Last night, Seňor Citizen and I went to see MDC at the Bottom Lounge. I never got to see them “back in the day” so I wanted to see what it was I missed and since it was the original lineup, I figured it was worth checking out. The show started really early too, 630pm because the club had a late show that night as well.
Raining Bricks
Raining Bricks
Raining Bricks were up first. They sounded like anything on the New York Hardcore: The Way It Is compilation, which I wasn’t a fan of. While they weren’t straight-edge (the singer was drinking a beer), they sure sounded just like all that Youth-Crew stuff that got me disillusioned with punk/hardcore back in the late 1980s. Needless to say they didn’t do much for me, but they only played 15 minutes so it wasn’t bad. Unlike all those Youth-Crew bands however, Raining Bricks had a female in the band, who played guitar.
Chronic Seizure
Chronic Seizure
Chronic Seizure were up next and played some pretty intense hardcore. They had some wild fans in the audience who were jumping all over the place and some asshole twice splashed his beer on me. They also played for only 15 minutes but I was pretty entertained by them. At one point they played an Angry Samoans cover, which breaks my rule of “no new punk bands should ever cover old punk band’s songs”. That was my only complaint, the rest of their set was quite alright.
I Attack
I Attack
I Attack
I Attack were third and barely made it to the club in time to play this show. When they finally took the stage, they blasted through 15 minutes of pretty intense hardcore. Sadly their set was cut short due to their tardiness but the crowd were really into the short set they played and I enjoyed it as well.
MDC
MDC
MDC followed and it was cool that it was the original 1981 lineup, which these days is a pretty rare thing for old punk bands to have. They played a good selection of mostly old songs such as “Born to Die”, “John Wayne Was a Nazi”, “Chicken Squawk” and others. They also played a few newer tracks like “Shades of Brown”. For a bunch of old-timers, they still had it and were tight and pretty energetic. The crowd were into it too, and surprisingly was made up of mostly younger kids. I think Senor and I were easily the oldest people in the club with the exception of the four guys on stage! They played about 45 minutes with no encore as the club had to clear out to get ready for whatever the late show was.
MDC
MDC
All in all it wasn’t a bad way to spend the evening, and the show had to have let out earlier than just about any one I’ve seen in years (we were in the car at around 9:30pm). It was good to see despite all the years and some members’ battles with “personal demons” that they still had what it takes to deliver a solid hardcore show.
MDC
A few more pix after the jump
MDC
MDC
MDC
since when did raining bricks become a youthcrew band? i didnt know their music was anything close to being youth crew
That’s what they sounded like to me.
Wow! Are you sure that you actually listened to raining bricks? Or did you just make this generalization by the way they dressed or the shirts that they were wearing? I mean, no one has to like a band or say good things about every band, but i’ve never seen anything so far from inaccurate.
Yeah, I am sure I was listening to them, I was taking the pics you are looking at. I’m not going to argue the point, that is what they sounded to me. I don’t even think what I wrote was badmouthing, I said it wasn’t of interest to me, I never said they sucked. By the way, to be “far from inaccurate” would indicate that I was indeed correct.
thanks to whoever took the time to review us for this show. although i don’t understand any of the comparisons, the fact that you took the time to include us in this, means a lot.
and if you ever want to hear us recorded, we have a few songs up that don’t sound like NY hardcore or youth crew (he he he)
http://www.myspace.com/rainingbricks
Saw MDC at SoundIdea in Brandon Florida. I also was the oldest at the show. Kicked ass and played mostly old songs. The total show space, (in the back of the store) was about the size of a typical garage. It was all I could do to not be pushed through the drumset. Great time!!