Lemuria, Coke Bust, The Two Funerals and Little Master
Thursday January 13 at Gallery 5
My first show of the new year was highly anticipated. Lemuria has developed quite the reputation for their live performances throughout the years. After missing appearances at Nara Sushi, Best Friends Day and Gallery 5, I was eager to finally get a chance to catch the band live.
The night began with Richmond’s Little Master. My first opportunity to catch this trio was when they opened for the Screaming Females. I was impressed then, but I cannot help but declare how much they have improved. On the heels of a recent tour, Little Master has really stepped up their game with an approach to punk that reminds me of Squeeze, The Replacements and Husker Du while still incorporating an effective Midwestern flavor into the mix. Although their set was short, I found it be the perfect length. As the majority of the audience was in eager anticipation for the headliners, why not leave them wanting more from one of the stronger opening bands performing this evening.
The Two Funerals followed, and I find more to enjoy about them after every listen. If there was one aspect that truly appealed to me, it was the level of patience and attention some of their songs require of their audiences. They will let a song carry a swift sense of intensity, filling you with eager intrigue as to when guitarist/vocalist Shannon Le Corre will bring the song to a full realization. From their stage banter, it seems that the band have several releases in the works for the new year.
Coke Bust had made their way from the Washington DC area to play this show and brought along a lot of kids from right up I-95. They were definitely the odd band out with their approach to hardcore. I will say this--I have not been an enthusiast of the genre in years, and I can imagine that leaves me at a bit of a shortcoming as far as critiquing their performance. All in all, I found each of their songs to be quick and proficient. The main strengths in their tunes were that they never felt as if they blended together. The one moment of their set which really struck a chord with me was a moment in which the drummer addressed the audience about their appearance on this bill. He said that having shows where four very different bands that represent different facets of the punk world can play on the same bill together is an important concept. At the roots of what “punk” should mean is that it is confrontational and can at times make an audience uncomfortable. To have everything be glossy and easy to swallow would seem defeatist. I agreed with this sentiment, and whether Coke Bust were never going to end up being my favorite band of the evening didn’t matter. I could walk away feeling as if I encountered a rational thought regarding something as convoluted as punk rock can be sometimes.
This tour was designed to help Lemuria celebrate the release of their new full-length, Pebble, a record that has certainly divided a bit of the band’s constituents. I personally love it. While noting the distinct musical approach the band took and how that differs from Get Better, I don’t think their lyrical approach has changed at all. Even on Get Better, as well as on their single releases, Lemuria has never been a band that has shied away from serious subject matter. Perhaps Pebble isn’t as cute as the older material, but I think it would be completely awful for a band like Lemuria to force any possibilities of evolution or development.
I found their live set to be really enjoyable. The majority of their set focused on cuts from Get Better, but they debuted several tracks from Pebble as well. The band puts a lot of energy into their live performances. All of the years they have spent on the road really show in how spot-on Sheena Ozzella’s voice is, as well as her proficiency as a guitarist. As they went further and further into their set, they literally played everything I could want to hear from them. I was absolutely delighted. I can’t speak for fans of the band that have seen them on numerous occasions, but it was all fresh to me. If I had one minor complaint, it was that not being able to hear drummer Alex Kerns’ vocals very well was kind of a bummer, especially when he was responsible for taking on lead vocal duties. Thankfully the issue was eventually resolved, and it never resurfaced for the rest of the evening.
Lemuria is a band whose popularity makes sense to me. They don’t run away from harsh subject matters, but they still reinvigorate these ideas with touches of optimism that can’t help but be refreshing. Also, it doesn’t hurt that they are really good at what they do. I can promise I will try my best to be at their next show whenever they come back.