August 23, 2010

GRN STRP HAUS! You will be missed.

Posted in Punk rock at eye level at 9:00 am by Ogre

A couple of years ago some very nice folks started hosting shows in the house where they lived. Recently my friend Lukas, who does an awesome punk rock podcast (seriously, it’s on the sidebar. Go check it out) took me there for some shows and I was instantly hooked. The bands were incredible and the people were fun, welcoming, and friendly.

Yesterday the GRN STRP HAUS had its last show. Neal and Lindsey, the people who live there are moving for various reasons, and I wish themluck and joy in their new place. I also thank them profusely for letting me and so may others hang out, watch bands, and get trashed.

There were ten bands yesterday. Ten bands! After making a beer and mixer run we saw Fool’s Rush make their Seattle debut. They were a solid three piece with catchy hook driven songs and good vocals. I’m glad their first Seattle show was something so momentous. It provided a nice cap to the ideals of the house to have a band play seattle their first time at the last show like that.

 Next up were Ol’ Doris, another three piece who are way tighter than a band with maybe a year under their belt should be. I’m fast becoming a fan. I really dig their vocals quite a bit.

 I’m pretty sure that the next band to play was Crutches, who blew me away and made me think about some older hardcore bands I’ve loved, especially No For An Answer. I’m pretty sure, but that’s where we started to get really drunk and things are a little hazy as to who went when.

 I’m pretty sure the Random Orbits, who I love seeing play and love hanging out with were next, I got out of the bathroom just in time for Loose Lips Sink Ships, which is my favorite song of theirs, and sang my head off. I know I can’t sing, but I sing along because I can’t not.

Lukas and I sat out The Hollowpoints’ set in the front yard. We were just too drunk to get up and go inside. That sucks too, because they sounded really good and I’d been loking forward to seeing them, but the flesh was just weak and we needed a rest.

I think Shakes either played directly before or after them. the Shakes are an amazing band with a crazy style of multiple vocals and really interesting tempo and chord changes. If I was trying to explain the island of awesome misfit toys feel of this scene, Shakes are definitely one of the bands I would play to them as reference. 

Next up, I think, was Smokejumper, who are one of my top three local bands, and they fucking nailed it. Now, I’m usually the guy that stands in the back or to the side, but some jerk (Lukas) tossed me into the pit, and in his words “It had to be done, and I needed it.” He was right. I had a great time being center of the crowd for a change.

This brought the electric portion of the day to a close. When I heard Koozebane were playing I was pretty excited asI’d seen them once before and really liked them. I had no idea they would be playing an accoustic set, a pretty brave thing for them to attempt and I was impressed with how they pulled it off. I’m also looking forward to seeing them at the Galway Arms this Thursday on their tour kickoff show. Hint hint, you should go.

Next up was Buffalo Stagecoach, who I’d not heard of before, but who I will see again. Contrary to popular belief about me, I like accoustic music. What I don’t like is boring weak accoustic music. Buffalo Stagecoach are neither boring nor weak, they’re great accoustic players with some really great disestablishmentarian lyrics.

Afterwards Jefferson Death Star, which is Ryan from the Damage Done’s solo accoustic project played for us outside in back, and it was… well it was pretty moving. It just felt right. Thanks for playing The Sky Is Really Heavy, Ryan. I really love that song.

I think more music happened after that. I know Chris Crusher played a song, or part of it, but Lukas and I were burnt, and my lovely wife picked us up and took us to Memo’s for lovely lovely cheap Mexican food. Chorizo burrito!

All in all, this was an amazing time, at an amazing place. I know. I know. No one’s died, and there will still be plenty of shows and gatherings, but, damnit, that place was just special. I could tell that the first time I set foot on the lawn.

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