Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 


Reviews



Seeing a show in a new city is always something I look forward to. Everywhere you go is a different experience, and this time it happened to be Miami. Five bands were slated to play the Alley, with Horse The Band headlining the festivities. The show started almost two hours late, but the time wasted was quickly made up for by opening act Look Mexico.

If American Football and Explosions In The Sky were to procreate, Look Mexico would be the result. Using delicate, melodic guitar tones and beautiful vocals, the band is just as in tune with their more rocking side, able to slide back and forth between quiet and raging just as Explosions have trademarked. The band played an energetic five-song set that was until Horse The Band came on, the most impressive act of the night.

Miami’s Consular followed, or more correctly, attempted to follow Look Mexico. The band's vocalist was in Equador today, and thus the band played without, and as a three-piece. What followed was about 25 boring, monotonous minutes of slow, sludgy metal. The songs didn’t seem to have much of a direction, and were definitely not helped by the lack of a singer.

Taking the middle spot was another home-bred band, this time in the form of Coffin Dancer. Boasting ex-members of Tyranny Of Shaw and Spirit Of Versailles, the band more or less continued in the tradition of its predecessors. High-pitched, shrieking vocals, post-rock instrumentals, and drumming so fast and chaotic it could have broken the sound barrier. An impressive set by the relatively new band, and most likely a prelude of great things to come.

Next came without a doubt the oddest set of the night, straight from the mouths and keyboards of Awesome New Republic. A two-man, drum and keyboard tandem, both men sang and created some bouncy grooves that had half the floor busy attempting to dance as ridiculously as humanly possible. Surprisingly, a very fun, albeit unorthodox set from the duo.

After much on-stage setup and banter, Horse The Band took the floor. I wasn’t really sure what to expect with these guys. R. Borlax is a pretty hit or miss album, and I had no idea how it would translate to a live setting. Oh but I found out; insanity. From start to finish the band impressed with their unrivaled energy and interaction with the crowd that ate it all up. The band played fan favorites “Bunnies,” “Pol’s Voice,” and finally ending, with much approval from all in attendance, “Cutsman.” There had been a good level of energy from the crowd all through their set, with some good activity in the pit, but “Custman” somehow flipped an invisible switch in everyone that turned into overdrive. Aside from two drunk metalheads (one of which was wearing a Wu-Tang shirt) kicklining in the pit, everyone seemed to have an amazing time, with windmills and two steps dominating the song's duration. An exhausting hour after they started, Horse The Bands set stole the night.

Save Consular, the night was a great showing for every band involved, and a great time was had by everyone. Despite never once seeing a show there, I felt right at home, and had a tremendous time. Keep checking out for Look Mexico, because you’ll be hearing from them again, I’m sure of it. As for Horse The Band, simply put, they’re worth the price of admission alone.



People who liked this also liked:
The Holy Mountain - Enemies16 Horsepower - Hoarse [reissue]Mabus - Cheers, To Doomsday GloomAmerican Distress - American DistressCasket Architects - Dance on the Death NerveCross Examination - The Hung JuryBracket - RequiemNo Thanks - Demo / Live: CBGBs [reissues]A Global Threat - Where the Sun Never SetsPolar Bear Club - The Redder, The Better



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by thedarrien on 2006-07-02 20:59:32
    My Score:

    hmm. I've seen HORSE three times, and all three times were amazing.

    I remember, I think it was the second time, they brought out a giant, duct-tape hammer [the same hammer which was used in the Birdo video] and gave it to the crowd and encouraged them to beat the shit out of each other. One boy got hit in the face with it, and broke his nose. the band stopped, looked at him, and goes "dude...your nose is fucking crooked....that shit is so broken....do you want us to just play Cutsman right now so you can go to the hospital?" and the kid goes "nah...i can just fix it right now" and proceeds to crack his nose back into place.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 at 10:34 PM (EDT)

    fuckin A --- I saw Look Mexico in Brandon about a month ago--- those dudes are real solid--- you can check them out at www.myspace.com/lookmexico

