I am at Reasons and Ruckus once again, sipping soda and hanging out with the door crew. It’s been a couple weeks since I came here, and I’m happy to be back. I can hear the vague echo of pool balls clunking together over piped in music as the opening band begins sound check, blasting us with (at the very least) 120 dB of drum and bass. It was incredibly hard not to immediately dip on my friends, so I said good-bye and slipped away to the dance floor of Reasons.
First up was The Snorts, fronted by a friend. I had been wanting to see them for ages, so seeing them tonight was a dream come true. It’s hard to get what they played wrong, but they played it stellarly, a mix of pop-punk and hardcore with occasional dips into gentle, more subdued songs. Aaron seemed like he was going to faint with every lyric screamed out, and their energy continued after the set. They played a bucolic mix of hardcore and pop-punk that blended beautifully
Next was touring band Megan From Work, fronted by the eponymous Megan. They contributed to the feeling of a mixed bill, with the band playing backup for her incredibly sensitive vocals. Her sound was another mixture of hardcore and poppy vocals.
The second touring band was Hell Beach, a wild combination of Dropkick Murphy’s and the Dead Kennedys. Screaming energetic vocals, drums played with distinct and hungry rage, the New Hampshire rock-pop punk band bought an incredible energy to the stage. As you can see in the photos, the lead singer danced and threw himself into every song. Another wonderful mix of hardcore and softer pop-punk songs, they took a moment to thank the audience and emphasis their support for Palestine and queer rights.
The closing act was one I have had a deep affection for since the moment I saw them live for the first time, MEOW MEOW. They play an insane mix of sounds that somehow blend together into something beautiful. The band members dance around the stage, jumped off it to dance within the pit, go off-stage and jump into the pit to nearly push me on my ass from behind (thank you). A saxophone and bass solo to end the set, two screamo songs, and some of the hardest queerpunk songs I’ve heard in awhile, they were a fantastic way to end the night.
Check down below for images of the rest of the show and check all the bands out!
