I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: November 30, 2018] Protomartyr

Protomartyr’s second album Under Color of Official Right was one of my favorite records of 2014.  I loved the noisy music that the band made while singer Joe Casey yelled his abrasive ideas at us.

They had an interesting look too, with the band looking like, as I heard described, three kids who called up their old hard-ass teacher to jam with them.

Casey looks not unlike some random drunk guy who felt compelled to get up on stage and just yell at people.  He always had a beer in his hand and had at least one in his coat pocket.  He stared us down, but also made a couple of funny jokes.

The crowd was absolutely devoted though and the slam dancing was fast and furious (despite the sign at the entrance which said there was to be none of that).

At first I didn’t think to much of it.  I’ve been to the Foundry before and I don’t think I’ve ever seen any slam dancing.   Plus, I was against the railing and usually any dancing is further back.  But this club is small and I got pounded a half dozen times before I gave up and moved to the side.

To be honest I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to see Protomartyr live as the prospect of Casey yelling and the other guys not doing much didn’t sound like the most fun.  But, despite the elbow in my back, I was happy I went because the energy in the room was tremendous.  Even if I had virtually no idea what Casey was saying most of the time.

They played the majority of songs from the new album They only played three from Official Right, which was kind of a bummer, but it was cool to hear the songs–“Want Remover” is a particular favorite.

Greg Ahee on guitar has such a wonderfully varied palette of sounds.  From pretty or interesting riffs and melodies like on “My Children” to truly abrasive riffs like on “Wheel of Fortune”

And even though much of their sound is loud and confrontational, there’s also lots of moments where everything drops away, like the middle of “Windsor Hum” (before it comes raging back again, of course).

There’s some awesome drumming from Alex Leonard on “A Private Understanding” and the way the guitar and bass from Scott Davidson interplay on the song is just outstanding. This is one of my favorite songs of theirs.

By this point in the show, I had to move aside and let the slammers slam away.  But being in the calmer side didn’t cause me enjoy the set any less.  The intensity of “Scum, Rise!” was awesome and the set ender “Half Sister” was very cool too.

SETLIST

1. My Children ®
2. Wheel of Fortune ©
3. Windsor Hum ®
4. Want Remover ⊄
5. What the Wall Said ⊄
6. The Devil in His Youth ¥
7. Cowards Starve ¥
8. Jumbo’s ¶
9. A Private Understanding ®
10. Here Is The Thing ®
11. Pontiac 87 ¥
12. Why Does It Shake? ¥
13. Scum, Rise! ⊄
14. Half Sister ®

© = Consolation E.P. (2018)
® = Relatives in Descent (2017)
¥ = The Agent Intellect (2015)
⊄ = Under Cover of Official Right (2014)
¶ = No Passion All Technique (2012)