Karate Riot released their new album Throwing Caution on March 3rd via Simpul Records. They threw a huge party at Vista Bar to celebrate, supported by labelmates The Crawlouts, Dumpster Fire, and Broken Hipster.
Vista Bar is a fun little shithole, where the lighting sucks and tinnitus follows you around that tiny stage no matter where you stand. The secret to enjoying a show here is to get really drunk. Those of us without tits were forced to wait ungodly hours for our drinks, thankfully my buddy came in clutch with a concealed-carry bottle of whiskey and we were off to the races. My point is, Vista Bar has terrible sound and is a great place to break rules, which makes it perfect for a punk show.
The Crawlouts, longtime friends of the zine, went first. They set the precedent for the night of making mistakes and laughing it off- poor Jorge had been working with paint thinner all day and couldn’t hold the damn sticks. They had a great set regardless, and Shin’s shredding never ceases to amaze.
Dumpster Fire went next. The frontman abandoned the stage to dance in the crowd while he sang, often rocking a beer can in one hand and a microphone in the other. Understanding the need for booze in this acoustic dungeon, they were giving out Fireball “whiskey” at their merch table. They advertised that fact with some short improv jams. The fun these guys were having was as sincere as it was contagious.
Karate Riot played Throwing Caution front to back to show off the wonderful thing that they’ve unleashed on the world. I was really impressed by the drummer: his rhythm was flawless and he looked like the kind of guy who would eat somebody if given the chance. Towards the end of the set the band invited a reluctant guest singer to sing a duet, then closed out with one hell of a mosh pit. If you like the soulful sounds of early 00’s pop-punk, then you really need to check out Karate Riot’s new album Throwing Caution, streaming everywhere.
Broken Hipster ended the night, having plenty of time and Fireball to prepare, and got on that stage completely unchained. This was my first time seeing them and it was a lot of fun. Sef, the singer, was so sloshed that he nearly fell over a few times. They went into the finale and he started singing the completely wrong song. In true punk fashion they laughed it off and started over. If it isn’t fun, you’ve missed the point, and these guys were very clearly having the time of their lives.
Far be it from me to preach about what it means to be punk, but this show is what I’ve always had in mind. The songs are simple (and Simpul) enough to be played wasted. When the bands screw up anyway, it’s not from lack of talent or practice. The mistakes either go unnoticed or celebrated, because who cares? Between sets, friends laugh and tell stories and tease their pals for dropping the drumsticks. It wasn’t a show, it was a party with live music. And what a party it was! ■
Spud media 