it was nice to see and hear them on the city's best stage.
Hot Water Music, which has either inspired or toured with probably every one of my favorite punk bands, started with the song I hoped for: "Remedy," from 2002's Trusty Chords. The song spurred a rowdy pit that stayed active through about a dozen more of the Gainesville-based band's "hits," including "Trusty Chords," "Drag My Body" and "Jack of All Trades." Following a short, pro-forma break, they closed the night with an encore rendition of The Bouncing Souls' "True Believers." Chuck Ragan, Chris Wollard, Jason Black and George Rebelo have been doing this for 20 years (minus a couple breaks), and their set was as energetic and tight as expected.
But it was La Dispute that I was talking about after the show. Wedged between the melodic punk bands, this Grand Rapids, Mich., post-hardcore band (think Thursday) had their own crowd — including the majority of the all-ages audience — which inexplicably seemed to know every word of frontman Jordan Dreyer's shouted/screamed vocals. Dreyer was the story here, spasmodically thrashing and flailing with the mic in one hand as he led the crowd through some wretched sort of public counseling session. Shouting in unison into his outstretched mic, they played the roles of the desperate characters from Dreyer's catchy, narrative-based songs like "New Storms for Older Lovers," and they watched as he limped to the side of the stage during another song to let a roadie tape his twisted ankle. It was fun to watch.
See images photographer Daniel Muller captured from the night below:
The Menzingers
La Dispute
Hot Water Music
Daniel Muller is a Hear Nebraska contributor. See all his photos from the night here. Reach him at danielpatrickmuller@gmail.com.
Andrew Norman is Hear Nebraska's director. He wants to see a Nebraska city between Omaha and Denver to spring up and serve as a viable middle point for touring bands. Reach him at andrewn@hearnebraska.org.