Shut Up, Get Rad
Teenage Bottlerocket I discovered later than many. Regardless, when I did, I fell in love with the music. I picked up the latest at the time, “Freak Out!” and then consumed all of the music I could find going into their back catalog. They played music that gave me an old school Ramones feeling, but with modern punk blended in. The lyrics touched upon topics of love, skaters, geeky stuff, and shitty customer service jobs that I related to in a heartbeat. Enjoying everything I was listening to, of course, I went further down the well. I discovered the Lillingtons, with Kody, and tracked down a copy of an album from the band Sack, which included Kody and Brandon. They are excellent guys, always approachable and super friendly. I’m not the biggest fan I know too. Andy, Miranda, Paul, or Gaby likely has that crown. All I know is that if they are in town or I’m in a town they are playing, you can expect me at the show like tonight.
Opening up the night was a band who did it once before at Punk Rock Bowling for Teenage Bottlerocket, and that was our great locals, the Playboy Manbaby. If you’ve read the site, you know these guys sit at the top of favorite locals I like to catch. They did not disappoint, with an early crowd present for the set. While having this discussion online earlier today, I think they make the perfect match to open a show like this in energy and tone. They played a couple songs I can’t remember seeing live as frequently, plus closing on “You Can Be a Fascist Too.” A slight variation on it, that before going into the normal repeatable chorus, Robbie outlined what the crowd will be singing back at them. Playboy Manbaby continues to gain more traction, growing bigger, and I am happy to see it.
Following them was one of two bands who haven’t visited Phoenix in a few years, the Nobodys. These guys sit the most traditional punk of the night in the lineup. They have worked with Joe Queer, of The Queers appropriately, which can give you an idea of a band they sound like. They gave a shout out to him during the set too. This may have been the earliest the pit started forming too. Also cool was one member of the band wearing the shirt of our awesome locals, the Venomous Pinks. It was certainly great to finally catch the Nobodys in person.
After them was the band many came out to see, and had been a while since their last visit to Phoenix, the Mr. T Experience. The manner of play with their guitars reminded me completely of Teenage Bottlerock. That immediately made sense on why they were perfect for this short tour together. Mr. T Experience has been around longer, of course. Frank’s, lead vocals, discussions of how he has learned over the years pointing at random audience members engages the crowds followed by more use of it the rest of the set was funny. He has coined the term “balbum” as he talked up their latest album, which is on sale as a code with his book of the same name, “King Dork Approximately.” I can’t get out of my head that these guys, though more punk in song topics, remind me a lot of Nerf Herder. The Mr. T Experience is one that I hope I can see sooner than the last gap after catching them tonight.
Last up was the guys I talked up at the top of this write up, Teenage Bottlerocket. Off the bat, the energy of the crowd was the highest of the night, growing the biggest circle within the first song. Another awesome thing was right before “Skate or Die,” the second song of the night, Ray dedicated it to his late brother and drummer, Brandon. The band lost him a little over a year ago, he was an amazing drummer and, in my limited interactions, a great guy to talk to. The punk world lost a great drummer too soon. They have kept going, because as Ray put it, “That is what Brandon would want.” That isn’t to detract from the fact that Darren Chewka has done an amazing job filling those shoes.
The set was a little over an hour of great Teenage Bottlerocket track after another. Another sentimental moment during this set was when Ray noticed the six year old at the front, making sure he was having an excellent time watching them. Miguel gave him a set list later too. The performance was fun filled, with Ray and Kody alternating leads, and Miguel a few times with theatrics such as balancing the bass on one hand. I had a blast this night seeing two bands I hadn’t seen live previously, and two bands I love catching live. Hopefully I can do it again soon.
