[ATTENDED: March 26, 2023] Sad Park
This was my first show at the Ukrainian American Citizens’ Association (The Ukie).
The show is in the basement bar–it felt like an improved First Unitarian Church (at least I enjoyed the space a lot more than the Church). There’s free parking nearby. Sadly there was no Ukrainian merch for sale–although there was plenty of Ukrainian beer!
I was a little sad to find out that Sad Park went on at 8:45 and not 8, as I got there just in time for 8. I had done a lot of shifting of things all day so my legs were pretty beat. Fortunately, I found a pole (not a Pole) that I could lean against.
And soon enough, the four guys from Sad Park came out on stage.
Vocalist/guitarist Graham Steele was front and center, bassist Sam Morton was in front of me and drummer Grant Bubar was in the back. Second guitarist Aidan Memory (possibly not a full member of the band?) was the only one with a brighter light shining on him, which accentuated the bleach in his hair.
Memory was the most fun guy to watch as he jumped around and thrashed his guitar and was generally having a great time. His guitar playing was pretty great too.
I was also really impressed with Morton’s basslines. He wasn’t content to ape the guitar or just play the low end–there were plenty of runs that moved up the neck.
Bubar was loud and thrashing–but also handled the time changes with ease.
Steele was great fun to watch. He emoted as he sang his lyrics of despair (sometimes) and comedy (sometimes). He also had a great scream/growl that he busted out from time to time.
Their songs were really catchy with a fantastic energy. But they also knew how to play quietly–usually in aid of setting up for the heavier stuff to come. There was one moment when a guy up front lit an actual lighter (!) for a quiet moment.
There was another guy in the middle of the crowd who knew the words to every song I hope they saw him).
I thought they were great and I’m passing their name around for a (newish) band for young emo punks to enjoy.
| 2023 | |
|---|---|
| I Should ≠ | |
| Feel Like Shit ♦ | |
| unknown (“Such a good time, such a bad time, such a short time” “Don’t’ wanna leave you without saying thanks”) | |
| Tragically Young ⊗ | |
| Nothing Ever | |
| Awake ≠ | |
| No Name § | |
| OMW ◊ | |
| unknown (“After it’s all over” ” waiting, watching” “leaning on each other I know we’ll be okay”) | |
| Alone ⊗ | |
| In My Head ⊗ | |
| End. ⊗ |
◊ OMW single (2022)
≠ It’s All Over (2021)
⊗ Sleep (2018)
♦ Feel Like Shit single (2018)
§ Sad Park (2016)
Leave a Reply