The Measure (SA), Thousandaires & more in New Brunswick + photos & upcoming shows

Photos and story by Star Beat

Despite issues with New Brunswick basement shows over the summer, the hub city has been able to sustain itself fairly well. Where there is a drive, challenges can be overcome, and those devoted to the scene do something- they open their houses up to keep shows going. It might mean keeping shows strictly word of mouth or making a show undetectable, like what happened to me on Monday night. I was wandering up and down the street trying to figure out where the house was. But finally I found the space, Bosnia. Sofas. Fridge. Christmas lights. Yep, I knew I was at the right place. It may have been a scavenger hunt trying to find it but it was well worth it. When I got in I immediately saw Lauren of The Measure (SA) hanging out and soon after Kate Wadkins from Cheeky. It was nice seeing these two again.

Of course I thought I was late, but wasn’t, which was good because Kicking Spit would delight with their kiss ass tunes. The 3-piece from New Brunswick had a sort of '90s grunge-rock n roll sound reminiscent of Unwound. The singer simply ripped it up on guitar. Shortly after I noticed Marissa from Screaming Females was behind me. She immediately said “hello” when we saw each other and wandered about to talk to the singer of Kicking Spit.

Gordie-How Hat Trick was up next. This was their first show ever. and apparently their last (not) as the guitarist joked. See bottom of post for more show. The band features Tim (from The Measure) on bass, Josh (from Little Lungs) on drums, Marco (from Traffic & Weather), and Mike. Their bio is simple: 4 dudes, 3 states, part time punk. Members come from Brooklyn, New Brunswick, and Detroit. Marco runs Salinas Records I hear. It was cool because you could hear the influence of from all these members bands. Their song title are days of the week and I think they made it to Thursday. "Tell me something to prove me wrong cause I don’t wanna feel this way."

Thousandaires

Next was Thousandaires from Brooklyn featuring Jeff (from Bridge & Tunnel), Jared (from Get Bent), and Dom and Dave (from Halo Fauna). Some may recognize Dave Garwacke as the owner and creator of If You Make It. He also plays drums in Halo Fauna, Golden Age of Radio, Kudrow and Air Raid Barcelona. Their Land Seal demo is available here. Their set was great and passionate like indie-punk should be. They gave me a Bridge & Tunnel/Algernon Cadwallder vibe. During the last song a few people up front got really into it. I think it was "20 40 60 80 90." The crowd cheered for one more song, but unfortunately they didn't.

The Measure (SA) rolled through their 12 songs set including favorites like "Drunk by Noon," "Drama Free Youth," and "Revisionist" from their latest Songs About People N Fruit...and Shit. Sadly the vocals could hardly be heard unless you were upfront. They also played a few new songs that were easy to get into. It was awesome seeing Fid moving and jumping around. He looked like he was having fun and happy to have his friends and fans there. He commented that being in love sucks and that most of the songs are about beer and getting drunk but Lauren refuted that. Those that missed the show can catch them in February at the Don Giovanni showcase in NYC with Screaming Females, Jeff: the Brotherhood, Shellshag, and tons of others.

This show had me thinking a bit. The indie-punk scene is interesting because you have the same people playing in different bands. Some bands don’t last too long like Cheeky, Used Kids, and The Besties who were around for a few years, while others such as The Ergs! and Nakatomi Plaza were around for 8-10 years. But members of Cheeky, The Ergs, and Nakatomi Plaza are still involved in music and in new bands. So for every end, there’s always another beginning. This sort of swapping from bands or being in multiple bands at a time is very attractive to me. Look at Franz Nicolay. He’s in World/Inferno Friendship Society, Guignol, The Hold Steady, and maintains his own solo project. Angie Boylan of Cheeky is in a new band called Scantron and still plays with Little Lungs and Each Other’s Mothers. The neat thing is that these musicians often aren't playing the same instruments in their different bands to. Some are playing guitar and drums or accordion and flute and guitar. While there’s a different level of commitment for each band, it seems, based on how many shows they play and how much music they release, it’s warming to know how involved these members are. There’s so much collaboration with band members who are friends and working on new things.

These band members aren’t just band members but promoters, record label owners, and so fourth. Dave from Thousandaires runs If You Make It. Marco from Gordie-Howe runs Salinas Records. Lauren Measure is a graphic designer, creating content for her band. This is simple a snapshot of a wider picture of community that is interlaced into a scene that is truly a punk rock community. Kurt Cobain said it best: Punk is musical freedom. It’s saying, doing and playing whatever you want. In Webster's terms, 'nirvana' means freedom from pain, suffering, and the external world, and that's pretty close to my definition of Punk Rock.”
Mine to.

The second show of a mini-tour with Thousandaires and Gordie-How Hat Trick is tonight at Terrordome in Philly with Max Levine Ensemble, Algernon Cadwallader, Layers/Quake. On Wednesday it’s with Kudrow and Little Lungs at Lost and Found in Brooklyn. More info here.

Thousandaires & Gordie-How Hat Trick Dates:

12/ 29 @ Terrordome w/ Max Levine Ensemble, Algernon Cadwallader, Layers/Quake and more 5pm. $5-7

12/ 30 @ Lulu’s/Lost and Found w/ Kudrow (Jeff from BTMI!) and Little Lungs. 8pm. Free.

Kicking Spit








Gordie Howe-Hat Trick




















Thousandaires















The Measure (SA)