As you approach the age of thirty, punk rock shows begin to feel like kisses in a rocky relationship – any one could be your last. As 2012 is the year that my friends and I reach that frightening age many of us thought we’d never even make it to, there is an unspoken pressure to replace youthful pursuits of enjoyment with more adult endeavors.

Tonight was not that night though. A friend and I drove down to Dekalb for the show and arrived at Otto’s a good half hour before it started to a nearly empty venue. The opening band, Lord, played a style of chugging metal that was almost jam band-esque in its execution to a fairly sparse crowd. They had a very tight, technical sound, but as someone with a child-like attention span, Lord’s 5+ minute, predominantly instrumental songs had me daydreaming, only to be abruptly woken by occasional silence and the realization that I should be clapping.

The Holy Mess

The opposite was the case when The Holy Mess played. THM are a-band-you-should-be-listening-to from Philadelphia who play raucous pop punk about drinking and stuff in a manner similar to Off With Their Heads and Dillinger Four. I was really excited to see these guys and definitely wasn’t the only one. During their set there was a cluster of super-fans up front and center pogo-ing and singing. THM’s set was great, consisting of songs from their excellent Ep and 7″ (which is now available as a full length) and some new material as well.

The Lawrence Arms

By the time The Lawrence Arms went on, the venue was pretty full. Despite the mass of people, it never felt oppressive in the way shows in Chicago sometimes do, and I was still able to comfortably reside near the front of the stage, a huge reason why I love seeing bands at Otto’s. One of the best things about a Lawrence Arms show is the Brendan Kelly onstage banter, and it definitely delivered tonight, with talk of “Juggalo shoes” (a reference to a sneaker that was thrown on the stage with a goofy single zebra stripe lace) and dudes’ dick sizes (a reference to, well, you had to be there). The set was really solid, with a mixture of old material and new-ish classics like “The Slowest Drink at the Saddest Bar on the Snowiest Day in the Greatest City.”

The crowd responded in turn and with fists in the air, they sang out every word. It was an almost transcendent experience to be a part of, the kind you can only get at these kind of shows, and one that I don’t see myself or my friends giving up any time soon.

This is our year for sure.

The Lawrence Arms

Sock Monkey Sound

There are two types of Lawrence Arms shows: the shows where Brendan Kelly is already so drunk that he’s slurring when he gets on stage, and where he gets progressively drunker throughout the show.

The second type of show is usually the one that goes better, and that’s what the Lawrence Arms gave a sold-out (or nearly so) crowd Saturday night at the Metro.

To strangers, it probably wasn’t the best show. There was rambling conversation and too much time between songs. Most favorites were played, but some got skipped. For me, though, it was perfect.

Details really are irrelevant. I love Brendan’s energy combined with how still Chris is when he’s singing. I love both their voices. I love songs about Chicago because it makes me feel like I belong here. A music snob may complain about this show. I will not.

It’s no big secret that I go to most shows alone. However, there’s something about standing in a group of people all singing the words to your favorite songs that makes you feel a part of something bigger. It makes me feel not so alone.

And for all the Larry Arms fans, the live DVD of the anniversary show (filmed 10/24/09 at the Metro) should be out this year–it’s only taken them 3 years.

Sock Monkey Sound