NICK GERGESHA experiences a night of punk through a documentary film and two showcases at the Horseshoe Tavern.

 

Filmage: The Story of Descendents/ALL

Well-known for their contributions to what would later become “pop-punk,” The Descendents have always stood out from the rest of their contemporaries. Shuffling between big tours and indefinite hiatuses, the story of the band and offshoot ALL (the band Descendents personnel continued in while vocalist Milo Aukerman pursued his PhD) is almost mythical. Documentary directors Deedle Lacour and Matt Riggle noted in their Q&A that drummer Bill Stevenson, the one consistent driving force (and sole original member) of the band, sat on hours of footage and a wealth of never before seen material.

Much like their subject, Lacour and Riggle’s doc contains enough specific information to do justice to the bands and satiate their dedicated fan base. Just as importantly, the film is also visually appealing and tightly constructed, utilizing interviews with fans, band members, and other notable musicians (including Nirvana’s Dave Grohl) to create a well-paced and accessible piece of filmmaking. There is a lot happening in this 90-minute doc, but whether or not you were a fan going in, you will have a newfound respect for the most recognizable glasses and tie in punk.

 

White Lung @ Horseshoe Tavern

The Vancouver noisemakers White Lung have a story to tell. No matter the setting, vocalist Mish Way projects a sense of urgency alongside a playful kind of raucousness that makes for a wildly entertaining live show. As she grabs at the heads of fans up front and sternly recalls that she is either “the dead horse rider” or “the disease you’ve already caught,” it’s easy to feel as though she’s singing right at you. Maybe she is!

After years of touring and record releases, the band has arguably hit a stride in which all four members are able to lock in without clocking out. Playing a diverse range of songs drawn from most of their catalogue (they’ve been putting out records since 2007), it’s refreshing to see a band stick to their guns without compromising. From the natural harmonic attack in “Glue” to the modulated guitar mayhem in “Sleep Creep,” White Lung are energetic as ever and keep their live show interesting.

 

Iceage @ Horseshoe Tavern

The last time Copenhagen wunderkinds Iceage played Toronto (most of the band are barely in their 20s), their performance was uneven. Their marching rhythms, angular guitars and brooding vocals just didn’t translate well into the live setting. Thinking back to that set after the band’s stellar performance at the Horseshoe Tavern, something must have been awry. This night, the band on stage was on fire.

Largely sticking to songs from their 2013 record You’re Nothing, the band put on a tightly orchestrated show that allowed for their technical prowess to outshine their mischievous sensibilities. They still got chances to throw a bone to the almost rabid crowd pooling around the center of the dance floor, but often chose to concentrate on the complicated tempo changes in “Ecstasy” and “Morals,” and the serrated melodies in songs like “It Might Hit First.” This is the same band that once bloodied themselves on the floors of Danish basements, but with a shocking level of maturity for such a young crew. If they keep this up, who knows where they’ll play next year at this time.

 

Lower @ the Garrison

Frequently compared to label-mates in Iceage, the Danish quartet in Lower are still finding their niche in the post-punk spectrum of the Copenhagen underground. With two 7″ records released under Escho and a split single with Iceage to their name, the foursome play a darkened, mid-tempo style of guitar driven crooning.

On their recordings, Lower boosts their guitars’ high ends to allow a pool of light to form around their gothic, Chameleons sounding rhythm section, but they had difficulty achieving this last night at The Garrison. The bassist’s amp frequently cut out, and the band never seemed comfortable with their mixing levels. What they lacked in instrumental cohesion; however, they more than made up for in vocalist Adrian Toubro’s gifted voice and knack for storytelling. Lamenting the present with a poetic grasp at the future in “But There Has To Be More,” Toubro showed his audience a thoughtful mind with a promising future, wherever his musical inclinations take him.