Jan’s Room, January 18 with Surroundings, Middle America, others 24 January 2008

This was my last show in the Lehigh Valley before returning to Philadelphia, and it was awesome.  It was billed as a joint release show for the first issue of Evan’s Brain Case fanzine and new Valley band Oxygen Destroyer’s first tape.  Jersey bands Seasick and Static Radio opened the night with short sets, fast, energetic hardcore from the former, and Kid Dynamite/Lifetime poppyness from the latter.  Ohio metallic HC band Paralyzer played, and I got smacked in the face by their bass player’s dreadlocks.  They were totally nice guys though, and the music ripped.  Baltimore’s Surroundings played a style similar to their hometown contemporaries Pulling Teeth, and in my opinion were the best band of the night.  Plus their singer walked with a cane but still managed to put on a good live performance.  Lehigh Valley heartthrobs Middle America featuring renowned prick Tom D on drums played next, with their usual chaotic early 80’s style.  This band is seriously good, try to track down their demo tape, and keep a lookout for a new 7″ sometime soon.  Oxygen Destroyer’s set was my first experience with this band, featuring a couple of noisers and a jazz percussionist playing sludgy metal at high volumes.  Here are the pictures from the show:

Static Radio:

Seasick:

Middle America:

Paralyzer:

I have no idea…

Surroundings:

Oxygen Destroyer:

Thanks for looking, hit me back with feedback.

New Year’s Day Hardcore Show! Blank Stare, Coke Bust, Sick Fix 10 January 2008

2008 started with a banger of a show at Jan’s Room in Allentown, PA.  I was not hungover, because NYE was spent watching Mr. Show and Upright Citizen’s Brigade. Fun night.  Anyway, on to the show.  Buffalo, NY’s White York and  Halo Fauna were added last minute  to  the show,  but mixed up the atmosphere with some  poppy  indie jams.   White York sounded a bit like what Against Me! should be doing right now.  Reading, PA’s I Hate This were next, with an intense female vocalist and guitars with “I <3 Powerviolence” stickers.  D.C.’s Coke Bust played exactly what hardcore should be, fast and pissed.  Their singer was all over the place, and spoke his mind on some of the song topics.  They shared members with the next band, Sick Fix, so their was little downtime between sets.  Sick Fix also had a rad female singer.  It was awesome to see two girls singing in hardcore bands at one show, especially because they were super into what they were doing and provoking though with the time they had during their sets.  The band I was really excited for, Blank Stare from Boston, played last.  Their singer was really into  it,  and they ripped.  Here are the pictures:

White York:

Halo Fauna:

I Hate This:

Coke Bust:

Sick Fix:

Griffin Moshes during Sick Fix’s set:

Blank Stare:

Thanks!