On the surface, it’s easy to label Sunday night’s show at the Mercury Ballroom as a punk show. When I hear the word punk being thrown around about bands, I immediately assume loud, raw, somewhat sloppy playing by scruffy, street-hardened crusters with mohawks wearing Doc Martens and studded leather or denim jackets covered in band patches. This was not the case Sunday night. All three bands look like regular, everyday people you’d run into at work, in your neighborhood, or, God forbid, at Wal-Mart. And the crowd of what I’d estimate to have been around 400 former and aging punks, mostly between the ages of 35-55, reflected that as well.
Although one could make an argument about all three bands’ early material and influences being based, albeit still somewhat loosely, in the punk genre, each of these bands has, over time, developed and evolved into their own unique sound that has really transcended punk or any other genre one might attempt to lump them into, while still maintaining their roots.
Openers, Portland, Maine’s Weakened Friends, lean more into the indie rock side of things. While Gainesville, Florida’s Hot Water Music still have a solid post-hardcore edge, they have embraced the straightforward rock side of things (am I the only one getting a strong Bruce Springsteen vibe off their past couple of records?) Headliners The Menzingers, out of Scranton, Pennsylvania, tend to balance a thin line between poppy punk and emo. But all three bands together on the same bill tend to fill in the gaps between punk and its outlying subgenres, complimenting each band’s style and sound perfectly, as well as making for a hell of a fun night!
And it was a battle of the decades, if you will. Weakened Friends have been around just a little over a decade now, whereas The Menzingers are out celebrating their 20th anniversary. Sandwiched in the middle is Hot Water Music, who got their start 32 years ago in 1994. So whether you’re Gen X, a Millennial/Gen Y, or Gen Z, chances are you’ve grown up with one or more of these bands.
Even though Weakened Friends have been around since 2015, I am completely unfamiliar with them. And after Sunday night’s show, I am, sadly, still completely unfamiliar with them. Like the refrain from The Menzingers’ song “The Obituaries”: “I will fuck this up. I fucking know it,” I certainly did in this case. For whatever reason, I had it in my head that the show started at 7:30 p.m. But unfortunately, the show actually started at 7:00. I got there right in time to catch literally the last couple of minutes of their set. What tiny little bit I did see was certainly impressive, though. Very high energy, and the band seemed legitimately thrilled to be there. This is definitely a band I need to catch in the future.
Holding down the middle spot on the bill was Hot Water Music, a band that obviously heavily inspired The Menzingers. I can honestly say that I may not be here today if it weren’t for Hot Water Music. I was in a dark place emotionally when I first saw them live in 1999 on an absolutely astounding bill featuring Sick of It All, AFI, Hot Water Music, and Indecision at a small, run-down, hole-in-the-wall venue called Sparks in downtown Louisville that has long since closed, and they absolutely blew me away. Their albums No Division, Forever and Counting, and Fuel for the Hate Game quickly became the soundtrack to my life at the time due to their lyrics, which often deal with struggle, perseverance, frustration, self-doubt, and finding the strength to continue; they hit me like a ton of bricks and gave me the strength to get through that period in my life. It was exactly what I needed to hear at the exact time I needed to hear it, and I’ve never forgotten how much they meant to me then, and still do today.
And although I love their studio recordings, they are an absolute powerhouse live! Even after 30+ years of doing this, their performances aren’t like a band going through the motions because it’s their job; they’re a hungry young band attacking their songs with emotional fury, as if their lives depended on it. In particular, vocalist/guitarist Chuck Ragan brings an awe-inspiring level of conviction and intensity to the stage. Reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen, his gravelly, weathered voice is not a limitation the band works around; it’s one of its greatest assets. His delivery rarely sounds calculated, giving the impression that he genuinely means every word he sings, even on songs he’s performed for decades.
Although the dynamic between Ragan and guitarist/vocalist/co-founder Chris Wollard is sorely missed live (Wollard is still a part of the band, although he no longer tours), there is certainly something to be said about his replacement, Chris Cresswell, who joined the band in 2020.
With Wollard, who has an equally as gruff vocal style as Ragan, telling the two apart on the older material is nearly impossible. I’ll be honest, even after listening to this band for over 25 years now, I still have no idea who’s singing what on each song.
