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Propagandhi / Strike Anywhere / Banner Pilot

live in Minneapolis
2009
live show

Review by: pwpcody
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Published on June 23rd 2009

Much like "The Banger’s Embrace," my crew set out from Omaha, Nebraska on a six-hour journey to the great state of Minnesota to check out the first date of the Freedom From Oil -- Tar Sands Resistance Tour. This would be my second experience in the land of 1000 lakes, the first being with Lagwagon, the Lawrence Arms and A Wilhelm Scream a few years back. However, this was my first time at the famed Triple Rock Social Club. The club was in a pretty seedy neighborhood, but turned out to be a very nice club inside. The setup of the club was pretty cool, with a kind of pit area in front of the stage. When you walked in, you could immediately see a huge banner on the back wall featuring the album artwork of Supporting Caste. They also had some other pictures from the CD booklet hung up around the club as well as banners for Honor the Earth and some other organizations. It was an early show, 5 p.m., which was fine by me, since we had another six-hour drive home. It was also all ages, which I thought was a good choice because there ended up being a lot of people there.

Hometown heroes Banner Pilot were first up. I had only heard a few songs from these guys when I checked them out once it was announced they were on Fat. Although they seemed to have a poppier style than the other acts, I thought it was a great set, and most of the crowd seemed to enjoy it. I was especially impressed with the bass player; he seemed to have a lot of talent. The vocals left a little to be desired; however, that could have had a little to do with the sound system, which was all over the place in terms of balance throughout the night.

Next up was Richmond’s Strike Anywhere. This was just a great set. The band, about to celebrate their 10-year anniversary, was spot on. Thomas was great as always, holding the mic out to the crowd for the gang vocal parts. They played a great mix of songs as well, including a song from their forthcoming record, which sounded very promising. The sound mix for these guys was just about perfect. To add to that, they all played extremely well. I really enjoyed the set, and the crowd was a good crowd, immediately picking up anyone who had fallen, and really no jerks that I was aware of. It made for a great show. Songs included "Refusal," "Allies," "Chorus of One," "Infrared," "We Amplify," "Instinct," and they closed it up with "Sunset on 32nd." Awesome!

Strike Anywhere finished up, and next was the almighty Propagandhi -- just had to wait for their equipment to be set up. Meanwhile, the club played D4’s newest record on the house sound. Fitting, or just a shameless plug? You be the judge. Anyway, we’re waiting for Propagandhi. And waiting. And waiting? Well, the whole D4 record played. We thought for sure then Propagandhi will start. Then they put on some Fugazi, and probably about three songs of that played. What is the point of all the waiting? This was a real downer, waiting over 45 minutes between sets. It was very hot in the venue. Finally, the house sound shut off! But wait, here comes a rep from Honor the Earth, to talk about the Tar Sands Resistance. This is great, but couldn’t he have been talking during the 45 minutes we were waiting in the first place? I understand the message in the music, but you have all these pumped kids waiting so long while NOTHING is happening on stage and then finally when they can’t wait any longer you send out someone to talk for five more minutes. I probably would have cared more about what he had to say if they had done it a lot earlier. This was the only downer of the night, really.

Finally, the Canadians walked out onto stage. Chris Hannah has a sweet pickguard that features an image of Jesus. That was pretty hilarious. They started off right away with “Supporting Caste” and it pretty much didn’t stop from there. They played a lot of great songs from the new album, including "The Banger’s Embrace," "Human(e) Meat" and "Tertium Non Datur." What surprised me was what they included from older albums; they ended up playing "Haillie Sellasse Up Your Ass" from How to Clean Everything; we ended up getting "Less Talk More Rock," "Nation States" and "The Only Good Facist Is a Very Dead Facist" from Less Talk More Rock; and "Mate Ka Moris Ukun Rasik An" and "Back to the Motor League" off Today’s Empires Tomorrow's Ashes. A good selection from Potemkin City Limits included "Speculative Fiction" and "Bringer of Greater Things." All the way through, the band played very well. However, sometimes the leads were very hard to hear, which made some of the solos less exciting. I think this was just a sound issue in the club. They finally closed with "Last Will and Testament," and it was awesome. They, of course, made us stroke their huge egos by calling for an encore in which they played "Dear Coach’s Corner" and finished it all off with "Anti Manifesto." If I could have asked for anything, it would have been for a few songs from Jord, since I don't believe they played one of the songs he does full on vocals for.

All in all, it was a great show and should be an awesome tour. I definitely recommend checking this tour out, and I think most of the issues I had with this stop had to do with it being the first date on the tour. Cheers!

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Posted by pwpcody on 2009-10-23 16:27:15

Holy shit I just now realized this got published. Seconds after sending it in I sent a correction about the Guitarists name, then they told me to just resubmit it but I was too lazy.

I was right near the back right of the pit so I'm not sure why the guitar on stage right was so low to me.

And yeah, I dont care what anyone says, that was a shitty part of town. Maybe its cause I'm from Omaha, I dont know.

Posted by jaradyeah on 2009-06-24 13:22:59

Awesome show, but this being my first time seeing Propagandhi, can anyone tell me if those ridiculous canadian accents they used between songs were a joke, or are they really just that canadian?

Posted by damagdsole on 2009-06-24 11:57:33

also, ian, fuck the border is missing, i know they played that : )

Posted by taargus on 2009-06-24 10:27:18

That dude's rant about the evil of tar sands and oil dependency...yeah I agree with the sentiment, but I don't think these guys hoofed it from Winnipeg with guitars on their back and pushing 4X12 cabinets.

