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Though Fucked Up just released a brand new Lp called David Comes to Life that moves them even further away from their hardcore punk beginnings and into the territory of the indie mainstream, it was heartening to see that they haven’t really changed that much even as their music has grown more complex and they’ve become tighter as a band. For starters, this was the fourth time I’d seen them at the First Unitarian Church since early 2007. Also, singer Damian Abraham (aka Pink Eyes) is still the same larger-than-life presence, shirtless and jumping off stage with abandon into the loving arms of the audience in the front row singing along to every word. Abraham is the band’s clearest link to hardcore. Even when he’s on stage, he holds out the mic for the audience to sing along on songs like “Crusades” from their debut full-length Hidden World and a song that was one of this evening’s encores.
Before said encore, though, Fucked Up played a set that included songs from the new album, 2008’s Chemistry of Common Life (“Black Albino Bones” was dedicated by Abraham to fellow record collectors) and “I Hate Summer”, a song Abraham dedicated to those of us who are “a little overweight” and thus hate the summertime. They reached back to “Baiting the Public”, one of their first many (of very many) 7” singles. All in all, this was as satisfying a set as I’ve ever seen them do.
I only managed to catch about half of opener Jeff the Brotherhood‘s set, but I liked what I heard. A guitar/drums duo from Nashville with a pedigree that includes the notable teen punk band and Thurston Moore favorite Be Your Own Pet (whose 2008 album Get Awkward was a favorite of mine at the time), they sounded absolutely nothing like BYOP. Instead, imagine a rawer version of Weezer‘s new wave-influenced power pop, but with the psychedelic influence of Spacemen 3 or even early Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. It’s a combination that may seem odd on paper, but somehow works. I’d definitely like to hear their records and catch them live again.
Philadelphia-based surf punks Dry Feet, a late addition to the bill, started the night off with an energetic set that brought to mind Man or Astroman? or more recently, similarly-minded Jersey-based band Mirrors and Wires.
