The Menzingers are the first international act for the new venue, and they never stop exploding on their debut New Zealand concert.
Well regarded with semi-legendary status in America as post Punks constantly on the road. They are a hard-working band with the work ethic of a Boss Springsteen.
The common ground here is the Clash. They resonated with Bruce’s socialist working man is the hero mythology with a nod to Guthrie and Seeger.
The Menzingers play their entire set with the incendiary firepower of the first Clash album, throwing in Complete Control and Black Market Clash.
On record they are the best Punk Americana band around. Ramone Blasters, if you will.
They were touring Australia early in 2020, and due to come here when the covid fit hit the shan well and truly.
For a story of those times, check out the Greg Barnett interview here.
Greg Barnett and Tom May co-lead vocals and guitars, Eric Keen bass, and Joe Godino drums.
Originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania (home base for Joe Biden) where they launched in 2006. They have their base in Philadelphia for a while now.
They detonate with opening song Try off their recent album Some of it Was True (2023). Jangle bells guitars which scythe through like a laser. Both singers are strong with the slightly higher tenor of May having a slight edge.
Good Things is a Folk Punk chant. The traditional Old Country style of unison singing in big halls or beer barns, which led to the football stadiums.
House of Fire has the sprung rhythms that defined the early Clash. A mix of Ska, Reggae and Captain Beefheart.
That rhythmic attack is all over Tellin’ Lies.
All these players came from Ska/Punk bands in their hometown, before merging to take up their definitive form in 2006.
Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing opens their most recent album. On record it has a melancholia about it, behind the musical attack.
I’m afraid I’m not the one/ The one you want is someone else. The whole band has writing credits. Barnett is the one keen on Dylan and Spruce.
This is a ballad in the studio version. On stage, it sounds like the Stooges love in the middle of a fire fight (Search and Destroy).
There’s No Place in This World for Me is a song title worthy of Hank Williams or Robert Johnson. I’ve kicked cans through the loneliest heartlands/ I never stopped to understand. The sentiment is rage and anger, rather than the beautiful loser of Springsteen mythology.
America (You’re Freaking Me Out) has a harder edged Rock’n’roll attack to the one from the Exiles album. Maybe they just put more venom into it on stage.
Lately, I feel like I’m in puppet-Vichy France/ Tryin’ to teach the devil how to dance.
Those are the sort of Dylan lyrics that scared the shit out of Brill Building genius songwriters like Carole King and Gerry Goffin in the Sixties. There is a portion of the Menzingers that resides somewhere in the heart of Highway 61 Revisited.
Ultraviolet. The quietest song of the night. Music is minimalist in comparison to everything else. Great vocals getting close to Punk Orbison.
Hamilton band Edible do a worthy warm-up set of Punk Pop.
Jayden Bray, Karn Ingham, Te Ara Davies and Coleman Strother. Little information on them. They did do a recent show in March this year at the other Whammy bar, to promote their new album Details, of which they blast a few out.
First song Dennys is archetypal abrasive Punk, but when the singer picks up a guitar, they add some jangle bell tones, and push it into garage Pop territory.
Two highlights are Learning to Yeet and Details (both off the debut album) which are powered by explosive racing drums.
Overwhelmed has a muted intro which almost sounds acoustic. They rev it up with a melodic drone riff.
Appropriately end their set with a song called Fuck This.
Menzingers evoke the Folk Punk style of the Pogues on their later albums.
The best song displaying this tonight is Irish Goodbyes. Slow guitar chimes give way to clarion vocals and the music gallops away.
Lookers also has that Celtic swing.
I Don’t Wanna Be an Asshole Anymore starts with the ringing guitars ascending swiftly. Quickly becomes shouty.
A worthy answer to the Modern Lovers classic Pablo Picasso (Never Got Called an Asshole). The Menzingers are passionately Punk. Jonathan Richman is all cool Velvets and cynical.
They drop their last grenade with Casey.
Menzingers do have a lot to say about their country. What it boils down to is…We’re an American Band. Punk Americana.
Rev. Orange Peel
Photography Leonie Moreland
The Menzingers
Edible
Discover more from Red Raven News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.