AWmusic

Okay, I almost fell into a deep sleep and missed this band, but I’m glad I got my ass up to go see them because this concert was actually awesome. Despite the fact that I never listen to these guys anymore, they still have a special place in my heart from back when I was a disobedient teenager in the suburbs. I dressed up in the most punk clothes I had which was basically a black leather jacket, black leather ankle boots and some Levi’s cutoffs. But I also wore a flower paisley belly-top and later someone would tell me I actually looked more country than pop. Whatever, I tried.

I got to the show and they were about 15 minutes into their set, playing “That’s Youth.” I was worried that the crowd would be really rough but then I remembered that Anti-flag isn’t like most other punk bands insofar that they actually fuel their anger to useful means. Their highly politicized stance against conservatism along with their humanitarian has earned my respect. So the crowd seemed a lot more sensible than I imagined, although I saw quite a few rather un-sensible mohawks. Seriously, do you really have that much time on your hands in the morning to put that thing up?

Nevertheless, the energy at this concert was unlike any other NXNE concert I’ve been to thus far since I’ve been going to mostly indie acts. The rambunctiousness of this crowd made me feel happy inside, younger than I was. I got a beer and watched as long-haired girls threw themselves off the stage. Justin Sane, lead vocalist, was paying his appreciation to our city, including a reference to Toronto in one of the songs, and giving us a little spiel about how Harper is fucking up this country, about how $1 trillion dollars was spent on war in the States, and that “No one sings this song better than Toronto!” before launching into “1 Trillion Dollars.” They went through “Fuck Police Brutality” before launching into “Die For Your Government’ and of course everyone was singing along by then because it’s such a classic: “I never have/I never will/Pledge allegiance to the flag/You’re getting used/You’ll end up dead.” Literally everyone was singing it. Okay, I sang it for a bit before feeling silly and reverted back to sipping my beer, but there was such a sense of communion at this show, as retarded as that sounds, and it made me feel a little giddy. But I mean that’s why I always liked Anti-Flag and still do, even though I dislike the majority of elements about the punk scene: they actually put out some thought-provoking stuff. When JFK told Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” did anyone question this gallant statement? Since when was the purpose of a state government to ask for sacrifices from its people? A government is set up to serve its people, not the other way around. Anyway that’s my two cents. I didn’t take any poli sci classes so you shouldn’t quote me on any of this.

They finished the show with a cover of “Should I Stay or Should I Go” and “Power to the Peaceful” and then I had to jet out of there to meet a cute guy at Lee’s Palace and see Dirty Beaches again. His show this time around was good but you can refer to my review of his set at the Silver Dollar Room the previous night instead, because it was a lot better.

Dum Dum Girls fucking suck. They don’t even deserve to touch those overly-expensive guitars they were playing. They suck even more than PS I Love You sucks. I seriously wonder if they and their fans really honestly believe they are making worthy music or if it’s actually just some practical joke or social project to show how indie music can be just as trite and disposable as mainstream music, despite what pretentious indie losers may think. I would listen to Britney any day over these pathetic excuses for musicians. Just. Ugh.

The Cults set was also disappointing. Having only heard about three of their songs, I realized during their set that they only have about three good songs. Too sugar sweet and the acoustics seemed to be messed up so her voice was too echoey and watered-down. Even “Go Outside,” my favourite song by them, seemed to be lacking something. Anyway I left rather rapidly to go home and smoke a joint in my kitchen before passing out.

The highlight of the night:
Anti-flag – Die For Your Government

Tags: anti-flag, cults, dirty beaches, dum dum girls, NXNE, NXNE 2011