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 1, 2005 at 12:23 AM (EDT)

    the band impressed with their unrivaled energy and interaction with the crowd

    ----

    yeah right

    Posted by hobbitcore on 2005-07-31 19:18:36

    Tell reggie that. That guy is fat and weird, yet his amount of tang gotten is up there with the crue.

    unfortunately, the keyboard player in Reggie is like a 10 year old girl

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2005-07-31 17:10:58

    Sorry I doubt there are any chicks on myspace I'd fuck in a heartbeat (unless of course your measure of time is your same scale you set for fuckability). I've dated chicks that were all into the myspace/friendster/hotornot/FTJ/whatever the shit. And sometimes they are attractive but honestly they have less personality than a box of packing peanuts (other than the fact that they take on whatever personality is currently cool).

    It's not like those chicks that first got into GC are still into that they've either changed tastes or died. So bands like GC and Reggie have to frequently raise and harvest a new crop of underage whores to worship them. You show me a 19 year old chick who’s into Reggie and I’ll have her show you where daddy touched her.
    -Dante
    P.S. Our moms fill their prescriptions/Our dads drink for a living./We’re cursed with their afflictions/ well doesn’t that make us like siblings.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 31, 2005 at 4:36 PM (EDT)

    HAHA! Well played on the Reggie comment. I know little about him but judging by the fact that I've seen his video all over MTVU (granted it was like two months ago but it was in regular rotation) you're probably right about him getting tang. Still, when you're fat and ugly getting laid still doesn't change the fact that you look like a spastic Mongoloid. Besides I'd have to imagine the chicks Reggie bangs kind of look like him with a vagina (and 13 years old).
    -Dante

    You know, good charlotte broke like 4-5 years ago, those girls are now 19-20, you know, those girls on myspace you really really hate, but would fuck in a heartbeat.

    In conclusion, the syntheziser gives MAD tang.

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2005-07-31 15:10:39

    HAHA! Well played on the Reggie comment. I know little about him but judging by the fact that I've seen his video all over MTVU (granted it was like two months ago but it was in regular rotation) you're probably right about him getting tang. Still, when you're fat and ugly getting laid still doesn't change the fact that you look like a spastic Mongoloid. Besides I'd have to imagine the chicks Reggie bangs kind of look like him with a vagina (and 13 years old).
    -Dante

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 31, 2005 at 8:55 AM (EDT)

    "Seriously, do you know ANYTHING about synths in general?"
    No. Because the 80's are fucking dead and the dude behind the keyboard has less of a chance of laid than a blind guy in a quadriplegic whorehouse.
    -Dante

    Tell reggie that. That guy is fat and weird, yet his amount of tang gotten is up there with the crue.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 31, 2005 at 8:53 AM (EDT)

    Seriously, you all need to understand something, ok, so you like the band, that's ok, we all like different bands.

    But saying the guy is the most awesome keyboard player ever is like saying tom delonge of blink 182 is the best guitarist ever.

    I think this band attracts people who are even worse than the ap.net fanclub, just check the last 5 posts.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 31, 2005 at 1:40 AM (EDT)

    horse = massive orgasm in pants and then going to dinner with your grandparents and showing off the stain.

    Posted by bloodbrothersburnpiano on 2005-07-30 18:31:22

    "
    Stop creaming, seriously.
    That keyboardist is incredibly lame, and i've heard the latest album in it's entirety. I have the same synth as that dude, and he's just incredibly basic, and playing a bunch of notes doesn't make him an "fucking awesome" player. Seriously, do you know ANYTHING about synths in general?"

    it's a shame that somebody who doesn't appreciate the band gets to hear it before us who would love to hear it.

    Posted by hobbitcore on 2005-07-30 16:19:26

    that would be me, by the way
    credit the awesome burn here

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 30, 2005 at 4:18 PM (EDT)

    hahahahahaha man check out the guy trying to sound cool cuz he knows more about keyboards than everyone else...do you play D&D also? how are things going for your character?

