Whoever says punk is dead is a heretic and clearly was not at Rapids Theatre Wednesday night.
Two of the biggest names in punk music, Dropkick Murphys and Against Me!, shared the stage and provided a night full of pints of Guinness and circle pits to a handful of lucky fans who got tickets before they sold out.
Dropkick and Against Me! have become two of the biggest names in punk music. These two bands have paved the way for much of the punk music that is being produced today. And when these two bands combine forces, the product is magical.
The huge Irish populace of Buffalo came out in droves for this show, and it wasn't disappointed. As Dropkick tore through their 27 song setlist, it was apparent why they have amassed such a dedicated following.
From the moment Dropkick took the stage, they had the crowd eating out of their hands. Their mixture of hardcore punk and Irish folk made the audience feel more like it was at a family reunion than a concert.
The spectators Wednesday night got to be the guinea pigs, as they were some of the first people to hear several new songs off Dropkick's new album, Going Out in Style.
As Dropkick serenaded the crowd with new jams, the masses seemed to enjoy them as much as the classics they performed, like "Citizen C.I.A" and "Shipping Up to Boston."
What makes Dropkick's live show so special is how dynamic it is. There is not one member of the band that demands more attention than another, as every member provided his own personal style to the overall show.
From Ken Casey providing the dominant bassline to Josh "Scruffy" Wallace on bagpipes, to Jeff DeRosa delivering the banjo licks that got everyone dancing, every person in Dropkick makes his own highlight reel.
Before the band left the stage, it invited the lovely ladies of the audience on stage to help perform "Kiss Me, I'm Shitfaced," which has become a staple of its show.
The parade of females on the stage gave the song an extra layer. As Casey sung about falsifying yourself to get laid, the women screamed every word. As the song progressed, it became nearly impossible to distinguish Casey's voice from the crowd's.
Not to be overshadowed by Dropkick, Against Me! supplied the anarcho-punk that has shaped the face of modern punk. Their mixture of Americana and punk fit in perfectly with Dropkick.
Sporting one of the best live shows out there, it took no time for Against Me! to make the audience perk up and pay attention. The band started its set by playing "White Crosses," and the mosh pit instantly became dramatically larger.
Tom Gabel, the lead singer for Against Me!, seemed to be having as much fun performing as the crowd had chanting along. When the band performed classics like "From Her Lips to God's Ears" and "Don't Lose Touch," the insanity in the crowd increased significantly.
The pinnacle of their show was when they played the widely loved "Pints of Guinness Make You Strong." As soon as the opening chord was strummed, the crowd was electrified. Every person in the audience toasted to the band, screamed every word, and shoved to get mere inches closer.
Off With Their Heads was the first band to take the stage. While they began the set basically unknown to the audience, their hardcore punk stylings fit in perfect with the rest of the show, and the audience ate it up.
The crowd was half of the fun of the show. As the acts shined on stage, the intoxicated audience danced and sang along like one giant family.
By the end of the night, there was not a single person that wasn't covered in sweat and bruises; just how a punk show should be.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
