Chaos Daily Dispatch #1

Last week I gave you a preview of all the wonderful things to look forward to at Chaos in Tejas. In case that wasn’t enough for you to spring for the plane ticket to Austin, never fear, because I’m here even though you’re not. Or maybe you are here and you’ve seen the things I’ve seen or even better got to see the things I’m missing. If so please feel free to sound off, a girl can’t be everywhere, although this weekend I really wish I could.

My evening started at the Mohawk. The first band on the bill of the first show of the fest was Criaturas, a female-fronted hardcore band hailing from Austin. I’ve got a soft spot for lady screamers having been one in a past life. I love this girl. I love her voice, I love her band, and I love how her lipstick matches her hair.

During their set I saw this tattoo. Can someone please explain it to me? Does this guy not like spring break? Does he not like America? Is he opposed to going on spring break in America?

Then Crazy Spirit played. The crowd got excited. I was in the front. I should have known better. I got hurt. It was worth it.

See what I mean? Excited crowd. It’s nice to get out of New York and remember that there are large crowds of people who are willing to go nuts at shows, even though about twenty percent of the crowd at this show seemed like it lived in Brooklyn. I spent most of their set smashed against the front of the stage dodging crowd surfers and band members.

By the time Reality Crisis went on the venue had filled up. It was a sea of stoked punks. Do punks even use the word “stoked”? Regardless, what followed was a sea of beautiful mayhem.

I’m not even sure I can count the number of crowd surfers in this picture and I took it. Reality Crisis is a six-piece hardcore band from Japan. The two vocalists alternated between crowd surfing themselves and pulling people out of the audience to do it in their place. It was one of those sets that can’t really be illustrated with photos or properly conveyed via sentence. Everyone in the crowd and onstage was in constant motion. Busted lips, sweating bodies and a leather face mask honed a level of aggression that bordered on theatrical but never quite crossed the line.

Okay, I’ll admit it. I missed Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. They were on next. I was hungry. I ate bbq. I regret nothing.

The Mob closed down the outdoor segment of the Mohawk show. They were incredible. It was an emotional scene for a lot of people. It seemed like everyone knew the words to every song, but the crowd managed to shove each other during the peace punk anthem “No Doves Fly Here.” Bummer.

Look! New Yorkers.

With the outdoor segment done, the first show was officially over. I went inside to catch Dawn of Humans kick off the indoor show at the same venue. There’s not much that needs to be said here, just see them live.

The band that played afterwards was generic and couldn’t really compare to everything I’d just seen. I’d make a crack about this guys pubes showing, but since he was following up a guy who wrapped his cock in duct tape that seems like a weird call on my part. However I am sure you can tell the difference between awesome (Dawn of Humans) and not (this guy’s overly visible crotch v).

After watching a few songs I high-tailed it out of the Mohawk for fear I’d see more young boys’ pubes. Then the most magical thing happened.

I love Fred and Toody Cole with all my heart. To me they are a beacon of hope, that you can be a lifer without being a loser. That two people can dedicate their lives to their art and keep going no matter what. The only thing I’d rather see than the two of them smiling at me is them playing together.

Unfortunately I had to wait for the Riverboat Gamblers who were horrible. The singer stormed off stage and tried to fight a dude who chucked beer in his general direction. If you can’t handle the occasional flying brew then you’re probably in the wrong business buddy.

Thankfully Pierced Arrows saved the day. A perfect cap to the first night.

Cheers.

Day 1 breakdown:

Shows attended – 3

Band count – 8

Bands watched – Criaturas, Crazy Spirit, Reality Crisis, The Mob, Dawn of Humans, Bi-Marks, The Riverboat Gamblers, Pierced Arrows  

Injuries sustained – skinned knee, bruised hip-bone, scraped chest, banged up rib-cage, smashed toe

Set of the day – Reality Crisis/The Mob (tie)