Just Let Them Shine

I talk about it a lot in this blog, but people, life is crazy. Shoot your shot. You never know where it may lead. I shot my shot by photographing and covering The Sex Pistols on Tuesday, and it paid off. I thought that was going to be my “big one” of the week, but then I shot my shot by photographing and covering Pinhead Gunpowder on Wednesday night. I never, in a million years, thought that this band fronted by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day fame would want little old me covering their completely and utterly sold-out show at the legendary First Avenue, but there I was, camera in hand, ready to be just mere feet from the megastar with my lens right up in his face. Part of me wanted to cry, another part of me wanted to puke from the nerves, but all of me was absolutely honored, and it was definitely one of those “pinch me” kind of moments that, had I never shot my shot, never would have happened.

Local rockers Scrunchies had the honor of opening the show and, truthfully, I don’t know if I could think of a more deserving band for this coveted spot. Although they had only about thirty minutes on stage, they made every minute count, powering through a set of artsy punk rock anthems. Although the audience was clearly there on a mission to see the legendary Pinhead Gunpowder, I felt Scrunchies did a great job of capturing the sold-out crowd. They had power and angst, but a patient beauty persisted throughout their set, leaving the audience wanting so much more. I’ve been a fan of this band for years. The fact that I’ve had the honor of seeing them a couple of times over the past year is something that I don’t take for granted, but also something that I hope continues and, judging by the rush of new fans to their merch table after they left the stage, I think it’s safe to assume that Scrunchies are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Following Scrunchies’ opening set was a quick set from Night Shop. This was a brand new name to me. The group is fronted by Justin Sullivan, who was the drummer for bands like The Babies, Kevin Morby, and Flat Worms, but even those names are foreign to me. That won’t last long, because Justin and the rest of his band had me in the palm of their hand. Sonically, the music of Night Shop was super fun and bouncy, but there were layers to it. With my excitement about what was going to happen in about thirty minutes, I latched onto the fun in their sound. Although I wouldn’t say that the music of Night Shop is the most upbeat and pop-induced, that’s what I picked up on. Super fun, infectious beats matched with carefree, folksy lines that danced along the beat took me away from the nerves starting to build inside me. Night Shop’s set felt so effortless. It was as if everything about this group was perfect, but there was no hint of stress or anything that made you think the members were working for it. Don’t get me wrong, I know it takes talent and practice to be as flawless as this band is, and it’s surely not as easy as it looks, but I loved how Night Shop gave me a burst of energy while helping me find inner peace at the same time.

I was shaking as I entered the photo pit just seconds before Pinhead Gunpowder took the stage. It was subtle, but it was there, and I just couldn’t calm down. I photograph concerts night after night. I’ve lost count of how many insane photo opps I’ve had, and although it will never become “normal” for me, and I will always have at least a small dose of the jitters, this was different. But why? Pinhead Gunpowder dates back to 1991. It’s a “side project” of sorts for Green Day vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong, but I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t spent much time with this band. They are a bit before my time, whereas Green Day seemed to hit at the perfect time. I may not have known the songs like others in the audience, but I knew the vibe and was ready for the novelty of seeing a megastar in such an intimate space.

Pinhead Gunpowder’s overall vibe is very much in line with Green Day. It’s a no-grit kind of punk sound with a slight lean into pop-punk. It’s infectious, with aggressive beats and vocals that feel a bit more tongue-in-cheek than mainstream music. At times, it’s dirty and sweaty; at others, it’s cathartic and emotional. Like many other sets I’ve seen, a full Pinhead Gunpowder show feels like riding a rollercoaster, and it’s a truly lovely ride. One stop on the ride was a truly amazing cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.” Maybe I’m a bit biased; I freaking love this song, but I thought Pinhead Gunpowder did a great job covering it and adding their own spicy spin to the infamous track.

Although the focus was definitely on Billie Joe Armstrong for most of the audience, you can’t deny the rest of the band held their own. Honestly, I found myself watching some of the other members more than I was watching the superstar vocalist. There was just something so fun about seeing these older gentlemen reliving their youth in a way. They weren’t holding back, and they weren’t about to give a lackluster performance. I wish the same could be said for Billie Joe. The rest of the band was clearly having the time of their lives, shooting smiles at each other and at the audience, but something about Billie Joe’s performance felt a bit phoned in, like he was just going through the motions. Don’t get me wrong, he sounded great and definitely had a slight aura of energy around him, but I was just expecting a bit more.

This is another one of those nights where I should have so much more to say. I mean, come on, I just watched Pinhead Gunpowder play at First Avenue. I stood feet, if not inches, away from the one and only Billie Joe Armstrong, but this show, like many others when I feel an insane wave of imposter syndrome, left me speechless. I was in a haze. A big, cheesy-smile masked haze, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world.