Five years ago I was heavily into bands like The Sleeping, Thursday, Alexisonfire, and Bayside. These bands made music that would keep me happy and going to shows. These bands were passionate, catchy, and had a driving, vibrant force with strong vocals and honest lyrics. In 2011, one of those bands offering me the same pleasing show-going experience is Make Do and Mend, a Connecticut band that you can call post-hardcore or melodic punk. The nuisanced difference between the two can be put up for argument, but their deliver is passionate. You can see this when watching the band perform. One things for sure though this band is driving.
At Santos Party House the band played a tight 25-minute set that included songs from their EP Bodies of Water and their latest LP End Measured Mile. Over a steady guitar line the band starts with "Shambles," as the James sings:
At Santos Party House the band played a tight 25-minute set that included songs from their EP Bodies of Water and their latest LP End Measured Mile. Over a steady guitar line the band starts with "Shambles," as the James sings:
I don't believe in anything worth fighting for, worth dying for.
I don't believe the clouds are hiding much more than a reason to downpour.
So what would you do if you were me? Give up, forget, go back to sleep.
My ears are quickly glued to his voice before the song gets into," Winter Wasteland," my favorite song of their set. It caught me off guard, but the back and fourth drum action was pumping. My head grooves back and fourth until th chorus hits:
Where were your arms when the wind was so cold?
Where were your hands when the time was so hard to hold?
I'm coming undone thirty-five miles from home, on this winter-campus wasteland all-alone
The song is about longing--wanting something you can't have and being alone. It's about wanting someone you care for to be their for you, but they're not and you have to deal with that.
When you hear James sing it's so passionate and live you can see him pour his heart into his music. His voice is strong with the right amount of roughness. Make Do and Mend is consistent in their music without sacrificing energy or making it sound boring and repetitive. Mike O's guitar work next to James makes for a good listen. Two guitars are always better than one. One guitar keeps the rhythm and the other provides the guitar squeals--I love hearing that dynamic.
Make Do and Mend makes us think and hope that everything is going to be okay. "TL" showcases their excellent lyrics:
Do your hands shake when you think of the ways we lived?
Does your heart ache just to turn back the pages again?
Back to Dan and Jose teasing us in your basement chairs.
Back to Braeburn days and the way best friends were better there.
Nothing gold ever cared.
And I know we said we’d never change,
in our back yard world we knew we’d stay the same.
But those times were fleeting like the summer days.
We were bodies of water,
destined to flow our separate ways.
It was also awesome seeing all the Make Do and Mend fans, some who showed up just for them and didn't even care to see Cave-In, proudly singing along to the lyrics with their heads shaking and bodies moving. It's always nice to be surrounded by people that are into a band like that.
Does your heart ache just to turn back the pages again?
Back to Dan and Jose teasing us in your basement chairs.
Back to Braeburn days and the way best friends were better there.
Nothing gold ever cared.
And I know we said we’d never change,
in our back yard world we knew we’d stay the same.
But those times were fleeting like the summer days.
We were bodies of water,
destined to flow our separate ways.
It was also awesome seeing all the Make Do and Mend fans, some who showed up just for them and didn't even care to see Cave-In, proudly singing along to the lyrics with their heads shaking and bodies moving. It's always nice to be surrounded by people that are into a band like that.
They also played their latest single from End Measure Miles called "Oak Square," which is about being happy doing what you want. Here it seems that the band is happy to be playing music and in a band.
And now my older friends
Are all getting married with kids
And I'm just stoked to play your basement
What's right and wrong at times like these
Make Do and Mend is the kind of band that doesn't have any bad songs, you can rely on them to deliver solid songs every release. It was good seeing such a strong performance. You can listen to End Measured Mile here: http://mdam.bandcamp.com/album/end-measured-mile
Are all getting married with kids
And I'm just stoked to play your basement
What's right and wrong at times like these
Make Do and Mend is the kind of band that doesn't have any bad songs, you can rely on them to deliver solid songs every release. It was good seeing such a strong performance. You can listen to End Measured Mile here: http://mdam.bandcamp.com/album/end-measured-mile
Make Do and Mend Setlist 5/19/11:
1. Shambles
2. Winter Wasteland
3. Transparent Seas
4. Oak Square
5. T.L.
6. Unknowingly Strong
7. Night's the Only Time of Day
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