As much as a pain in the ass it was to drive out to Brooklyn from Jersey on a Saturday night in the pouring rain it was well worth it. The hardcore kids had been waiting months for Paint It Black pile-ons and sing-a-longs, while the hardcore adults had been waiting close to twenty years for Naked Raygun’s whoah-oh-ohs and old school pit strutting. Everyone got what they came for and I can’t imagine anyone left complaining otherwise. At one point I spotted a personal hero of mine in the crowd, Blake from Jawbreaker, and taking it as a sign I knew it was gonna be a good night.
Chicago’s Shot Baker started off the evening to a room of about twenty starers, a couple lurkers, and a few people who looked straight lost. We got there early to see them as they were great when we saw them open for the Swingin’ Utters at Asbury Lanes last winter. I’ll eat my Vans if these guys don’t get big in the next couple years. They played songs of their two albums “Awake” and “Take Control” as well as a really excellent track off their new 7” whose name I sadly don’t know. By the time they were half through their set, the singer asked the sparse crowd to come in closer and much to my surprise they all did. I’ve seen many, many, (many) opening acts ask this of many a crowd and 99 times out of a 100 they are met with blank stares. But you know what? Shot Baker had put on a hell of a set up to that point and the crowd couldn’t argue. So ahead we went. Afterward I picked up their new album on blue vinyl and my lady got some pins.
Paint It Black. Well? What can I say that I haven’t already said on the FSS numerous times? They’re fucking great. Don’t believe me? Check out our videos from the show. If you can get past the fact that I was in front of the bass monitor and the audio is for shit, I think it’s pretty obvious just how good they are at the hardcore. They played a couple songs off their new 7”s including Sacred and Salem. I really liked their slower one too (Bliss), which as Dr. Dan noted is a song about them riding around Philly on their bikes. When I say slow I’m speaking relative of course to the rest of their songs, which are blisteringly fast. They also tore through Cannibal (which my vegetarian wife loves), Womb Envy, Exit Wounds, Atticus Finch, Past Tense Future Perfect, and Memorial Day. I was lucky enough afterward to buy a European pressing of “New Lexicon” limited to 250 for a twelve spot (also blue…an odd coincidence?). It also blew my mind that Dan went straight from the stage to work his own merch table without taking a rest. Proof positive that there’s no rock star bullshit or ego trips in their future.
By the time Naked Raygun took the stage the crowd was packed in, amped up and ready to go once more. I’m sorry to say that I only own two Naked Raygun albums, “Jettison” and “Basement Screams”. After reading “American Hardcore” they were one of the bands I sought out and thanks to a couple reader reviews on Amazon I went with “Jettison”. I’ve since ordered “All Rise” on vinyl but am still waiting for it to come in the mail. Truthfully I probably should’ve started there first as it was the obvious crowd favorite of the night. Naked Raygun were awesome. They proved that you can have the snottiness of early hardcore while still taking your music in unexpected directions. As mentioned previously these Chicago natives had their whoah oh ohs in fucking order. I’m pretty sure I saw the dude from the cover of the Circle Jerks albums in the pit too. Although he had gone gray and put on a couple pounds. But seriously they played a hell of a set. They were funny guys too, mocking Brooklyn before even starting their first track. Like I said I only own a couple of their albums but from what I remember the highlights of their set included Home of the Brave, Knock Me Down, I Lie (2nd encore), Peacemaker, Backlash Jack, Soldier’s Requiem, Walk In Cold, Surf Combat, and my favorite of the night Treason.
During Paint It Black, Dan noted he was 41 and not to count him or Naked Raygun out as past their prime. After both sets I don’t think anyone would argue. Check out our YouTube page for all the video proof.
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