So we've been hearing allovertheplace about the "emo revival" lately, and while I'm sure for some people the very thought causes a medically unsafe amount of eyerolling, for others, it just seems like a lot of bandwagon-jumping about a scene that has very quietly been great for years. Syracuse, NY quintet Polar Bear Club have been at the forefront of this shifting group of melodic yet passionate post-hardcore bands for years now, and they'll be bringing their urgent, undeniable sound to Strange Matter for a special matinee show tonight, brought to you by Stay Sweet Records!
Polar Bear Club just released Death Chorus, their fourth album in six years, and while singer Jimmy Stadt seems to have taken some vocal lessons (we can totally imagine that all those hoarse shouts were starting to wear away at his throat), leaving him with a much smoother and prettier tone, the passion is still there, and the hooks are undeniable. Check out the video the album's first single, "Blood Balloon," right here:
But this show isn't just about the tried-and-true veterans--Toledo, Ohio's Citizen just released their appropriately-titled debut album, Youth, earlier this year, but their grasp of melody and the energy and intensity that bleeds from every note they play is more than enough to make them a great companion for Polar Bear Club's more established emotionally-driven post-hardcore. Check out the video for "The Summer," from Youth, which is a great introduction to what Citizen are all about:
But don't think you can wander in late, just in time to catch the big bands, and not miss out on anything. With opening sets from Baltimore's Diamond Youth and Long Island's Sainthood Reps also on the schedule, this show will be packed with amazing music from beginning to end. You really do need to be there. And we've got good news--no matter your age, you will be welcome. In a departure from the trend of bar-time shows that start at 11 PM after all the kids have been chased home by curfew, Stay Sweet is keeping things all ages (whoa-oh!) for this show. That does mean you'll have to head right over after work--doors open at 6 PM, and the first band will hit the stage at 7--but it's worth it for such a great lineup. So whether you've been listening to these bands for years or you're just starting to wonder about this whole "emo revival" thing, this show is for you. Come down to Strange Matter, located at 929 W. Grace St, and check it out! Admission is $15, and while advance ticket sales have ended, there should be tickets at the door as long as you arrive on time. For more info, click here.