FOR THE RECORD COLUMN: Punk Rawked at the Metro
By Micah Riordan
Featuring some of the loudest, meanest, and by far the best performances in the world are Punk Rawk shows.
I went to the show on April 12, at the Metro, a large punk venue in downtown Chicago, and had the chance to sit down with the guys of Pistol Grip. Pistol Grip was the first band to take the stage. They get the audience pumped up by playing “a lot harder and faster which really gets the crowd pump and jumping around,” said a member of the group.
The band said they don’t like going on first “‘cause you know most of the people there are not there for you and they just want the show to move on so they can see who they came for.
“We also throw in some cover songs, it helps the crowd because they usually don’t know our stuff so it gets them up front and more involved.”
Cover songs performed include selections from Misfits, Ice-T, and some older bands Pistol Grip likes. None of the cover songs are on their albums, only their original material.
This is Pistol Grip’s first time playing in the Midwest. The band began in ’97. A member said they were friends before this trip started and we will be friends long after it is all over.
They are influenced by bands like, Stiff Little Fingers, Misfits, Clash, and Blink 182. “Blink 182 is only in the list to help the lead signer get the chicks,” said a band member. The band liked playing with One Man Army, the most.
“They were great guys and a great band.”
In the future they hope to play with the Misfits, Bad Religion, and Rancid.
They have considered and are playing some of the Warped Tour dates. “Ya but not cause we want to cause the whole idea is a joke and sucks. The only reason we would play it is to get our name out there and meet some other bands that would like to tour with.”
Pistol Grip is with BYO Records and very happy there.
“Hell ya they are great; they give us tons of support and are just really nice guys to work with, and they know what we need, cause the whole label was started by a punk band Youth Brigade, so they know what we are going through. It is not even like working, it is like hanging out with older friends.”
Other groups at Punk Rawk include Rise Against, Strife, and The Business. The performers get on stage and sing their hearts out for the love of the music.
I was up on stage for most of the show and got to witness first hand why they are some of the hardest working fellas in the music business. These shows rely on the music not some fancy stage show or dancing around.The guys from Pistol Grip are one of the best examples of hard working rockers.
They have one CD out: The Shots From Kalico Ross. The CD is fast, hard, and a true example of what it means to work for your music.
They are on tour now, so go and see them. It is worth every dollar for a great show and if you don’t see them go and buy their CD.