Big Ups
This week we're turning the spotlight on another set of Shea veterans: NYC's own Big Ups. These boys play tunes tailor-made for mutliple orbits inside the pit. It's not all bombast though - whispers and low key grooves are given equal time to punctuate explosions that would make even the Cro-Mags blush. The band is tight and their live show is one of the best around. It's uniquely theatrical without feeling like an act, all thanks to frontman Joe Galarraga's grimacing, prowling, and pacing. Those flourishes make for a great accompaniment to their lyrics dealing with everyday neurosis. Big Ups plays the issues that plague modern life such as persecution, death, technology, complacency and sexual frustration with a raw emotional immediacy that great punk rock is all about. -LC
METZ
Amid chants of "let's go METZ!" a figure emerged onto the stage donning a familiar giant baseball head and put to rest one of the longest running jokes involving Shea Stadium and this Toronto band. What followed was a raucous set that induced so much headbanging that had the real Mr. Met been in attendence he would have left with a serious neck injury. METZ are often compared to some alt rock giants of the late 80s & early 90s and I'm confident in saying they can comfortably stand up to those claims. The songs may seem simple (and to an extent they are) but this works in METZ's favor. The rhythmtic ascpects of the songs are given such precedence that the band has METZ's overwhelmingly percussive nature. So while similar bands sometimes have a tendency to give in to sludgey self-indulgence, METZ never allows for such distractions. The songs lock you into their grooves and above all are just plain fun to listen to. The kids on 4/16/13 seemed to agree - these guys are more than worthy of the name METZ. -LC
Hector’s Pets
Specifics on Hector's Pets are pretty cloudy at the moment. They've released only one 7'' on Burger Records (props on that album art of course). They're Brooklyn-based via Austin but play shows pretty infrequently. Judging from their set at Get Bent's 1-Year Anniversary Party I'd say this all adds up to them being too busy working on their power-pop magnum opus. Hector's Pets has a really unique sound - melding understated vocals with ripping guitar and bluesy rhythmic inflections. And of course it's very, very catchy. The band has a slightly goofy charm (members listed names? Wet Pet, Heavy Pet, Teacher's Pet etc.) but these melodies are most definitely serious. Keep an eye on these dudes. -LC
Roomrunner
Band's like Baltimore's Roomrunner remind me why we're so lucky to be able to record all of our shows here at Shea. Their live show has an enormous raw energy that lends itself very well to the band's straight-ahead rock tunes. The songs are concise, which may be a strange way to describe a band as sludgy as Roomrunner but you really get the feeling there's not an out of place note in anywhere. They're just chugging along and loud as hell (we wouldn't expect any less from a band featuring Denny Bowen, formerly of Double Dagger, behind the kit). The result is somewhat of a visceral experience that leaves you wondering if an errant elbow will end up coming out of the pit and into your gut. Roomrunner will be releasing their first full length on Fan Death in May and will be playing the Consequence of Sound/Shea Stadium Records Showcase along with Kitty, Stagnant Pools, fellow SDJs The So So Glos & Diarrhea Planet and more. -LC