ttwnlogo.jpg

Issue 140 141 Live Revu - RADKEY, BREAKMOUTH ANNIE, POPULAR MECHANICS, BOSTON PROFITS

Home
Issue 182 Record Reviews
Issue 183 Record Reviews 30th Anniversary
Issue 184 Record Reviews
Issue 185 Record Reviews
Iaaue 184 Records that Evaded Reviewing
Issue 178 Record Reviews
Issue 179 Record Reviews
Issue 180 181 Record Reviews
180 181 ISSUE CORRECTIONS
Issue 174_175 in Focus
Issue 176 Record Reviews
Issue 177- 29 Ann Record Reviews
Issue 174 175 Record Reviews
Issue 173 Record Reviews
Issue 172 Record Reviews
Issue 171 (28th Anniversary) Record Reviews
Issue 168 Record Reviews
Issue 169-170 Record Reviews
Issue167 Record Reviews
Impeachment Blog POost LInks
Issue 165-166 Record Reviews
165-166 Records That Escaped Reviews
2019 year End Issue Holiday Song
Issue163 Recird Reviews
Issue 164 (27th Anniversary) Record Reviews
Issue 157-158 Record Reviews
Issue 159 Record Reviews
Issue 159 Music Related Video Review
Issue 160 Record Reviews
Issue 161-162 Record Reviews
Issue 161-162 Music Related Video of the Issue
Issue 154 Record Reviews
Issue 155 Record Reviews
Issue 156 (26th Anniversary) Record Reviews
Issue 150 Record Reviews
Issue 148-149 Record Revus
Issue 147 Record Reviews
Issue 146 Record Reviews
Issue 144 145 Record Reviews
Issue 142 Record Reviews
Issue 143 (24 ann ish) Record Revus
Issue 142 Bonus Review - ROYAL BRAT @ Cafe Berlin
Issue 140 141 Record Revus
Issue 140 141 Show Revu - THE GOLDBUGS @ The Social Room
Issue 140 141 Live Revu - RADKEY @ The Demo
Issue 139 Record Revus
Issue 139 Live Revu - NOTS @ Rose Music Hall
Issue 138 Record Revus
Issue 138 Live Revu - Tu Pest Pre Party @ Blank Space
Issue 136-137 Show Revu: New Tongues @ Diva Haus
Issue 136-137 Record Revus
Issue 135 (23 ann) Record Revus
Issue 135 Show Revu - Anti Flag
Issue 134 Streams N Demos (Sex Stains)
Issue 134 Record Reviews
Issue 132 133 Record Reviews
Issue 134 Show Revu : SLEATER-KINNEY @ The Blue Note
Issue 131 Record Reviews
Issue 130 Record Reviews
Issue 128-129 Record Reviews
Issue 127 922 ann ish) Record Reviews
Issue 126 Record Reviews
Issue 125 Record Reviews
Issue 124 Record Reviews
Issue 121 (21st anniverrsary) record reviews
Issue 122 123 Record Reviews
Issue 118 119 Record Reviews
ISSUE 120 RECORD REVIEWS
Issue 116 Recording Revus
Issue 117 Recording Revus
20th Anniversary Record Revus
Issue 113 Record Revus
A Few Thoughts On the Pussy Riot Case
Issue 112 Record Reviews
Issue 111 Record Reviews
Issue 110 Download Review
Issue 110 Record Reviews
Issue 109 Record Reviews
19th Anniversary Issue Record Reviews
Issue 106 Record Reviews
Issue 104 Recording Reviews
Issue 105 Recording Reviews
18th Anniversary Issue Record Reviews
Issue 101 Record Revus
Issue 100 Record Reviews
Issue 99 Record Revus
DVD Review: Pansy Division Life in a Gay Rock Band
Issue 98 Record Revus
17th anniversary record revues
Live Review: Testament @ Pops May 13 2009
DVD Review - Still We Ride
Ish 95 - Check This Music Out
Issue 95 Record Revus
Gay Beast @ Lemp
Show Review Terra Caput Mundi @ Cafe Berlin
Issue 94 Recording Revus
Issue 93 Record Reviews
92 Zine Reviews - Belated
Bald Eagle @ Mojo's Spetmeber 10, 2008
bellafea @ Lemp September 7, 2008
Ish 92 Record Reviews
Live Review: "Weird Al" Yankovic
16TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE RECORD REVIEWS
Patches, Joe Stickley, Dark Blue Dark Green
Assorted Back Pages
Issue 89 Recording Revus
Ted Leo at the Gargoyl e October 10, 2007
Issue 88 Reviews
Drive In Oddities - The Pom Pom Girls
Issue 87 Reviews
15th Anniversary aside - Love Is Fucked
15th Annivrsary online extra: Love Is Fucked (1994)
Review: The Red Alert at Vintage Vinyl
Review: Degenerettes, Stiff Kittens
Live Review: Battlefields, Rosetta, Midnight Suit
Live Review: KING OF THE ROOTS BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Live Review: MADE OUT OF BABIES, MOUTH OF THE ARCHITECT
84 Reviews
AN ASSLOAD OF REVIEWS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2007
LATEST ISSUE ONLINE STUFF
KIND OF SPUR OF THE MOMENT
Interview Page
A Quick Aside
LIVE REVIEWS
Photo Album Page
THE 2008 STATE OF THE ALMOST SUMMER MESSAGE
HOW TO GET A HOLD OF US
Archives
ISSUE 82 REVIEWS!!!!!!
TIS THE END OF 2007 AS WE KNOW IT ... NOW HERE'S SOME REVIEWS!!!
ISSUE 90/91 RECORDING REVIEW
ISSUE 118/119 Recording Revus
Issue 138 Streams N Demos (Narrow Waves)
Issue 151 (25th Anniversary) Record Reviews
Issue 152-153 Record Revus
Issue 152-153_ Records that Escaped Reviewing

