Monday night at the Doug Fir’s sold-out Protomartyr show…
Despite recovering from bronchitis, mega-badass Maggie Vail (formerly of Kill Rock Stars) opened the night with Portland lo-fi punk trio Hurry Up, which also includes Kathy Foster and Westin Glass of the Thermals. Through a cracking voice she killed tracks like “And Then,” with Foster and Glass helping turn the bougie basement into a den of mayhem.
To be honest, Chastity Belt‘s set was underwhelming. The Seattle four-piece mostly played new material, and I just didn’t like it (SORRY, I said it). A few older shimmery, grey-toned bangers like “Time to Go Home” got heads bobbing and bums wiggling towards the end, but their matching velour sweatsuits and jokes about bucket hats felt tired. I respect them a ton, and have definitely belted “Why Try” while cleaning my cat’s litter box. But their performance was just ok, and that is fine.
Protomartyr delivered the most electrifying set of the night, opening with “Cowards Starve,” and bringing what seemed like an entirely different crowd to the forefront of the audience. Frontman Joe Casey looked like a guppy in a fish tank, his mouth agape as he came up for air, craning his neck to reach the mic. The Detroit punks’ menacing, industrial soundscapes settled like smog over a bated, grateful audience.
PROTOMARTYR
CHASTITY BELT
HURRY UP
