Images: Turnover, Major League, Maker (acoustic), Narrowed December 7, 2012 at East Side Joe’s

In my opinion, punk rock shines in a live atmosphere more than any other genre. Try as people might, nothing sounds better than the way riffs leap out of giant speakers. That shine is only enhanced when the setting is as intimate as East Side Joe’s. There’s no parking garage to maneuver through, no long lines, no metal detectors, just punk rock an arm’s length away. On December 7, ESJ’s was host to some of the best pop-punk bands around, both locally and nationally.

Although Dreamcatchers (the new local band featuring PiV’s own Ian C) doesn’t have anything recorded yet, they managed to set a great tone for the rest of the night, even with limited stage time. They have a raw, angsty punk rock sound laced with heavy guitar riffs. Make sure you pick up their tunes as soon as they’re available.

Up next were two rising local pop-punk bands, The Letter You and Narrowed. TLY had some fill-in members, but you could hardly tell. Their set was full of the catchy hooks and fun pace that they’re known for. Narrowed followed them with an impressive set of their own. Their debut EP  is great and they’re no slouches on stage. After a few technical issues were taken care of, they played some unreleased songs and then went right into their EP’s opener, “Hey Soph.”  I love songs like this, soaring vocals and a quick, direct delivery. Their set was highlighted by other The Valley tracks “Tossed to the Wayside” and “Miles Away.”

One thing I took away from the opening three bands is that the youth movement in the valley is real. There are quality songs being made and fun shows being played, and people are starting to use the resources available to them to shed light on the town’s talent. And I, for one, hope to see it grow and thrive.

With all that being said, the night belonged to Eric Soucy from Maker. Who, despite being alone since his band was involved in a bad car accident, put together a great acoustic set for an appreciative room. It was another of many examples of how music has a way of bringing people together under adverse situations. Every band who took the stage suggested supporting the ailing band above anything else; it was pretty special to see.

Finally, I thought Major League and Turnover formed a really cool dynamic. Major League was energetic and musically sharp. They had plenty of fans who knew every word and took advantage of that with their marquee sing-along parts. Mixing old songs with tracks off their newest record Hard Feelings, they made sure fans got their money’s worth. Turnover capped the night with an amazing set that induced pile-ups and sore throats, playing every song they have to this point. Their straightforward style, both musically and lyrically, makes them easy to connect with and fun to listen to. “Sasha” was awesome (see the acoustic version we filmed here) and so was “Permanent,” which was drowned out by the energetic crowd who filled the small room. It was a great way to spend a Friday night and a great example of what a DIY punk rock show should be.

-Felipe Garcia

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