With a strange mix of excitement and apprehension, I was able to make it out to my first shows in well over a year…
First up, Torres’ solo show at Off Broadway - some years since last seeing her open for Tegan and Sara at the Pageant - and the smaller setting seemed like a much better match for the heavier intensity of her melodies. Been really digging “Don’t Go Puttin Wishes in My Head” from her latest album (Thirstier on Merge Records).
Shifting from old-school charm of Off Broadway to the newly-opened Factory at the District, New Found Glory headlined this year’s iteration of the Pop Punk’s Still Not Dead tour. Somehow Sticks and Stones has snuck up to a 20th anniversary, but dang it felt nice to hear “Understatement” from the photo pit.
Along for this leg of the tour were Less Than Jake, Hot Mulligan and Lolo. Bless LTJ, which still manages to conjure up ska-punk mosh pits during their sets, nearly 30 years into their career.
Between these two shows, it was definitely this one where I felt the year+ gap in shooting, finding myself not as acclimated to the shortness of a 3-song shoot limit and high-energy musicians bounding around the stage. But that’s the thing about shooting shows, there will always be a next one to just reset and give it another go.
