Girl at the Rock Shows

‘Twas the night before Punk Rock Bowling, and all through my head was a staggering amount of anxiety over having to fly the next morning. Was going to a show a good idea the night before leaving? Absolutely not. Going to two shows the night before leaving super early in the morning? The worst idea I’ve had in years, but I regret nothing because one of the two shows I got to see was Napalm Death and The Melvins at First Avenue.

Before getting treated to some of the kings of the scene, the packed audience got to experience the magic that was, well, I don’t know what it was, and that was half the fun. According to the line-up the venue posted the day of the show, the first act was Norwegian Wood. According to the event listing on the venue’s website, it was Dark Sky Burial. Honestly, the name doesn’t even matter. The duo, whatever their name was, thrilled me with a sense of mystery and ambiance that they laid across the room. Although there were just two people and no vocals, the sound that came from this group was insanely large. One member was behind a table of what I would call electronic buttons and doodads (I’m sure there’s a more technical term, but I wouldn’t know it), while the other member seemed to be firmly attached to a theremin. If you’ve never seen someone play the theremin, it’s truly a sight to see, and I loved how this theremin player seemed to have a flare for the dramatic. Maybe it was the reflective chrome mask, or perhaps it was just the music itself; whatever it was, this opening act had me hooked, and I was sad to see them leave the stage after a super short set.

There’s no question as to who took the stage next. It was The Hard-Ons from Australia (well, kind of). Unfortunately, the standard vocalist for this legendary punk band wasn’t at this show, and instead, we got treated to Jerry A of Poison Idea from Portland. I’ll be honest, I don’t know the history of The Hard-Ons and feel like it would be very poser-esque of me to do a bunch of research now and then spill it all back out on here, but I will say, sometimes you see a band, and you just know there is an insane history there. That was the vibe I got from their quick set on Thursday night. The band played a few tracks by The Hard-Ons and then a few from Poison Idea. Regardless of what they were playing, there was a playful energy to their set but also a “we mean business” kind of vibe from their performance. Although not the most exciting set of the night for me, I thoroughly enjoyed being treated to these legends.

The Melvins, the next band to take the stage, are not from Minneapolis, but they do have some close ties to the city, which means I have had multiple opportunities to see their genius live. Even though I’ve seen them so many times, I never fail to be completely wowed and enamored by them and their eleven-song set. I know that eleven songs doesn’t sound like very long but, in the world of Melvins, that lasted more than enough time to give any newbies in the audience a taste of this legendary group. I honestly don’t know what to call The Mevlins’ sound. It’s definitely rock, but it’s sludgy and doomy at times, whereas, at others, there’s almost an 80s hair metal aspect to some of what they are doing. All of these unique sounds are woven together by a highly energetic and jaw-dropping show that will leave you impressed not only by the musicianship but also by the energy you are feeling from the stage.

I have seen The Melvins in many different forms, from their more standard trio set-up to the full band vibe that First Avenue got on Thursday, and I have to be honest, I think I like this full band set-up the most. It was absolutely insane to watch drummers Dale Crover and Coady Willis play in perfect symmetry while giving you the feeling that the beats and patterns they were performing were wholly organic. The same can be said about Buzz Osborne on guitars/ lead vocals and Steven Shane McDonald on bass and backing vocals, but my eyes were glued to the drums. It was intense and severe. They played with silence and space in a way that, at times, seemed to drench the room with this almost uncomfortable tension that only broke when the two men somehow brought their sticks (that had been crossed in the air above their heads) down to hit the drums at the exact same time. Okay, maybe you just had to be there, and I feel like my trying to explain moments like this in words isn’t going to do it justice, and I apologize. Long story short, there’s a reason why The Melvins are a favorite to so many, and even though listening to their music on a day-to-day basis is not something I do, I will never miss a chance to see them live because of moments like that.

Much like The Melvins, I’ve had the honor of seeing the night’s headlining act multiple times. Honestly, the last time I saw them was at the way-too-initmate-for-a-band-of-their-stature venue, The Turf Club in Saint Paul, and nothing will beat that, but I loved the fact that I still felt some butterflies as this band took the First Avenue mainstage. This English thrash-leaning punk-adjacent grindcore band is truly legendary. They have been around since 1981 and have really never stopped doing their thing. Their songs on Thursday night were short, but that’s a standard thing for them, and, honestly, watching 55-year-old vocalist Mark “Barney” Greenway run across the stage like he does made me thankful for the short songs because even I was exhausted.

Napalm Death is one of those bands where, even if you don’t like their music, you have to see their show. I mean it when I say that watching Mark was exhausting. The way he slinks across the stage but at a pace that is almost too fast to really follow is both kind of funny to watch but also adds a layer to Napalm Death’s set that makes it unforgettable. Honestly, the other members of this band don’t really do much other than stand there and play their part. That’s not at all a dig on them, as most bands that I see only stand there and play. Truthfully, it’s probably the best choice because I felt almost dizzy after trying to keep track of Mark with my camera.

Whether you were at First Avenue on Thursday night to see Napalm Death, The Melvins, The Hard-Ons, the opener or were just there to see some music, you left happy, and I left with a show that was the perfect kick-off to Punk Rock Bowling weekend.