Saturday March 12, 2016 The Demo, St. Louis

Have you ever come across a band that you've heard about through the grapevine (friends, the Internet, you get the idea) but never could get things lined up so you could see them play? I have had a few of those over the years. In some cases I've committed myself to covering another show; in others it's being broke. Still, something came up that meant I wouldn't be able to make a show (hey, it happens). One of the bands on this bill was a case in point. I'd been meaning to check them out for a while but things got in the way. However, I heard about this show and knew I had to make an effort to get there. So, after taking care of a few things and eating dinner, I headed out from the sticks to the Grove area in St. Louis, parked my car and headed to the Demo for this show.

I arrived at the Demo shortly after Boston Profit began their opening set. This local trio blasted out some tight melodic punk with short hook fueled songs as their foundation. With a mostly personal feel to them, the band wore their influences on their sleeves as they played a blend of original songs and a few covers (one was a Ramones song, the other an old Nick Lowe track); carrying the set on energy alone. Boston Profit did manage my pique my curiosity by the end of their set (I hadn't seen them before so I had no preconceptions). However, I do wonder what is going to happen to them down the road.

Up next were Popular Mechanics, who took the reins and guided the night in a different direction. This foursome's wheelhouse is dual guitar forged crunchy punk-pop. Full of breezy songs with almost poppy/alt rock hooks, the music combines a wall of crunch with almost clear vocals. This gives their music a feel that overall veers closer to pop than it would to punk rock or hardcore as the set goes forward. They're not reinventing the engine here but fans of the mersh side of alt rock would find something to enjoy about Popular Mechanics.

After a brief setup time Breakmouth Annie came on stage and proceeded to tear shit up. This trio wasted no time jumping into a set of melodic punk with gruff vocal and rough guitar work (with a very slight jangle). The band's set rushes the barricades but doesn't completely go over it. Their driving personal punk songs are moody and bittersweet, hinting at emo at moments but they manage to stay firmly on the punk side of things. Their set grew on me and lures the listener in as the show continues. Breakmouth Annie seeps into the consciousness and refuses to let go.

I had heard about Radkey before but, as I mentioned in the intro to this review, something always came up before so I wasn't able to see them - until now. These three brothers brought the evening to another level with some hard driving straight ahead punk rock that took no prisoners. Power chord guitar and cut to the chase rhythms delivered songs with enough energy to power a city block, harnessing the power of vintage punk and HC in the process. Add to that a stage act that matched the power of the music and it's clear the band plays not just to entertain but to conquer the surroundings. I know some people will point out the attention that this band has gotten over the past couple years but after seeing Radkey in action I have to say they earned it. Managing to sound both familiar and shock you into something new isn't an easy task but Radkey does it well. If you haven't seen them play live please do so when you get the chance.

Then the show was over. As people picked up merch and made plans for the rest of the night I took in the atmosphere. Eventually I thanked the band and had to head on out. Taking in the feel of the night I find myself surprised and impressed by what I witnessed. I had a show to check out the next day and some work to take care of. It's not Spring yet but the chill in the air shows that seasons will be changing soon.

- Boone

All content this page © 2016 Boone Stigall/The Trouble With Normal