SHOWS featured, hardcore, no joy, quicksand, teragram ballroom Rob Shepyer September 12, 2017 0 Comments

Hurricanes in Florida, Earthquakes in Mexico & Quicksand in L.A. At Teragram

The Teragram Ballroom was sold out for NYC post hardcore band Quicksand’s return to Los Angeles. Filled with old hardcore heads, I was confident the slam-dance-worthy music wouldn’t be able to draw violence out of these gen-x’ers but boy was I wrong. All it takes is one pit psycho to reintroduce danger into rock and roll and force you to put up your dukes or feel like a bitch.

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It began with an album announcement, their first in 22 years. The first single off Interiors, “Illuminant“, sounds just as heavy and groovy and hardcore as anything Quicksand has ever put out and after seeing them live, you really get the sense that bands just can’t make music this good anymore.

Montreal’s No Joy opened the night as the only supporting act. They’re a shoegaze three-piece with minimalist vocals, if any during songs. Their rapid drumming and twin six string attack fosters a lunatic lucidity which is different than the rest of the shoegaze flock. No Joy sounds best when they play fast unlike most gaze acts that keep it slow. That said, I wish No Joy dabbled more in the slow, cathartic side of gaze where there is more space in the music, so that when every note hits it feels like fireworks going off in your soul.

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Song after song, the band played classics that the audience met with plenty of singing and modicum of moshing (since said pit psycho forced our hand). It was a warm welcome back to Los Angeles. Sticking to the business at hand, the band didn’t banter much on stage, especially for a reunion tour, but the one time Walter had to speak it was to say that he feels like his best self whenever he’s around us (Los Angeles). You don’t hear that too often.

Quicksand’s often labeled post hardcore and you can sense the resemblance to Fugazi. Walter Schreifels is an alumni of NYC hardcore bands such as Gorilla Biscuits and Youth of Today and one can feel that influence during the show. Calling the band hardcore is not enough though, you could argue they’re a sludge band with Melvins-sounding guitars and songs but you could also get away with a Jane’s Addiction comparison as Walter’s vocals are reminiscent of Perry Ferrell’s soaring, impressive pipes.