A New Perspective
Some of the best things you do can do in life are seeing other people’s takes on the things you love. This could be how they play a sport, or a different political stance. In the case of tonight, that is a new perspective on a genre of music from the Russian group, the Svetlanas. Adding to my intrigue about the band, they are currently banned from reentering their home country. I don’t think I knew what I was going to see until I saw it, but wow, what a set.
My night opened up getting to Yucca in time for the second band to be breaking up, per word of mouth, so it truly began with the Plainfield Butchers. Lead vocals are Westly Allen, of Erratic Radio on KWSS, and you can tell he has a handle on performing on stage. He moves and he is expressive up there. With Serge on drums and Steve on bass, this band reminds me a little bit of an old eighties punk rock like Dead Kennedys. Minus a high pitched front man. This marks my first time catching them and it won’t be the last.
Next up was Dephinger and our skate punks of the night. Their personalities shine right off the bat. They put humor front and center while rocking punk rock. All three members have a microphone and add to the vocals. This was probably the first time I’ve seen anyone in a punk band drink wine on stage. It didn’t matter the alcohol preference. This crowd was moshing for the entire set. They got everyone moving, and with good reason. I loved watching these guys play.
Last up was our band out of Russia, the Svetlanas. To describe them as an experience, might be an understatement. They play hard punk rock with matching energy on stage. I couldn’t always understand the vocals, but the body language on Olga through the songs communicates their sentiment. She moved around, likes to sing while looking directly at people like myself, and doesn’t seem like someone who wants to be fucked with. I can see where the “most dangerous band in the world” moniker might originate. The Svetlanas brought it hard and it was fantastic.
