Live: Lifetime with Title Fight and Iron Chic @ Europa 1.7.12

Tickets for this show evaporated almost immediately on the heels of the Lifetime/Iron Chic factor. That was enough for me to pony up, and the rumor of Title Fight sweetened the pot, as they had been getting a fair amount of buzz and I hadn't gotten around to listening. Despite an egregious amount of neglect, my bike got me to Europa safely and bought me some decent real estate for Iron Chic.

Iron Chic have been a local success story for a couple years. The latest record Not Like This has moved some units and garnered them their first overseas touring this Summer. The crew has been laying low since their return and these shows marked their first in a bit outside of Long Island. The kids were excited as usual, churning up a maelstrom of bodies that doesn't exactly match up with their drunk pop-punk. Their customary seven song set made it easy to hit the high points of the catalog before demuring Dwarves-style after about their usual twenty minutes (and about as many beers).

Title Fight were up next. I had been mildly intrigued as they kind of hailed from where I grew up, but didn't figure on their being the worst parts of Fall Out Boy and Rise Against. Sound was pretty bad for most of their set and when things did clear up vocally, I realized the sound guy had been doing us a favor. Color them uber-meh and ask the silly bass player kid to stop his stupid Wentz jumping. Lifetime were up shortly thereafter. They are old. Not that I'm not, but they are looking a bit long in the tooth. The set was solid though, covering most, if not all the high points of their canon. Lots of stage presence from the crowd, but for the first time in a while no scamp pissed Ari enough to cut the set short. Check the set list (courtesy of setlist.fm) and live in regret.

R

1. Turnpike Gates 
2. Airport Monday Morning 
3. (The Gym Is) Neutral Territory 
4. Daneurysm 
5. Rodeo Clown 
6. Just a Quiet Evening 
7. Northbound Breakdown 
8. Young, Loud, and Scotty 
9. Irony Is for Suckers 
10. boys no good 
11. Haircuts and T-Shirts 
12. Bringin' It Backwards 
13. Knives, Bats, New Tats 
14. The Truth About Lars 
15. Hey Catrine 
16. Spiders in a Garden 
17. Ostrichsized 
18. 25 Cent Giraffes 

Iron Chic - Split n' Shit EP

Even in the wake of my recent run-in with the local constabulary post-Chic last time, I have to say that IC may be my favorite local band. They are getting a little big locally to maintain their small-time aspirations, but defeatist tendencies aside, Split N' Shit continues where last year's awesome Not Like This left off. Four songs: three pretty aces new tracks, and one not-especially remarkable Bikini Kill cover. Evidently these are all from European tour 7"s, so collector nerds should seek to slake their vinyl thirst over at Yo Yo or All In Records, as needed. You can also pick them up in virtual form over at the IC bandcamp presence.

R

Live: Iron Chic with Young Livers @ 538 Johnson Ave 9.3.10

Iron Chic have a new record out called Not Like This. I like it very much. As such, it seemed prudent to get back from terrorizing the bass population of Newburgh with my pops early enough to get out to 538 Johnson for one of the record release shows. IC have a pretty die-hard local following, and they should, as they are a bright light in the sea of overrated crap rock here in town.

I locked up and got in as Young Livers were setting up. They are from Gainesville and sound like it. It was my first time seeing (hell, hearing!) them and I wasn't disappointed. Amp nerds will be pleased to find that YL travel with a raft of Acorn goodness. They aren't afraid to use them either. All in all, a respectable set with great sound for a house show. Not sure when the renovations took place, or whether the actual space was different last time, but it seemed markedly smaller than at Ergs and Fucked Up shows I had seen there previously. It's gotta be tough to be their neighbor. Everybody seemed totally respectful, but it was loud and smoky for the duration, both in the space and in the hall. And did I mention fucking hot? It was Black Hole Of Calcutta style, the place was full, but not packed yet hot enough for twice the number. Add some amps and whatnot, and I was soaked to the skin for the duration.

Iron Chic were up in short order, which makes me wonder whether there was a lineup switch. I saw Rachel during the YL set, but there was no mention. I like Bridge & Tunnel a bunch, so I was kinda bummed, but given the temperature, I was more than willing to cut to the chase. They like themselves some beer, preferably canned, cheap and in some quantity. Their crowd does, too, leading to the requisite crowd lurching and unnecessary (not to mention poor executed) crowd riding. Iron Chic were tight, boding well for those who intend to see them on the tour. Dates are here. Lots of stuff off the new record, with a couple dips back into their first nine songs. In an ideal world, big things are forthcoming for the IC boys. Of course, I said the same thing about Bridge and Tunnel and now they are out with Asslight Anthem, so it's sort of a double-edged sword. Either way, if you are in the South and/or Midwest, do yourself a solid and check out Iron Chic live.

R