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A Wilhelm Scream / The Hunt

live in New York
2008
live show

Review by: Brian
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A Wilhelm Scream (link)

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Published on April 22nd 2008

Saturday was supposed to rule pretty hard. My schedule originally looked like this:

3:00 @ ABC No Rio: Polar Bear Club, Thieves and Assassins, Polka Madre, R-Tronika, and Scream Hello.
7:00 @ Knitting Factory: A Wilhelm Scream, the Hunt and Static Radio (leave before the Unseen because...).
10:00 @ SUNY Purchase: Cursive, closing the second and final day of Culture Shock Festival.

All my initial time estimates showed that this would actually be very doable. However, bands rolling in late to the ABC No Rio -- or perhaps other mishaps -- turned a seemingly fun matinee into a dragged out, early evening marathon that didn't start until 4:45. Scream Hello played an enjoyable set, as was to be expected (check out their new EP, Smart & Stupid); R-Tronika and Polka Madre, due to their respective backgrounds, brought in a large Hispanic contingent, but their tunes seemed a little eccentric for the whites (myself included). R-Tronika was a Long Island City-based guy who, from my vantage point at the back of the room, seemed to have played by himself, including some weird, incredibly long song making fun of hipsters. It was pretty catchy, but that was the only redeeming value about the entire set, which I mostly listened to from the backyard. By the time Polka Madre had even gone on, it was nearing 8:00 and my guestlisted friend and I (with fellow ticket-holders) were forced to leave early for AWS, missing PBC and T&A (at least for me, the major draw for me attending in the first place).

And the attempt to see Cursive later on? Well, we got into Purchase about 9:40 only to be thwarted by a combination of SUNY Purchase campus security and Purchase police, who guarded the entrance and would only allow cars with at least one student in it onto campus property. Bum deal, since I'd heard past years with Culture Shock were a little friendlier/admissible to non-students.

So we got to the Knitting Factory as the Hunt was just starting their set. I'm always sure to check out an opening band I'm not familiar with via their MySpace page or what have you prior to seeing them; I could only groan when I got to the Hunt's page full of promo shots of their terrible haircuts and cringeworthy overtones of some physical glam/`80s post-punk combination. Live, it was equally bad; their stage presence was over the top and they were sure to dress in coordinating outfits. Their singer reminded me of a nauseating cross between Rufio (the "Hook" character, not the pop-punk band) and Bono. Here's the thing: Musically, they were very competent and actually pretty decent, as far as atmospheric `80s post-punk goes (think your typical modern Joy Division aper, but with big arena guitar hooks á la early U2 or something). But the entire get-up was just ruining it for me. Strip away the gimmicks and they'd be an overall solid band.

After chants of the "The `80s are over!" finally died down (which seems sort of hypocritical, since you could probably holler something similar at A Wilhelm Scream about the `90s), A Wilhelm Scream was ready to rock. Having gone two and a half years without seeing them, I was pretty excited myself. Seriously, A Wilhelm Scream is just monstrous live; every guitarist stands on the edge of the stage and noodles away while the sound booms through the venue from the almost over-the-top contribution of every member. Last year's addition of Brian Robinson on bass has made the band's trio of guitarists absolutely mind-boggling with the riffs they manage to put away and the complexity they retain at such speeds. Nuno Pereira did a near-perfect job gravelly bellowing along while inciting the crowd with mic points and amusing bits of acting (i.e. air scrolling while singing "The revolution rock hits sound like shit through your iPod"). They all seemed to be in great spirits, even on the last day of a fairly long tour.

All the while, there was slam pit action from a few rambunctious participants, who must have had a quota of people to bump into that night. Sporadic hardcore kids brought the energy alongside the occasional studded denim jacket-clad street punk or polo-ed out 'normal.' The band's melodic hardcore undercurrents meeting their skatepunk technicality creates a pretty awesome crossover sound that I guess makes sense when seeing the range it draws in. The intermittent stage dive was nice to see, as was the psyched one-man pile-on.

Even though this day didn't really work out in my favor, the one hit in these three at bats was a serious grand slam. I can't say every punk band matches the energy, fun and power of their studio sound, especially one known for their complexity and speed, but A Wilhelm Scream is certainly an exception to the rule.

Set list (8:11-8:47):

Jaws 3, People 0
Hike
The Kids Can Eat a Bag of Dicks
Famous Friends and Fashion Drunks
Killing It
We Built This City (On Debts and Booze)
Me vs. Morrissey in the Pretentiousness Contest (The Ladder Match)
I Wipe My Ass with Showbiz
5 to 9
The Horse
The Rip
The King Is Dead

1 from Benefits of Thinking Out Loud
2 from Mute Print
4 from Ruiner
5 from Career Suicide

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Posted by BJR on 2008-04-26 16:57:46

Normz vs punx!

Posted by foolsgold on 2008-04-25 18:16:55
My Score:

Good show. AWS were great, as per usual. The Unseen were pretty mediocre, but it didn't really help that half of the crowd left after AWS finished. Seriously--half the crowd. Good to see that AWS is getting a big draw because they totally deserve it.

Posted by stewarty on 2008-04-25 14:15:49

Did the Unseen not play under rancid last year?

