Images: ‘Red Scare Across America’ 2013 feat. Masked Intruder, Elway, Sam Russo, The Bombpops August 11, 2013 at The Void (San Diego)

I don’t get to travel much for shows, but when I do, it tends to be for Red Scare Industries bands. Last year I made the trek to Pomona to see The Bombpops, The Sidekicks and Red Scare alumn The Menzingers for my bachelor party (check out the acoustic videos I shot over that weekend with The Sidekicks here). And since that was so much fun, I decided to make the trek to San Diego for the 2013 Red Scare Across America Tour.

The tour was headlined by Wisconsin’s Masked Intruder, a four piece that plays pop punk in the style of Lookout! Records bands like Mr. T Experience and kerplunk!-era Green Day, taking the usual pop punk love song clichés of pining and serenading and putting them through the perspective of ski-masked stalkers and thieves. They’ve gained a reputation as a must-see live band, so the crowd was pretty excited by the time the lights dimmed and the police siren blared. The band was escorted onto stage by hype man/parole officer Officer Bradford, barely managing to squeeze their way through the sweaty mass of fans to the intimate stage. As they launched right into “Stick ‘em Up,” the whole crowd went nuts, screaming every word back at the band with fists in the air. It was nice to see such frenzied passion on display late on a Sunday night, and the band definitely fed off that, with guitarist Intruder Green dancing like a maniac, leaping high into the air and kicking back against the manic crowd.

Songs from the band’s excellent 2012 self-titled full length made up the bulk of the set, with favorites like “How Do I Get to You” and “I Don’t Want to Be Alone Tonight” getting huge responses. Even Officer Bradford joined in on the fun, leaping headfirst into the thickest part of the crowd and party boy-style dancing and crowd surfing. Maura Weaver’s part on “Heart Shaped Guitar” was filled in by The Bombpops’ awesome Poli van Dam and Jen Razavi.

The band had to deny a request to play “Valerie is Getting Married” from the recently released Wedding 7” due to the fact that, as Blue put it, they “don’t remember how to play it.” But they did treat us to a cover of Green Day’s “She.” Green appropriately took the lead on the cover, noting that the band has a “real cool name” and that it’s okay for them to play the song since it’s still about a girl. My favorite part of the set was the tight harmonies of pre-encore set closer “Wish You Were Mine,” which remind me of the best of what The Ramones had to offer. Vegas fans will get a chance to see these guys Dec. 2 at the Hard Rock Live on this year’s Fat Wreck Chords tour with Less Than Jake, Anti-Flag and Get Dead.

I was stoked to see Colorado’s Elway for the first time, with their sing-along ready tunes ringing through the bar as the elbow to elbow wall of fans squeezed up front to sing along just loud enough to drown everything else out, giving the set a nice, communal feel. Elway’s whole discography was on display, from songs like “Whispers in a Shot Glass” and “Kristina’s Last Song” that date back to the days when they were known as 10-4 Eleanor to new jams “The Great Divorce” and “Ariel.” Elway is often compared to one of my favorite bands, The Lawrence Arms, and that influence was especially on display live, with the guitars sounding very reminiscent of Chris McCaughan.

Recent Red Scare signee Sam Russo was a bit of the odd man out on this tour musically, taking the stage with only his acoustic guitar. Hailing from the UK, Russo is a folk troubadour, with working-class lyrics reminiscent of Revival Tour regulars Chuck Ragan and Tim Barry but with a more delicate sound in the vein of John K. Samson and John Darnielle. The crowd’s unfamiliarity with him meant a lot of loud voices conversing over his singing which is unfortunate, but those who were up front paying attention were definitely won over. If Chuck decides to do another Revival Tour, Russo definitely needs to be on the bill.

Kicking off the show was California’s own The Bombpops. Their songs are extremely catchy, taking cues from bands like Pulley and Pennybridge-era Millencolin on tracks like “Outta Hand” and they also bring in the late 80s/early 90s Lookout! style on tracks like “Crazy.” They’re a blast to see live, and I’m looking forward to their next Vegas visit.

-Emily Matview | https://www.flickr.com/photos/holdfastnow/