Ending their show with an anti-classic like Black Flag’s “Six Pack” — after completely (and wisely) forgoing the whole tradition of “encore” — proved a typically savvy move for on Wednesday night at the . After already having bulldozed a crowd that easily filled more than half the venue with an hour-long set of their musical concoctions — some of of the crowd reacted with delirium while others reached the dangerous edge of seizure (honestly, I am a witness) — the reworked hardcore anthem breathed new life into the audience. The result: When the band left the stage, it wasn’t amid hollers to have them come back for more. The exit was swept up in plans to continue at an afterparty, reportedly at Rhinoceropolis, vocalized between hoots, grins and laughter as the crowd quickly shuffled out onto Colfax and into groups to hunt down the next venue.
And really, historically, such is the life of this duo, currently riding on the edge of the hip wave that is the blogosphere/the global indie and underground scene. When you take a look at the press thatap been produced from the L.A.-based group, just in the past five years, you might also be coaxed easily into shock. But after finally catching a full set of their live fervor, I have to say they deserve most of the recognition they’ve received. And it seems they continue to receive more nearly every day.
After a prolonged wait for the duo to show (along with an accompanying keyboardist/DJ, they were delayed by snow on their way into town) and what seemed like an endless sound check, No Age took the stage at just after 10 p.m. and started pummeling the room with beautifully crafted noise — noise that belied the lack of an on-stage orchestra. (Here’s to pedals and electronics!) Like the skate-punk/hardcore bands at this duo’s roots, there were few stops between songs, and not much chatter, as if to keep the pulse of the room at a high rate, along with everyone’s attention.
Yet, unlike typical punk rock bands, No Age constantly delved into sheer musicality, and graced the half-full room with passionate familiarity — with their instruments, to boot. Guitarist Randy Randall delved voraciously into chords that have seldom been used by the typical hardcore band — sevenths, minors, augmenteds — all beautiful and melodic, often melancholy, sometimes threatening. Dean Spunt accompanied with a physique and voice fully befitting the sound Randall was laying down.
The group produced a sound and feel that stood firmly atop seminal heroes like the Reid brothers from the Jesus & Mary Chain (and Randall often became the spitting image of J&MC guitarist Jim Reid throughout Wednesdays show), British noise/psychedelic band Loop, American bands like Butthole Surfers and Mothers of Invention and the entire surf/skate punk ethic. And none of it sounded contrived or merely reproduced. All of the songs pulled life from the clean, sunny disposition these genres have espoused with great, sweeping affect.
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Billy Thieme is a Denver-based writer, an old-school punk and a huge follower of Denver’s vibrant local music scene. Follow Billy’s explorations at , and his giglist at .
Joe McCabe is a Denver photographer and a regular contributor to Reverb. Check out his .
