Ice Cream Man

The security guards who work the rock shows in New York City have probably seen just about everything, but there was a certain something in their eyes – let’s say fear – as they sorted through the ticketholders for the night’s hardcore show. Instead of the usual stoners and technophiles, the kids were like creatures from Planet Doom and Gloom – decked out in ripped fishnets, silver chains and ripped black everything.

The Marilyn Manson-esque ghouls lined up and took their security check-in (one guy feeling you up, one guy rooting through purses and a third checking tickets) quietly, making me think their goth look was more about getting to play Halloween dress-up in June than an actual way of life. They may have looked scary but with a little common sense it should have taken only a few seconds to get them inside. Did the supersized gatekeeper really need to wand the girl who had 90% of her body exposed for “security” purposes?

The mood inside was a little more tame than I thought it would be. Maybe it was the joy-kill sign on the door promising expulsion for “moshing or crowd surfing”. At least the seats were practically empty and the crowd was starting to gather at the stage like a black undulating cloud. Night Kills the Day was handed the job of warming up the crowd. They may be from New York City but there’s something about them that’s L.A. flashy. Maybe it’s lead singer Luke Brian’s pretty boy blond looks or the plastic skull hanging over his crotch – very Hollywood Blvd. The band has solid licks though and they got the room pumped.

The Texas five piece Fair to Midland hit the stage like a whirlwind and didn’t let up for their entire set. To look at the guys in the group, you wouldn’t guess they belonged together. Lead singer Darroh Sudderth is a skinny rocker who looks like the left-overs of grunge while bare-chested guitarist Cliff Campbell, with his curly afro, is a 70s throwback. They may be a bunch of misfits to look at but when they play together, they can get some serious vibrations going.

Sudderth is as spastic as most hardcore front men but he puts a new twist on it – literally. Instead of the usual hopping and thrashing, he twists himself into a whirling feverish force of nature – his arms, legs and hips all spinning helter skelter in different directions. The rockers went big on their sound until they were all drenched in sweat. If the crowd had let go and worked as hard as the band, it would have been of those ultimate rock and roll moments. I would love to see what these guys can do when a hometown crowd is thrashing at their feet.

Finland’s The 69 Eyes headlined the night and when it comes to practicing the goth you preach – these guys are the real thing. Their website tells you to “seek salvation, find damnation” and it’s a pretty accurate description because a set from these guys makes hell feel just like heaven. From the moment the band’s dread-locked, head-banging singer Jyrki69 included the words “necrophilia” and “cadavers” in his stage banter, I was hooked. After seeing tons of indie rockers moan about their problems night after night, it was a relief to see a group tear it up in big bold strokes of sound. Their look and sound may take a trip to the dark side but The 69 Eyes are all about letting go and having fun – no sniffing or sniveling allowed!