photos by Andrew St. Clair, word by Andrew Frisicano

Against Me

Here's the rest of the pictures from the House of Vans show on Thursday, August 18th (you've already seen the ones from Big Freedia and Tokyo Police Club). Team Robespierre played the opening set followed by Japanther; the two-piece is currently on tour and they have a bunch more NYC shows in September; dates below.

I missed both those bands (these things start around 7pm), but did arrive in time to see Against Me!, who put on an intense, highly entertaining show. Though their past few CDs have been less than exciting, the band hasn't lost a bit of its energy live. Even songs like "White Crosses" and "I Was a Teenage Anarchist," which come off way too polished and poppy on record, sounded at home along the older cuts that made up about half the set. Playing the hits was definitely a good move: early on, the highly sing-along-able "Pints of Guinness Make You Strong" set the tone for the night.

The crowd was a combination of people psyched for the bands (and free beer) and people trying to figure out whether playing/attending a corporate sponsored show constituted "selling out." Still, for all the bitching I overheard, I suspect that Against Me! changed the minds of some people who had written them off.

More pictures, Japanther tour dates and Against Me set list below....

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