Something Like Sound

While some of us were at Monolith on Sunday evening, Jake went downtown to cover this show at the Ogden.

Frank Turner: Having listened to his new album, Poetry of the Deed, and talked to this British punk singer-turned folk artist before the show, I was very excited to hear Frank Turner’s live act; Turner did not disappoint. Years of playing punk shows with his old band, Million Dead, taught Turner to electrify a crowd, even with the low-key acoustic set he presented at the show. The passion and energy Turner created more than filled the gap that other instruments fill on his album. Between songs, Turner created a familial atmosphere in the room which few bands can emulate. Turner’s set, although excellent, was a bit out of place, compared to the punk and rock sets which would follow.

The Loved Ones: I had never heard of Philadelphia punk band The Loved Ones before last weekend’s show. Their style was a sharp contrast to Turner’s set, but the band’s upbeat and intense sound was an enjoyable addition to the show. The majority of the crowd appeared to have not heard the band before their show, but after a few songs, the crowd’s near-malaise was turned to enthusiasm. The band’s sound was, with some exceptions, standard punk. However, their stage presence more than made up for their lack of uniqueness.

Murder by Death: Murder by Death is one of the most unique bands in the (somewhat) mainstream circuit. Lead singer Adam Turla has been compared to Johnny Cash and many songs are driven by the electric cello of Sarah Balliet. Their songs about the devil and zombies coincide well with their rock meets old west sound. All of this made for a wonderful show which was well-appreciated by the Ogden crowd. This high-energy set may have been the best of the night, musically.

Gaslight Anthem: By the time Gaslight Anthem was setting up, The Ogden was teeming with fans of the headliner. Gaslight Anthem’s unique blend of Punk and Classic Rock attracted a very diverse crowd to the show, but everyone seemed happy with what they heard. Like the previous sets, Gaslight Anthem’s was full of energy. This effected their sound a bit, with more punk coming out than their albums would indicate. However, this was certainly not a bad thing; rather, it provided a new look at their songs, which was unexpected and well-received. Much to the excitement of Gaslight Anthem’s long-time fans, the band finished with a three-song encore including songs from their first releases.

Words by Jake Rezac, Photos by Bryan Lambert