Sick Of It All, Blood For Blood, Most Precious Blood & Pressure Point

As usual, I missed the first band, so I asked a friend. The report was positive, and having seen them quite a few times I can say they most likely put on the same high-energy set that is their trademark. I wish I would have seen them at least, to see the way they whip the crowd into a frenzy - sing along choruses and frequent crowd interaction definitely work for these guys, and most times they play, they bring along their own following so they probably don't play many bad shows. I will see them next time, you should too.
I actually missed most of the second band too, I meant to get there earlier, but I was buying a '66 Lincoln, so fuck you! I pulled up in front and rushed in to catch the last two and a half songs. They were far from typical, but I could see how they could be lumped with a lot of bands in the genre. The singer could be in a metal band if he grew the hair, but I doubt that will happen. The music was also slightly on the metal tip, but not so much as to be overpowering. They were a five-piece with a female guitarist, and surprisingly three fat dudes in the band; normally there is one or two, tops. I would like to see them again to render a more educated verdict, but from what I saw I'd say they were a pretty good band and worth checking out if you're on the East Coast or they come back.
I got a copy of Wasted Youth Brew a while ago and have been waiting not so patiently for a while to see Blood For Blood. Listening to the album I thought, "Damn, these are four hard motherfuckers from Boston, I bet they're great live." I was far from disappointed. They took the stage and before they could begin the guitarist announced that he was feeling a little under the weather, as the night before he had taken 17 Vicodins and almost died; that's pretty fuckin' hard. Stupid, but hard nonetheless. They played a great set, getting the whole crowd enthused and moving, perhaps though, some were too enthused, as a dispute over floor etiquette led to a good sized altercation between rival factions that ended with one of the most beautiful bloody smiles I've ever seen. The whole thing was over in a few minutes and the music continued, the band took it lightly to say the least, "A fight at a Blood For Blood show, big fuckin' surprise," remarked one member of the band. I was disappointed that they didn't play "Spit My Last Breath," but otherwise I have no complaints. If you're a hardcore fan and you missed this show you're stupid.
I love Sick Of It All, I have since I was 15 - they are the only hardcore band I can always listen to. I can be sleeping, eating, fucking, writing, it doesn't matter. If you put on Blood Sweat And No Tears it's a little better. It seemed like it took forever for them to take the stage, as another fight broke out in front of the venue and slowed up the whole process, this one ending with a possible broken leg. After all the shit talking and bullshit posturing, most of the crowd made it back in to laugh it off and enjoy the final set. Sick Of It All played new shit, they played old shit, the played a Minor Threat cover, they ruled. I'm not that old, but I'm already easily winded. These guys are a dozen years older than me and they have five times the energy; they should bottle that shit. Their set was long and they even did an encore. I walked out feeling drained, but content, and decided to get out of there quick, before any assholes could start fighting outside and dent my Lincoln.
- Dirty Jim
- Photos by Alyssa Starkey

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