Also, the sound was spot on, so I don't know where you were standing guy. Lupe and the sound crew really know that room. Wanna talk about bad sound, head up the road to the Myth. Maybe you couldn't hear the guitar solos because you weren't at a Ted Nugent concert. Fuck, is there some formula that states guitar solos have to be 14 percent louder than the rest of the song? yawn.

Also, Banner Pilot is a local band, and for some reason they are on fat, but i can't name a single person who'd consider them 'hometown heroes.' I dig 'em and think they have some potential, but they're not D4 or Prince, you know? Just sayin.

Also, I wouldn't consider the West Bank (where the Triple Rock is located) "seedy," but then again, I'm not racist or anything.

Posted by IanIsSuperRad on 2009-06-24 07:59:08

Oops. On that setlist I posted it should say "Human(e) Meat", not "Meat Is Still Murder". You're right, they didn't play that.

Posted by damagdsole on 2009-06-24 00:25:41

was at the detroit show as well

was stoked on how much of less talk more rock was played. the place went nuts when they busted into rio de san atlanta, manitoba (at least i did)

i have no idea what kill bill harcus was??? and if meat is still murder meant the first track of less talk im certain that song was not played.

and chris was right, the kiss cover went on way too long.

AND for the record jord DID sing the entirety of detroit rock city from behind the kit

Posted by kylewagoner on 2009-06-23 23:03:25

Todd does full songs on vocals, not Jord. Jord is the drummer. Todd has been sick...

Posted by telegraphrocks on 2009-06-23 22:07:47
My Score:

"my crew set out from Omaha, Nebraska on a six-hour journey to the great state of Minnesota to check out the first date of the Freedom From Oil -- Tar Sands Resistance Tour."

Hmmm. I wonder how much oil you used to get the the "Freedom From Oil" show?
Also, is Propagandhi walking from show to show? I know they aren't riding horses... PETA wouldn't like that.

I like both bands, but I just have this disgruntled feeling to go ahead and give this a "1-Point" rating...

Posted by DougLife on 2009-06-23 21:23:05

There was a crazy long setup when they were in San Fran too. I thought it was problems at the club here, but is this commonplace? The delay took a lot of energy out of the crowd (and myself).

Posted by peilocal on 2009-06-23 19:51:28

Jord has never sung a full propagandhi song. He does some backup vocals on occassion, but never a full song.

Posted by IanIsSuperRad on 2009-06-23 18:58:04

Here is Propagandhi's setlist from Detroit:

Supporting Caste
Tertium Non Datur
The State Lottery
The Banger's Embrace
Because They Can't Speak For Themselves
Nation States
The Bringer of Greater Things
Purina Hall Of Fame
Without Love
Less Talk, More Rock
Rio De San Atlanta, Manitoba
Haillie Sellasse, Up Your Ass
Back To The Motor League
Kill Bill Harcus
Meat Is Still Murder
Mate Ka Moris Ukun Rasik An
Last Will & Testament (This is written but it wasn't played)

Detroit Rock City cover
Coach's Corner
Anti-Manifesto

Posted by seth_uber_alles on 2009-06-23 17:58:03

Todd is the other lead vocalist, not Jord.

Posted by wyzo on 2009-06-23 16:21:23
My Score:

Score is for using this line,

"Then they put on some Fugazi, and probably about three songs of that played. What is the point of all the waiting?"

And not making a fugazi 'Waiting Room' joke. It was handed to you on a fucking platter, real disappointment for me, it really seemed like you were building up to it, then nothing. I am a patient boy, I wait, I wait, I wait. Alas, the moments gone.

Strike Anywhere had a great deal of promise, but increasingly became very uneven and predictable. Still enjoyable from time to time, but they don't come off very well spoken in interviews and the songs are pretty one-note.

Prop is a great experience, even for senior citizens like me. Wish they had come to omaha, probably would have made that drive.

-w

Posted by MN_punkmaster-skaman on 2009-06-23 15:15:44

Also, the sound was perfect in the Triple Rock. Everything was fine to hear. I don't know why you couldn't hear the vocals, but they were perfect through out. One of the best sounding venues ever!

Posted by MN_punkmaster-skaman on 2009-06-23 15:03:11
My Score:

I would give this show a 10/10, but needles to say, I missed Banner Pilot due to bad traffic problems.

Posted by andrethegiant on 2009-06-23 14:30:57

seedy neighborhood? pussy.

Posted by xkidxdynamitex on 2009-06-23 14:02:55
My Score:

i was there. propagandhi were boring. there i said it.
they should have played more off todays empires.
score is for Strike Anywhere.

heres Strike Anywhere's full set list:
Refusal
Sedition
You're Fired
Allies
To The World
Instinct
Hand (new song)
Infrared
Detonataion
Chorus of One
Amplify/Blaze
Sunset on 32nd st.

Posted by whoostin on 2009-06-23 14:02:35

Since when did Jord do full on vocals, eh? They need to start busting out some rare old goodies like Fuck Machine

Posted by LawnDay on 2009-06-23 13:42:32

Wrong review! Wish this tour would come to Denver, or just Prop with any band, or alone, whatever.

Posted by LawnDay on 2009-06-23 13:41:56

Dude.

Posted by elliot on 2009-06-23 13:41:56

I was there too! Drove up from Des Moines, and it was my first time seeing Propagandhi.

The long wait was pretty unacceptable, but fuck it. Propagandhi slayed anyway. They probably could have included three or four more songs, but again, fuck it. No punk band can hold a candle to Propagandhi. Not even D4. There, I said it!