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American Nightmare/GUTG played two nights at Webster Hall (pics, review, video, setlist)

photos by Alyssa Tanchajja, words by Lauren Jackson

“Finally, sad skinny guys get a chance to mosh hard without fearing for broken bones or glasses.” — Anonymous concertgoer, American Nightmare, July 22

American Nightmare

Friday (7/20) and Sunday night (7/22) at Webster Hall, Cold Cave‘s Wes Eisold rejoined former American Nightmare (Give Up the Ghost) bandmates for sold out shows at the large NYC venue. I went Sunday when the hardcore legends were supported by Damnation A.D., New Lows, and Prurient, the solo noise project of the other half of Cold Cave, Dominick Fernow (who also played Saint Vitus on the night before). The Friday show, which is pictured in this post, was opened by Horror Show and Indecision.

Thanks to the band’s cult following, the grand ballroom at Webster remained packed with aggressively enthusiastic concertgoers from start to finish. American Nightmare was never known (or loved, for that matter) for sticking to the hardcore tradition. No doubt more than one “sad skinny guy” or girl in attendance received a bit of ribbing from their more stalwart hardcore friends when they told them where they were headed that night (I know I did). What American Nightmare fans lack in tough guy cred, they make up for with unrivaled passion and dedication to their pack.

Prurient kicked off the night to a flurry of confused looks and awkward shuffles as he unleashed his signature sonic assault on the audience. Though it was an obvious divergence from the typical “hardcore show” tone, a fair number of concertgoers seemed interested in Fernow’s performance.

Damnation A.D. and New Lows brought the moshers into the fold and set the night on the fast track for the crazed American Nightmare set to follow. For all their heavy riffs and breakdowns, the two supporting bands couldn’t hold a candle to the fervor that the headliners incited when they came onstage. From above, the crowd appeared less as a group of individuals and more a military outfit acting in chaotic unison: not one lyric went unsung, no finger point went up alone.

More pictures from Friday, and videos and the setlists from both nights, below…


American Nightmare / Give Up The Ghost at Webster Hall NYC 7/20/12

flyer

Horror Show

Horror Show

Horror Show

Horror Show

Horror Show

Horror Show

Horror Show

Horror Show

Horror Show

Horror Show

Horror Show

Indecision

Indecision

Indecision

Indecision

Indecision

Indecision

Indecision

Indecision

Indecision

Indecision

Indecision

Indecision

Indecision

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare

American Nightmare


American Nightmare — July 20 Webster Hall setlist
(Its Sometimes Like It Never Started)
Love American
we are
Protest Song #00
Hearts
I’ve Shared Your Lips So Now They Sicken Me
Fuck What Fireworks Stand For
The Ice Age Is Coming
Please Die!
AM/PM
Shoplifting In A Ghost Town
I Saved Latin
Postmark My Compass
(And Its Sometimes Like It Will Never End)
Young Hearts Be Free Tonight
Calculation Nation
There’s A Black Hole In The Shadow Of The Pru
Encore:
Your Arsonist
Farewell


American Nightmare — July 22 Webster Hall setlist
(Its Sometimes Like It Never Started)
Love American
we are
AM/PM
Shoplifting In A Ghost Town
I Saved Latin
Postmark My Compass
Hearts
I’ve Shared Your Lips So Now They Sicken Me
Fuck What Fireworks Stand For
The Ice Age Is Coming
Please Die!
(And Its Sometimes Like It Will Never End)
Young Hearts Be Free Tonight
Calculation Nation
There’s A Black Hole In The Shadow Of The Pru
Encore:
Protest Song #00
Your Arsonist
Farewell