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2005-07-30 14:49:30

    "Seriously, do you know ANYTHING about synths in general?"
    No. Because the 80's are fucking dead and the dude behind the keyboard has less of a chance of laid than a blind guy in a quadriplegic whorehouse.
    -Dante

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 30, 2005 at 10:34 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "HORSE The Band can blow anybodys mind. I'm definately anticipating their new CD The Mechanical Hand. Their keyboardist is fckin awesome. You have no clue how awesome it is to walk to school while listening to Cutsman. I got the hugest smile when I walked into class."

    Stop creaming, seriously.
    That keyboardist is incredibly lame, and i've heard the latest album in it's entirety. I have the same synth as that dude, and he's just incredibly basic, and playing a bunch of notes doesn't make him an "fucking awesome" player. Seriously, do you know ANYTHING about synths in general?

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-07-30 00:45:10

    That video on their frontpage is pretty bitchin.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 11:58 PM (EDT)

    Radiohead of hardcore!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 6:55 PM (EDT)

    HORSE The Band can blow anybodys mind. I'm definately anticipating their new CD The Mechanical Hand. Their keyboardist is fckin awesome. You have no clue how awesome it is to walk to school while listening to Cutsman. I got the hugest smile when I walked into class.

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-07-29 12:51:35

    Who's your band?

    Well my cousin is taking be to some 10-band show at the Kaffe Krystal tomorrow night, and the only band there I know playing is Highway. If the show is any good, maybe I'll do a review of it, which works out for your if your band is one of the 10.

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-07-29 09:41:00

    oh and did horse the band play "birdo"

    that song is ruling my world lately

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-07-29 07:21:01

    we gon' give it to ya

    with no trivia

    RAW LIKE COCAINE STRAIGHT FROM BOLIVIA

    score's for wuuuuuuu tang

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 4:02 AM (EDT)

    btw...the singer was in Tyranny of Shaw...not the guitarist though...they didn't have a bassist but I assure you none of their members were in SOV...especially since SOV was from Sioux Falls, SD...the drummer is also in Stop This Fall

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 4:01 AM (EDT)

    too bad you didn't see any shows where my band played, i'd love to be reviewed on punknews :P

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-07-29 02:43:59

    Dude kids were flocking to that merch table like nobody's business. It was crazy. I got the blue "Cutsman" shirt.

    And to the dude below, I talked to a few people about Coffin Dancer's SOV connection, and was told their bassist was in SOV, their singer and guitarist were Tyranny Of Shaw, and I forget where the drummer was from.

    Also, to those of you there, how about that drunk kid (looked to be about 15) stumbling around all night? Shit was hilarious. He almost got railed so many times, I could tell kids were getting extremely annoyed. I wish I had known some of you kids were gonna be there, I'm always down to meet new people. I'm sure you saw me, I was the menacing, jacked as hell kid in the Florida Gators hat and Promise shirt. Minus the menacing and jacked as hell part.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 2:17 AM (EDT)

    I use to have a Wu-Tang shirt.

    That shirt and Horse The Band owned.

    Ramo
    (Now I have a Mega Man tee)

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-07-29 01:55:30

    Visiting my cousins, I've been here since the 16th, but I'm leaving this Monday.

    And Horse definitely only played for an hour or so, and arrogant or not, they're damn funny, and if you take anything any member of that band says even remotely seriously, you're kidding yourself.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 1:41 AM (EDT)

    what are you doing in miami and how long are you here?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 1:37 AM (EDT)

    horse the band plays for way too long (somewhere around an hour and half?) and behave like arrogant jerks on stage, they were by far the worst band of the night.

    - sharkie

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-07-29 01:08:45

    i've never been to miami....so i am just gonna imagine that this show was filled with latin chicks with fake tits and and thongs

    man, this must of been a sweet show.

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 1:06 AM (EDT)

    "with windmills and two steps dominating the songs duration."

    Shut up.

    Posted by piratasmuertas on 2005-07-29 00:34:59

    Hey Anchors,
    Like the review, like the band. There are a few punctuation errors.

    Hate to be the english teacher.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 12:31 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    scores for Miami.

    305

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 12:30 AM (EDT)

    coffin dancer isnt ex-spirit of versailles. they list them as an influence.

    but they are good.

    and 1st.