[Concerts] The Invincible Gods, Screaming Females, and The Measure [sa] at Asbury Lanes 2006-10-25

The Invincible Gods

This post is a bit overdue! Back in October, just before Halloween, I got to see three excellent performances by Brunswick's Screaming Females and The Measure [sa], and Brooklyn's The Invincible Gods.

First, I should like to say that I have really been digging how Asbury Lanes has been putting on these shows featuring only two bands in an evening, and that it usually starts sometime after 10pm. It's a good vibe and it's nice to have an event that doesn't have 6 bands, but gives two complementing acts a lot of time to really cut loose.

I had not really gotten a chance to listen to the Gods last time I saw them at The Parlor in New Brunswick, so I was really stoked for this show. The band is a three-piece (Jim Testa has some excellent background and things to say about them here), with Candace on vocals, Sean on guitar and vocals, and Nick on drums. Invincible Gods is the phoenix rising from the ashes of The Atomic Missiles (some of the story of this band includes a humourously told tale of an insane roommate out in Los Angeles who was in large part responsible for their defection from that west coast badland of people who will forever wait tables waiting to get famous; it just wasn't for them).

Despite the lack of a bassist, with guitar running into both bass and guitar amps, the band played very dynamic less-is-more rippin dance and pop tunes, and kicked out some seriously Pissed At Current Events lyrics that had the small crowd at Asbury Lanes immediately in love, captivated until the end of the set. I must confess that I was a foot tapper and till about late in the set when I just couldn't help it and had to dance like a freak. Not many bands can make me dance like a freak! It was punk ass, it was Candace bopping around, it was amazing vocal interplay between herself and Sean, it was really tight drumming by Nick that was in lock step with Sean who was not even a little bit afraid of leaving the rhythm duty to rip fills and solos. The sound is complex and sparse, it's a very naked performance done with complete confidence. I love this band. They don't need a bassist, but they would be Even Better if they did have someone filling in that tamber for them.

Screaming Females fucking rocked. Not a surprise. The band is getting tighter while also getting looser with their stage performance. Marissa seems to be trying to literally bludgeoning pop music when she jumps on top of her strat and starts beating the thing! Songs kinda fall apart and stop on purpose only to come ripping back into a surprise final chorus with a killer hook. The band is playing with the confidence of people who know what they're capable of, and who've taken it on the road and earned it. I picked up their 7" for only $5 bucks, and it's beautiful, although I have yet to go over to Adam's house to listen to it on his Hi-Fi (I own no record player). I'm literally fiending to hear it. The individual made canvas sleeves of the 100 copies are at once fun and silly, and harrowing and frightening "dear god hide me under the bed, don't let her find me," reads mine! I love the soviet red vinyl. I fucking love it.

Screaming Females

On some of the newer material the screa-males are playing, I'm noticing that bassist King Mike is starting to dig funkier, more complex grooves with drummer Jarrett Dougherty, riffs that saw him working his fingers like I've not seen him work them before, grooves that have Jarrett kicking it tight and fast, the band just holding on while Marissa shreds away.

The last band of the evening was The Measure [SA], also hailing from New Brunswick, NJ. Kicking a pop-punk meets cowpunk and some fast brunswick hardcore punk, they were really quite an entertaining group. One of the highlights of the set was when singer and guitarist Mike Regrets proposed to his girlfriend after abruptly stopping the second song, much to everyone's shock! (For the record, she said, "yes"). The band was absolutely infectious, especially kicking the single from their new LP / 7", Union Pool (check it out on their myspace page!). "Meet me there on Sundaaaaaay! Cuz you got me!" Singer and guitarist Lauren Measure has such a powerful stage presence being tall and lean and throwing out a rockin sweet voice. I was also very impressed with their rhythm section. The drummer worked his ass off while managing to sing lead on a couple of tunes himself. I'm really looking forward to catching these folks again.

The Measure [SA] has a show coming up at The Court Tavern in New Brunswick next week, Wed the 22nd of November. Screaming Females have their next show at The Parlor (233 Hamilton Street) in New Brunswick on Saturday December 9th, another basement jam and a birthday party! I don't know when The Invincible Gods are playing next (can't seem to find an Upcoming Shows listing for them anywhere), but I'm keeping an eye out.

I've got a few more pictures over here, but I'm noticing that I need to spend a little time changing how I'm using flash at night indoors, because it's Not Good right now. I regretfully took no pictures of The Measure [sa]. (a couple of photos were taken by Mike from My Punk, but I can't remember which ones! Help, Mike!)