AWS had Failsafe and All idols fall as the support last time they toured the UK

Posted by blip on 2008-04-25 00:00:06
My Score:

AWS is amazing live. I would have stayed for the Unseen because they're usually a lot of fun.

Posted by thatsyouth on 2008-04-24 23:46:12
My Score:

i saw them in austin and im pretty sure they played that exact set. it was amazing. but im an out of shape college kid so i had to sit out the horse and 5 to 9.

Posted by thereveling on 2008-04-24 18:45:42

You must have been following me. Left ABC's around 7:30 and missed PBC and Thieves to catch an unbelievable AWS set. Top 3 bands I've ever seen live, just wished they headlined, fuck the unseen, everyone was there to see them. Boooo on the no encore.

Posted by damnitsderek on 2008-04-24 17:17:16

A Wilhelm Scream is just monstrous live; every guitarist stands on the edge of the stage and noodles away while the sound booms through the venue from the almost over-the-top contribution of every member. Last year's addition of Brian Robinson on bass has made the band's trio of guitarists absolutely mind-boggling with the riffs they manage to put away and the complexity they retain at such speeds.

I don't think I've ever agreed more with a statement than this. Robinson is a fucking amazing bassist and has the stage presence to match the talent. The two times I've seen these guys have been among my favorite shows ever.

Posted by miff on 2008-04-24 15:40:56

"Last year's addition of Brian Robinson on bass"
actually he started playing with them in 2006; however, i suppose he only recorded with them last year.
http://www.punknews.org/article/16809

Posted by go-jimmy on 2008-04-24 06:38:39

Good review, but you forgot to mention that career suicide was voted album of the year last year by punknews readers.

Posted by cloudkicker on 2008-04-23 21:12:54

That's fucking strange that the Hunt played with AWS. The Hunt is awesome, but that is just bizarre. I'm going to chock it up to The Vigilantes having played with Slapping Isiah or whatever AWS was called way back when.

Posted by usversusthem on 2008-04-23 20:04:49

Holy shit I watched the Chicago show via YouTube earlier today and it looked pretty awesome. I can't wait for their Canadian tour this summer (if they don't come to Montreal I may have to travel to Toronto to see them... again.)

Posted by damnitsderek on 2008-04-23 13:36:24

Though I've never listened to The Hunt, I think I can safely say this:

The Hunter > The Hunt

Also, I can't get enough of AWS live. I'm insanely jealous that you guys got Jaws and We Built This City.

Posted by minorkaty on 2008-04-23 11:09:14

This show was pretty awesome.
The Hunt reminded my friend of U2, and reminded me, somewhat, of TSOL. Hmm...

Posted by baseball on 2008-04-23 09:11:43
My Score:

A Wilhelm Scream really seem to be drawing better the last two times I've seen them, good for them.

One of my favorite live bands. They sound absolutely phenominal.

Posted by lostandclowned on 2008-04-23 08:54:46
My Score:

yeah. aws were great.

Posted by punk_rawk_show on 2008-04-23 03:50:40

Yeh ill be going to the Adelaide show, you 2 guys below me going to any of the massive Strung Out / No use for a name tour

Posted by Grub on 2008-04-23 01:43:40

I'm going to the sydney show... but why 2 shows in perth you would imagine that syd or melbourne would sell out quicker?

Posted by drewshaw on 2008-04-23 00:46:21

i can not wait for the two shows these fellas are playing in Perth, Aus. gonna be the best time ever

Posted by Mattew on 2008-04-22 23:35:22

I threw up the entire show from Chicago on youtube, same set list, video quality is watchable but the sound is really good for a live recording.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mattew4

Posted by TommyPickles on 2008-04-22 23:34:14
My Score:

A Wilhelm Scream fucking dominated and opening with Jaws 3, People 0 was amazing, Static Radio were decent and pretty funny. The Hunt was; how should I put this? Just terrible, as soon as they started I thought I might of heard something new and interesting and good but no, not at all. They sounded like a really really bad version of Joy Division. The best part was when someone yelled "get off the stage," which made my night all the better, and with a semi dangerous jump/fall from the guitarist the hunt was over. After them A Wilhelm Scream came on and like I said they just fucking dominated. As for the Unseen, they remained unseen.

Posted by HOISTDATRAG on 2008-04-22 23:20:58
My Score:

Seeing them Saturday in Providence.. those shows are always considerable fun.

Posted by onegirlarmy on 2008-04-22 22:26:20
My Score:

Definitely one of the best sets I've ever seen AWS play, even though the earlier show didn't work out. They were tighter than I've seen them in a long time, especially with the new lineup. It's mind boggling how good they were that night.

Posted by ramo on 2008-04-22 22:21:34
My Score:

AWS was the biggest crowd pleaser of the night which was rightfully so after years performing in the city only to have such lukewarm receptions from the audience. I'm glad these guys are getting the attention they deserve, at least in NYC. It's always fun to have a drink with Nuno and reminisce good times.

As for the PBC show, unfortunately I missed out on what I heard was a great set. Too bad I won't see them 'til August. Luckily I did catch Thieves and Assassins before I bolted into the night. Solid performance from the guys.

Ramo

Posted by ThomPunkAheaddotcom on 2008-04-22 22:07:39

AWS are playing under the Unseen? Are the Unseen bigger in the states than AWS because the Unseen were the support act when AWS came UK over a year ago i'm pretty certain