Photo by Joe Maier
It’s impressive to see a band that can survive 25 years of existence without skipping a beat. Mustard Plug is just such a band, ska punk at their core yet able to seamlessly pass through other styles of punk, like pop punk, while tying it all together. Not only can they do that but they can make it sound natural. This is certainly one of the best aspects of seeing a band like Mustard Plug: while it’s expected that you’ll hear some of their classics, it’s also hard to know what to expect out of their shows. And therein lies the wonder of Mustard Plug.
Photo by Joe Maier
2-tone/new wave band Liam & the Ladies kicked off the show in a slimmed down fashion. Similar to seeing them before as a four piece, they had a more rockin’ garage punk kinda energy to their set. However, the Ladies seemed to have found a more comfortable balance between their punky and 2-Tone ska tunes. Frontman Liam and drummer Claire thrashed around, hyping the audience while saxophonist Aaron had everyone swooning and bassist Alex got the crowd shaking.
Photo by Joe Maier
Next up was 2-Tone ska band The 2Tone Lizard Kings. Every single performance of theirs is progressively better than the last and this show was no exception. Both they and the venue were feeding off of each other’s energy. There was even a mosh pit that broke out a couple times as frontman Adam Rankin flailed around the stage, amping the band and venue into a punk frenzy. This didn’t stop the band from getting the crowd skankin’, especially with their marvelous horn section.
Photo by Joe Maier
Ska punk songwriter Dan Potthast mellowed out the crowd, albeit just a little, with his synthesis of indie, folk, rock, ska and punk. WIthout one of a handful of backing bands from his various projects, he both serenaded and rocked out for the crowd on acoustic guitar. Dan Potthast clearly pours his heart and soul into his music and the audience can’t help but feel it, mesmerized.
Photo by Joe Maier
Closing out the show was ska punk band Mustard Plug and, boy, can they drive a show home. As if the venue hadn’t been stimulated enough before their set, the band picked the energy right back up. Of course, everyone started flocking back, packing the venue so many either drifted into the backroom bar to relax or cruised over to the all ages side of the venue to try to catch a glimpse and tear it up on the dancefloor. Even the pit went from skanking to full-on moshing throughout their set. Frontman David Kirchgessner flowed through a powerful set of electrified ska and pop punk with innovative ease. If their own classic songs, like “You” and “Go,” as well as newer tunes weren’t enough to whip the crowd into delirium, they busted out their fantastic take on Fugazi’s “Waiting Room.” All in all, it’s precisely this energy that Mustard Plug has that keeps us all coming back for more.
~ Garyn Klasek
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