However, Cresswell, who is also the frontman for Canadian punk band The Flatliners, brings his own character to the older material rather than simply imitating his predecessor. Cresswell’s cleaner, higher-register vocals provide a compelling contrast to Ragan’s deeper, rougher delivery. Their vocal exchanges give the music additional dynamics that were never present before, particularly when moving between verses and choruses.
Hot Water Music made the most of their 45-minute, 12-song set, playing the tracks “Menace,” “After the Impossible,” “Fences,” and “Burn Forever” from their latest album, VOWS, alongside tried and true fan favorites “A Flight and a Crash,” “Remedy,” “Drag My Body,” and set closer “Trusty Chords,” with the track “No Division” being the sole pre-2000’s song played. And while I certainly understand sticking with the newer material, especially for a shorter, 45-minute set, I must say I miss hearing the earlier songs. The absence of “Turnstile” in the set was especially a hard pill for me to swallow.
Apparently, headliners The Menzingers really love Louisville, as Sunday night marked the third time the band has come through here as a headliner in less than four years. I don’t think anyone is complaining, though, as their live shows are extremely entertaining and always a must-see event.
Not only are The Menzingers touring in support of their recently-released eighth full-length album, Everything I Ever Saw, but this year also marks the 20th anniversary of their formation, which the band celebrated by delivering a 21-song, hour-and-a-half set.
Although I think we all could have done without the unexplained half-hour delay following Hot Water Music’s set before The Menzingers took the stage, (in contrast, Hot Water Music was on within 15 minutes after Weakened Friends’ set), They made it worth the wait by tearing through an amazing selection of tracks from their past six records, including crowd favorites “The Obituaries,” “Tellin’ Lies,” “Lookers,” “Good Things,” “Anna,” the far-too-true “America (You’re Freaking Me Out),” and, of course, “I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore,” along with a few future classics from their latest album such as set opener “Chance Encounters,” and “Nobody’s Heroes,” among others, before closing out with encores “Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing” and “After the Party.” Although they excluded any material prior to their critically acclaimed 2012 breakthrough album, On the Impossible Past, their set was so damn good that I didn’t even realize it until well after the show.
But what makes their concerts memorable isn’t technical flashiness or elaborate stage production. It’s the combination of upbeat, melodic, catch-as-fuck punk rock songs, the high-energy performance, the emotionally resonant, heart-on-sleeve lyrics, and above all, the incredibly strong connection with the audience, who sing along to every word of every song, sometimes louder than the band themselves. These aren’t just passive fans; these are people who have deeply connected with the band’s lyrics, and for whom The Menzingers’ live show is more than just an excuse to catch a great band live, it’s a cathartic experience they share amongst themselves. Singing along isn’t required, but it’s damn near impossible not to.
The Menzingers’ music has matured alongside their audience. Their concerts are a celebration of getting older without necessarily growing out of punk rock. The songs, as the band members themselves, are authentic and unpretentious. Rather than making the audience feel like spectators, The Menzingers create an atmosphere that resembles a gathering of friends. It’s not simply about fast songs, loud guitars, or overly technical musicianship. It’s a communal spirit of people finding something recognizable in songs about relationships, mistakes, disappointment, and the inevitable passage of time. The result is an interesting contradiction: people enthusiastically celebrating songs about things that aren’t particularly happy, but are completely identifiable.
Watching the live dynamic between dual guitarists/vocalists Greg Barnett and Tom May just brings a smile to your face. May is exceptionally animated, frequently jumping around the stage with what seems like endless energy and engaging with the audience. Greg Barnett, meanwhile, brings a more emotionally intense, impassioned presence, often delivering vocals with considerable force.
But I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the adorable distractions off to the side of the stage that kept grabbing my attention: the two kids rocking out (a boy probably around six and a girl around four). I’m guessing they were the children of one of the band members, but I honestly have no idea. Watching the little boy throwing devil horns and headbanging throughout the whole set was quite heartwarming though. The future of rock is in good hands!
Shuffling out of Mercury Ballroom after 10:30 on a Sunday night, stiff and sore from standing too long (yes, I’m that old now), knowing that I have to be up early in the morning for work, but that I’m not getting to sleep anytime soon because I’m still too jacked up from the energy of the show I just experienced, I felt like I was living some unwritten Menzingers song lyrics in that moment. But what an absolutely stellar night! And if recent history is any indication, we’ll all be back here singing along and enjoying the hell out of it again with The Menzingers sooner rather than later.
