Are you sick of being responsible? Does it annoy you to have to follow rules or be pro-social? Do you like basements? Well, if you are a goofy, degenerate weirdo who doesn't quite fit in anywhere else, you might consider our city's hardcore/punk shows.Your underlying anger problems can be brought out to their fullest potential (in a positive way). These are my recommendations for great local and national bands that don't play five-minute (marathon!) songs or remind you about drink specials. General rule of thumb: If you have five bucks and can show up by 9 p.m., then it's go time in the pit. One, two, fuck you!
[Disclosure: The author of this article is in bands, some of which will be playing some the following shows. But the author of this article is in five local punk bands, so that is kind of an inevitability. It does not influence the choosing of these shows.]
Safety Word, Life Like, Q @ The Livery Co. April 15 9 p.m./$5
Chicago's Safety Word is coming through to south city. Finally, some ass-kicking fast bands are hitting St. Louis again. Shows at the Livery have full of mutant-level braindead chaos lately, too -- come out and go nuts, but be respectful of this fine establishment for giving us a place to fall down on top of one another and make loud noise. Johnny Vegas for king of presidents 2020.
Break Anchor, The Humanoids, Breakmouth Annie, Black For A Second @ Fubar April 17 8 p.m./$8-10
Break Anchor has been making spring stops in St. Louis the past couple of years. For those who are unaware, the lead singer of Break Anchor is Jay Navarro, of Suicide Machines fame. You can definitely tell it's him singing, even though the band plays a more straightforward brand of pop-punk. The walls of Fubar will barely be able to contain all of the insane catchiness.
