Punk might have the most interesting history of any genre of music. Beginning as a counter culture outcry against the mainstream it found itself quickly being dragged into that very same consumer culture it was protesting. To this day punk remains a bastion of restrictive shows where a dress code may not be enforced at the door but it is certainly endorsed on the floor. Of course, the tables inevitably turned as new acts rose up from the ashes. In the modern day we are left with a few different sections of the genre some exclusive some inclusive. But it’s pretty well agreed that no matter your taste Titus Andronicus is one of the best groups still in the genre, and at the mazelike Bootleg Theater they were out to prove it.
The first group up was Rick McGuire who commonly plays in the fantastic punk group Pile. While the crowd was of moderate size and pretty inactive the music itself was extremely clear. Bootleg boasted excellent sound which made a huge difference in the concert experience. Seating towards the back of the venue did lead to a strange atmosphere as most venues that feature seating are either sitting only or sitting upstairs. The allure of the seats was too much for most to ignore for the opener but that didn’t stop McGuire from putting on a great show. His third song encapsulated his set as intimate and engaging, if a little on the mellow side.
Given the newest material from Titus Andronicus, McGuire felt like a no-brainer as an opener. He was also able to show his versatility by switching into a set of slower piano ballads for the latter third of the set. This helped to keep the set fresh and lull the crowd down in energy before the between-set wait. Yet despite his undeniable quality as a songwriter and performer, one couldn’t help but feel as though the sparse standing crowd hampered the atmosphere. On the other hand, it was a classic opening experience, where most openers these days seem to act as though they are the headliner, McGuire felt like a true warmup for the headliner, but in a refreshing way. There was no embarrassing mid-set diatribes nor an air of desperation, it was a clean in and out that left the audience excited and warm for the main act. In today’s live music climate, McGuire felt like a relic, but a welcome one.
When Titus Andronicus took the stage the crowd had roughly doubled in size and the energy increase was immediately noticeable even for the slower songs. The venue had also raised the sound by a good twenty or so percent allowing the instruments to rattle and reverberate through the chests of the crowd, and projecting the throaty screams of singer Patrick Stickles across the venue.
They opened with “To Old Friends and New,” which was met with cheers that burst forth from the audience at random intervals during the silent moments of the track. The whole affair felt rather Irish. That may sound strange but it’s the best way to put it, it’s a communal, pub-like affair. It’s a few bouts of arms over shoulders, swaying side to side away from a drunken wake. The communal atmosphere of the music is part of what makes concerts so special and makes Titus Andronicus concerts notable.
When he yells out “the call of the wild,” a howl rises up from the audience and is met with laughter throughout. It’s a feeling of community that’s wholly unique to their style of music and makes their shows can’t-miss affairs. As the set went on the songs grew in intensity, causing the crowd to rock and sway, yet instead of breaking out into your standard mosh pit it was much more supportive. Sure there was an element of aggression but it was aggressive optimism, the words support and camaraderie keep popping up because they are so fitting. It’s everyone raging against the ravages of time and age, against expectations and society as a whole.
The acoustic style of the tour contributed greatly to the atmosphere that was further cultivated by the new songs off their latest record A Productive Cough that are much more reserved and easy to chant along to than their previous discography. There were also some pretty solid between-set monologues that helped to keep the energy level high during instrument changes. This all led to a couple hilarious anecdotes and bar songs that made the venue feel like your home pub. When they moved toward the close of the set they began to play “Fatal Flaw,” which was the biggest hit of the night by far. The crowd seemingly knew every word as if by telepathy, though that’s to be expected considering it’s their most popular song and it made for a memorable way to end the night.
Punk is something beautiful though it may have rough edges. It’s ever-changing, a genre of protest and acceptance, of camaraderie and violence. The punk of today isn’t like the punk of old, and the punk of tomorrow won’t be recognizable in the context of today. But that’s what keeps it alive and keeps it fresh. So long as bands like Titus Andronicus are out there bringing people together under a rallying cry of everyday life, the genre will always be in good hands.
Setlist
To Old Friends and New
Mass Transit Madness (Goin’ Loco)
Number One (In New York)
Above The Bodega (Local Business0
No Future Part 1
Theme From Cheers
Lilac Wine (Jeff Buckley Cover)
Lonely Boy
Stable Boy
Four Score and Seven Years
Fatal Flaw
Dimed Out
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