I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: January 20, 2023] Pinkshift

I was really excited for the show–the Melanated Punk Mini Tour featuring Oxymorrons and The OBGMs.  At the last minute, Pinkshift was added to the bill, which made things even better!

I’ve seen Pinkshift three times.  Each show is really intense, because this band does not hold back.

This set felt a little different.  First because they were playing songs mostly from their new album.  I hadn’t heard the new album yet but it turns out I’d heard many of the songs live before.

Pinkshift is officially a trio now.  Although they do have a bassist of tour with them, the main trio was made up with pretty cool eye makeup.

This was the closest I’d been to the band so I really got to see drummer Myron Houngbedji in action.  He was, frankly, amazing.  In fact, a few times, someone in the audience shouted something like My man on the drums is really bringing it!

We were right next to guitarist Paul Vallejo who was a lot of fun to watch.  He jumps from intense to quiet and back so easily.  These new songs have more quiet parts and he has really upped his subtlety. in his playing.

Ashrita Kumar looked different and I realized that she had cut her hair pretty short.  Usually she waves it around, but with it short she didn’t have it there anymore.  The stage was also a lot smaller than other places where we’ve seen them so it felt like she was a wee but less intense.  That’s not quite right, because she was doing some major kicks and pogos, she just seemed like she was perhaps holding some of it in to let it burst forth at the end.  Because some of the quieter songs were even more powerful and she absolutely unleashed at the end.

I had heard “nothing” and “GET OUT” at all three shows, so I hadn’t realized that they technically weren’t out yet.  “The Kids” and “Witch” are slower and a bit more intense.

Their set was short, but I was glad they played at least one older song since “Therapist” is so good.

But none of it prepared me for the title song in which Ashrita held notes that were impressive and then pushed them even higher.

From where we were standing, the sound wasn’t great and we couldn’t fully appreciate the details of the band, but the sacrifice was worth it for seeing them so close.