I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: October 9, 2021] The Menzingers

I saw The Menzingers open for Weezer back in 2016 and really enjoyed them.  I’d been wanting to see them again mostly because I was really far from the band when I saw them and couldn’t really get into it the way I might have liked.

So when they were listed as headlining two nights of Philly Music Fest I knew I had to see them.  Especially in a small place like Ardmore Music Hall.

I have only been to Ardmore a couple of times.  My favorite show there was Marco Benevento where the sound was outstanding.  Even right up against the stage.  Well, for this show I was right up against the stage (although as more and more people crowded into the place, I moved away from the band’s more devoted (and a little crazy) fans.  But apparently I never got far back enough because literally all I could hear the whole show was Tom May’s guitar.  And May tends to play lead licks and solos, so I never really got the backing chords of Greg Barnett unless May wasn’t playing anything (which happened from time to time).

Obviously it was more fun being able to see bassist Eric Keen and drummer Joe Godino (who I couldn’t see at all last time), but it was weird having the sound so disjointed.  Throughout the set I tries moving further and further away from the stage, but I was never able to get further to the middle.

When I saw them last time I wrote:

They were a great opening band, but I’ll bet would be even more fun as a headliner in a small club (where their sets typically run to 20 songs instead of just 9).

They actually played 19, but a pretty good guess.

And I’m going to say that even though the sound was terrible (for me), the band’s energy and the energy of the crowd absolutely made it a great set.  The crowd knew every word and sang along at full volume.  Normally this would bug me a bit (although not so much in a loud punk show), but again, the sound was terrible anyhow.  [Again, for me, I’m sure it sounded great in the middle of the room].

I was determined to see them again since they were playing Underground Arts later in November.  But those two night proved to not work for me.  So, next time they come around I’ll be sure to see them, just not up too close.

Like the other shows from this night, my computer and Instagram just weren’t cooperating for me to add any visuals from this set.  Maybe some day I’ll be able to add some in.