Longhalsmottagningen/ Bad Animal/ Young Untold/ American Cheeseburger, PopFest, Little Kings, 8/16/08

American Cheeseburger

by Casey DeHoedt
08/19/2008

Saturday, back at Little Kings. It’s hot. It’s the last day of PopFest. Most have opted for the inside’s air conditioned atmosphere over the sweltering shade ‘neath the thatched umbrellas outside.

There’s a great feeling of comradeship as members of Boyracer and Faintest Ideas line-up for their several mutations. Smiles shroud their faces and I’d like to believe it’s the excitement to join up and share the stage out of appreciation and enjoyment of one another’s music and musical personalities.

As Boyracer headlined 40 Watt the previous night, the most enthusiastic had been the Swedish fellows cheering and dancing in the crowd. Now, the two bands combine for the first set: Longhalsmottagningen. “It’s kinda cool bein' in a band you can’t pronounce,” says Boyracer’s Stewart Anderson.

Faintest Idea’s drummer Martin – a lanky lad with intense eyes – motors the microphone. Spouting off a lengthy statement in Swedish, Martin translates: “For those of you who don’t speak Swedish... Fuck you!” Longhals crashes and bangs into a delightful rendition of old-school punk. Martin leaps into the crowd barking in a foreign tongue. His eyes are accusatory as his mouth assails.

There’s an abrupt end... “Oh, I turned it off” as he switches the mic back into a weapon for audio assault. More crashes, more bangs and something that sounds like ”Aye aye aye aye.”

Anderson – now drummer – smiles, or strains, as he slams his ride cymbal at a whooping 190 bpm. Anderson’s bass drum is devoid of skin. The ferocity of previous performance has pierced even the duct tape that had once damned the rage. Again, oh-so delightfully old-school punk.

“This is our second rehearsal, we had our first rehearsal yesterday,” claims Martin before smashing into another tune of grunts and hollers.

The set was a rapid ten minutes. Few understood what had been sung. But no frets, the language of kickin' ass is universal.

And John Cleese said it best: “Now for something completely different.”

Combated with only an iPod Nano, Casio keyboard and a life sized wood cut-out of a deer... Bad Animal charms Little Kings. Shawn Gallagher – so adorable – fashionable in cut off shorts (hints of pockets peaking underneath), over-the-ankle socks and wrist bands shimmies and shakes while delivering vocals similar to Atom and His Package. ”Can I get the party started?”

Gallagher punches the air, kicks and jumps like a campy-but-way-cooler Richard Simmons (sorry, but c’mon... it’s undeniable). And it worked! Most looked upon Bad Animal appreciatively, most got the idea, some clapped of their own volition. Only one agog face from an older gentleman in the corner. Bad Animal’s songs are themed in self-expression “I like burritos, sodas and you, and I’m not perfect;” and the frustrations of being the bad animal ”I am the hunted,” and ”what’s a boy to do?”

Gallagher stares up at the ceiling with an angelic face receiving the inspiration and searching for answers as he beckons the question: ”Why you tryin' to keep me from dancin'?” Well... no one had tried to stop Bad Animal from doin' his dance at Little Kings.

Faintest Ideas and Boyracer’s rotation of faces continues as Young Untold takes the stage. A three member set sounding like a power-surged Buddy Holly, strummed sweet treble harmonies through a classic Fender amp. No frills, no nonsense, just straight up classic pop for classic’s sake.

Keeping in the theme of musical diversity, American Cheeseburger finalizes the afternoon. “This whole show is in HD,” says the drummer as he meticulously tweaks the kit for optimum thrash.

“I’d like to thank God, our mamas and Wayne Newton,” also chimes the singer.

Upon the first strike of a noise, a computer keyboard is sacrificed to the audience. The singer’s gnarly teeth gnash into the air as he moshes with the crowd. Meanwhile a fan picks up the keyboard and assures its destruction... A shift key now lays slaughtered at my toes.

The singer is nothing but screams and snarls of rage as an impish possession is fired into his eyes. At some point I wonder if the concept of lyrics or melody have been abandoned altogether as the music is nothing but intense aggression.

Whether or not thrash punk is your cup of chamomile, American Cheeseburger is absolutely worth catching. Their performance is utterly dynamic. Bottom line, you are going to get pummeled and pounded no matter what, and you’re going to kind of love them for that. A Styrofoam box is volleyed around the crowd before it’s ripped to packing peanuts. The drummer tosses a Rubbermaid garbage can into the crowd, and I don’t believe it had been a prop. What had started as a clever quip became hard fact. The show had been in “HD.” Highly deafening. A hard dose of hard-handed dudgeon. A heavy divertissement for a Saturday afternoon.

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Popfest Athens Punk Thrash Live Review American Cheeseburger Young Untold Bad Animal

Comments [post a comment]

"Shawn Gallagher – so adorable –angelic face " These words used to describe him?? C'mon he is a leach that uses people for his own gain. He is living off of his wife and father-in-law. (He IS a kept man)

Posted By:

FRO

11/22/2008

11:18 PM

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