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After getting stuck in traffic due to a faux accident and getting all but molested by the security guard, I walked through the doors just as POW was playing their first song, only I didn't know it was POW until the next band mentioned their name.
I liked this band from the start. They had a lot of different hardcore styles to them, pretty much anything you could think of, and it all meshed together really well. They flawlessly mixed youth crew with thrash hardcore, early DC hardcore and some killer breakdowns. The songs were pretty short, and they managed to play a lot of them in a short amount of time. The singer, who sounded gangsta when he talked, had a great scream to him, which only added to this band. It was also cool to hear them end their set with the final part to "Freedom" by Rage Against the
Machine.
With the exception of the killer scream on the vocalist, I wasn't all that thrilled with Sick of Losing. They were tight, but there was nothing all that exciting or unique about them. They only played a ten minute set cause they split it with POW, which I was more than fine with.
Letdown sounded similar to old straight edge Boston hardcore. Their songs were fast, with the drum beats blasting or playing really fast more often than not. The music seemed pretty simple, letting the speed and vocals do most of the talking. They had some pretty good breakdowns, and a lot of onstage energy. Their set stopped really abruptly, which confused the hell out of me, only adding to my indifference towards their performance.
Blacklisted may very well be the only straight up groove laden hardcore band out there, and they laid it down with their all too short (I don't even think it lasted 20 minutes) set. They were able to play a lot of songs, and they were super tight. I was definitely digging the bass grooves, played by a bassist looking straight from the 70s except for the
black metal band he was sporting. On his shirt, that set the tone for everything else. They played a decent amount of songs from their new album, with the crowd being stoked for every note they played.
Paint it Black, who apparently got roadblocked in Connecticut, played a ruthless set. The energy level was pouring out the door, with the crowd going absolutely nuts: sing alongs, pile ons, etc. I was standing at the bar, stuck in between two stools as a guy in a hunting jacket stood in front of me. I was able to watch the hockey game, but due to the angle I was at, I couldn't see any of those famous Dan Yemin finger points that I enjoy so much. I knew he was doing it because I saw his arm move, but I couldn't see any actual finger pointing.
They played a chronic shitload of songs in just under a half hours time, usually plowing into multiple songs in a row before taking a breather. They represented all three albums very well, sounding like a Paint it Black greatest hits live routine, and the crowd loved them for it, often singing loud enough for Yemin not needing a microphone.
Its been years since I'd last seen Death Threat, and they put on a hell of a show. The crowd went off, with seemingly the biggest dudes in the club doing the most and heaviest moshing. I was still stationed at my post near the bar watching the hockey game, which shielded me for 300 dudes jumping into me. I split my attention between the game and Death Threat, but they made for a great soundtrack to a hard hitting hockey game. I didn't even know that they were still a band, and I forgot how good they were live, making their set a pleasant surprise.
I only watched about half of 100 Demons set, but it was decent. I heard mostly stuff from their Deathwish album, and the crowd, which seemed to have shrunk, was still hyped up and moshing hard. I mostly watched them politely, enjoying myself while not being blown away.