Overnight Lows, Slugz, and Eurotics
Sunday, April 17 at Strange Matter
Last Sunday, I ventured out to Strange Matter to catch the Overnight Lows, Slugz, and Eurotics, for an evening of what flyers outside the club stated as “rock n’ roll.” Rock n’ roll is the core of punk rock, don’t get me wrong, but what I saw was not modern rock n’ roll. It was more like revival punk. Which can be both a good and bad thing. While Government Warning shows four years ago were a trip to witness, there was still something missing; something inimitable. And that’s how it felt throughout the not quite two hour show. Around 30 Peter Pan punks showed up to booze on Black Label Beer and listen to the faster variety of gritty rock music; and maybe get a quick Paperboy fix.
Overnight Lows, Slugz, and Eurotics
Sunday, April 17 at Strange Matter
Last Sunday, I ventured out to Strange Matter to catch the Overnight Lows, Slugz, and Eurotics, for an evening of what flyers outside the club stated as “rock n’ roll.” Rock n’ roll is the core of punk rock, don’t get me wrong, but what I saw was not modern rock n’ roll. It was more like revival punk. Which can be both a good and bad thing. While Government Warning shows four years ago were a trip to witness, there was still something missing; something inimitable. And that’s how it felt throughout the not quite two hour show. Around 30 Peter Pan punks showed up to booze on Black Label Beer and listen to the faster variety of gritty rock music; and maybe get a quick Paperboy fix.
As you know, Strange Matter either designates the floor or the stage for acts. This show was exclusively the former, which allowed for band members to interact physically; be it a push to engage a dust devil dance, or saliva to enrage the hostile-dressed spectators before them. Eurotics, a typical five-piece (two guitars, bass, vocalist and drummer), would have the first say of the night, spewing speed punk reminiscent of 80s hardcore. Where other acts fell short, the Richmonders found space above the standard sounds of revival, getting weird thanks to guitarist Jim Ramirez. While wearing a pair of middle school gym shorts, too tight for his junk not to be exposed through the material, and equipped with a Fender Jaguar, Ramirez contributed spooky psychedelic lines over their tight, short set.
After a short interlude of Fiona Apple tunes over the PA, either to be contrary or ironic, Jackson, Mississippi’s Overnight Lows took the floor in support of their new album City of Rotten Eyes off Goner Records. The three-piece went on to place the longest set of the night, almost a half-hour, exhibiting buzzsaw guitar lines with playful shout-snarl vocals. Daphne and Marsh Nabors are married and mesh well passing off vocal duty. They compliment each other with what the style they produce. However, I saw Mika Miko before, and they did a similar thing, only louder, more intricate, and there was a saxophone. Other than the speaker cabinet thudding out Daphne’s fuzzy bass lines adorned with a classic image of John Wayne–which, by the way, was the coolest cabinet I’ve ever seen–there wasn’t much else to keep me interested throughout the whole set.
The last band to grace the cement of Strange Matter was Slugz. Did I mention Government Warning before? Yeah, well, there’s not too much of a divide between the sound of the two. Short-haired pissed off vocalist yelling into the microphone as if everything he says is the ma’-fuckin truth, son, rolling drums, and Bad Religion-esque bendy guitar riffs. Quick head jolts, and concentrated looks followed the actions of the yelps of the lead vocalist and the crashes of the cymbal. To be honest, the kids motoring in place seemed to really enjoy it. A quick 15 minutes later, Slugz’ set was done, and the show was over. I paid my bar tab, and my sober self walked past the merch tables without hesitation.
