Live: Bridge & Tunnel @ ABC No Rio 4.21.12

While it was sad to see The Measure (SA) go the way of the buffalo, NYCers can take solace in the fact that we still have Bridge And Tunnel as our local No Idea franchise. This ABC show was the last local show before the foursome dashed off to Europe for a couple weeks and as it was a stone(r)'s throw from JS-NYC HQ, I figured I'd make the scene. In charming punk fashion, no one could offer any insights into when Bridge & Tunnel was going on, not had any band appeared to have played when I showed up an hour and a half past the start time listed on the flier to the left and in bouncing back and forth, I managed to miss all of the bands before I came back in the room a third time to finally see B&T setting up.

Microphones were not kind to our heroes from the get-go, as Jeff caught a million or so volts in the mouth right before things jumped off. Vocals continued to be an issue for the duration, continuing the time-honored tradition of compression-free underpowered vocals at America's oldest DIY musical venue, but the band was pretty damn tight in the absence of vocals and monitors, blazing through forty or so minutes of recent-era Bridge & Tunnel to a small, but enthusiastic crowd.  New music is rumored to be in the pipeline, but in the interim check out East/West and keep track of all of all other things Bridge and Tunnel here.

R

Live: Deep Sleep with Death First and Foster Care @ 538 Johnson

This had been such a great weekend for rock shows that I was tempted to blow off this show. The weather was just warm enough to make me think it was a good idea, so I jumped on the bike and rode out to the rabbit warren of DIY spaces that is 538 Johnson. Shows there are always in peoples living spaces, which always seems like a bad idea, but always ends up being a decent time, provided you're not the first one there. This was another stellar Hardcore Gig Volume/Ian Dickson show in what I believe is the third space on the second floor I've seen a show in.

First band I saw was Foster Care, who are evidently local dudes and friends of the house. Decent four-piece NY hardcore punk, not to be confused sonically with NYHC. Wouldn't have gone explicitly to see them, but decent enough. Death First were up next, a five-piece with a lady fronting things. Good stuff ala Punch, and probably much better for being in a small (living) room.

Deep Sleep crept in and set it off with the Baltimore take on hardcore. Nothing specific to differentiate them from other scenes, but distinctively Baltimore and not DC. They have a great new record called Turn Me Off that is pretty fucking aces. Live they bring it, with jagged guitars and a pummeling rhythm section that bucks and rolls like an epileptic fit. Good in general, even better in an 8 x 10 living room. The gents piled into a car for the gig, after breaking two vans in as many days to play for maybe 20 people on a Sunday, but brought it as hard as if it were prime time. Kudos to the house, Ian/Hardcore Gig Volume and all the bands for a good time on an early Sunday evening.

R