Gig previews are something I do occasionally when I get really, really excited about something. Usually, my gig choices are last minute or made by flipping a coin – living in Scotland’s music capital can force that method on a guy. But sometimes, I have plans months in advance… enter February.
Anyone who knows me or has read my stuff before knows I’m into the pop punk and emo stuff of my youth. My youth is long gone, but the music lives on. February is bringing us the gifts of: Arm’s Length, Simple Plan, Mayday Parade, State Champs, Meryl Streek, Frank Carter, Enter Shikari, The Blackout, Bowling for Soup, Less Than Jake, Thrice… and what’s driven me to do this – The Menzingers.
I’m not saying The Menzingers are better than all of the aforementioned, but this night is going to be particularly special. Not only is it happening on the day after my birthday (bring cake), but The Menzingers bring a different flavour to our banquet. We recently reviewed their new album ‘Some of It Was True’ and we liked it. I’ve no doubt there will be some of that played on the night, and I won’t be complaining. Especially tracks like ‘Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing’ and ‘There’s No Place in This World for Me’ will be just at home on the setlist, but we know the dancing is going to kick off with the anthems ‘America (you’re freaking me out)’ and ‘I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore’. Just typing this, I can smell the beer and feel my aging knees and throat give out as I dance and sing along with the “ohhhh ohhhhhh”s. We don’t need to tell anyone here how good The Barras is going to be, either. You know.
The thing about The Menzingers is that they’ve kept the bounce and smiles of pop punk, but their songwriting is more mature than the usual suspects. That’s what you need when you hit adulthood and you’ve been through your own experiences and need something to relate to beyond dating girls in school and pretending that you’re in American Pie. On the 9th of February we get to sing about adult problems, sometimes overcoming them and sometimes not. It’s a big difference between reliving your youth and living your present… and like all birthdays, I’ll be there for the present.
This is going to be a special one.
Tickets for the Barras show on February 9th are on sale now: