Nothing / Culture Abuse / Wrong - Yucca Tap Room - Tempe June 25
So it's hot here now, triple digits, what better way to get out of the heat by going to a room full of amplifiers and standing next to complete strangers. The silver lining is Nothing is in town from Philadelphia county. Traveling and playing with them is San Fran's Culture Abuse , and from Florida, Wrong. I was hopeful. Culture Abuse played a set that felt like a punk house party. They grooved and delivered the immediacy needed to make me grateful to see them. Direct and to the point , yet still fun, the singer discussing getting high and having some kind of slushie drink and gettin crazy. Lotta punk and lotta rock.
Wrong took the helm next and by their sound , well, let's say it's been said a few hundred times before but they definitely had the 90's heavy vibe. At one point I thought they were covering Helmet and Page Hamilton was offstage playing wirelessly. I am a sucker for Helmet up until their Betty LP so Wrong seems like a little of a brother band to them.
Headliners Nothing were up. I got this feeling this would be last time I can see and hear these guys in a room the size of Yucca Tap (maybe 150 on the side where the stage lives) There is another room in which you can't see the bands at all. Nothing is outgrowing venues that they play, rightfully so in my book. Opening with Fever Queen , they launched the set. Warbling , slightly out of phase guitar intro to the latest LP Tired of Tomorrow I felt as if Kenny Loggins should have announced 'This Is It'. The set also contained a few songs that are not on the 2 LP's. If there is a consensus on their best songs, the set list was well selected. I had a great view of Brandon (guitars) and Kyle (drums). There was a chain link room divider to keep the whippersnappers away from the bar which kind of made it hard to watch the other 2 guys but I am glad I caught them. It was great to soak in all the gaze vibes ( i loathe the term shoegaze but for ease of explaining I use it). The loud heaviness of Vertigo Flowers permeated the legendary dive bar and there were cloud like dreamy moments as well. Watch these guys , don't buy into that stupid internet shit associated with many bands who start to gain momentum. In the 2010's this band is one of my favorites hand down. They capture cathartic themes and deliver the sounds similar to their influences. They channel the dreariness of east coast winters and overcast days only to rise above the cloud layer where you can bask in the sunset drenched clouds. I love them for that .
