Three bands played before Parquet Courts. Mike Bell & the Movies, a catchy pop punk band, held their own and were followed by two female-fronted bands, The Cats and Priests. The Cats are worth checking out for the addictive energy of lead singer/screamer Manon. It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that The Cats got the best response from the audience that night out of all of the openers. Priests, a true punk scene band, followed with a fuzzy over-distorted wall of noise, howling vocals, and crashing cymbals. Imagine a surf rock band that decided to stop smoking weed and start agressively drinking and rioting. Loud, punchy, and awesome!
Next, the stage was cleared, and Parquet Courts set up. This is when a larger crowd started to show up. Elbow room became elbows in the face, and mosh pits sporadically broke out. However, the mix of drunk punks and stoned hipsters made it more of a stumble pit. The band’s set featured a balance of in-your-face punk songs and other tracks that had a Yo La Tengo vibe. The highlight of the set was “No Ideas” and its start/stop composition that frustrated those trying to dance to it. There was a minor guitar issue during one track, but the band finished the song with a ton of energy that drove the small crowd nuts. Overall, besides the few technical issues, the band earned its lively and loyal crowd. Check them out if you can.
NICHOLAS: NEVER FAILING TO DELIVER.