05/20/2023 - MONETTE, BAD FIX, FACE PULP, THIRTY SEVERED @ THE LEGION

photos curtesy of Matt the Moon Man.

Baby's first Monette show. Something about the low ceilings and awkward lighting makes The Legion such a weird venue--like some transient liminal space that feels more like a bingo hall than anything else (the plastic merch tables lining the walls added to this). I peed probably five or six times at this show, drinking a cup of water before every set and pissing after. The smell of cool ranch Doritos was weirdly strong in the corner of the room I stood in, waiting for the show.

Eclectic and bold, Thirty Severed was up first and the dimming lights beckoned them on. Their singer, Damien donned wacky green face paint in the shape of a mask and their bassist, Josh dressed up like Jesus. They blasted onto stage with a cover of Sleep's Dragonaut that showed off Mark's shedding and scratching guitar tone, as well as Pauly's surgically precise drums.

What I appreciated most about their performance is their ability to be unapologetically campy. Damien put on a lab coat and glasses for a song, making jokes about being a doctor. The little theatrics and rehearsed lines between songs added a level of lightheartedness to their performance that I wasn't expecting at a metal show. That being said, their set could still feel authoritative and crisp, with a tinge of that 80s metal energy.

Face Pulp, to me, is the epitomal example of that one Peter Parker meme that says "if the hardcore band's guitarist looks like this, you're going to die in that pit." They're unassuming, modest, real and fucking good. Steve's battle cries chanted over disturbed and driving riffs as Monette's Adi and Bryce started crowdkilling. Shop Local cemented my face into disgust with Mason's nasty riffage that felt so dirty yet still manages to shine through among the wreckage.

Their post-hardcore-ish psychedelic journey, Altitude Sickness featured breaks so clean and smooth you'd think it was pre-recorded. Trevor's bass screamed the final screams of a dying animal with slides and guttural riffs so deep over Randy's seemingly endlessly energetic drums. Some songs remind me of meth. and others of Gojira even, but Face Pulp still managed to stay wholly unique and themselves.

Calling into the pit with a shit barrage of noise and grinding, chugging pleasure, they are drenched in their own severity with a will to be the heaviest in Flagstaff. Stream Eye Grabbing Detail.

I spilled salsa on my sweater before the show, so had to brave the cold in my T-shirt to the line of porta potties outside. I thought that the cold nights were mostly over, but I guess not. I wished then that I could be two places at once--Toothache's show at the Plant House taking place at the same time in Phoenix.

Bad Fix's fusion of ska, metal and punk was a refreshing and wholly unexpected something for the night and Flag's scene in general. The only other band I could even try to relate them to would be Mr. Bungle and their funky twang-turned-metal riffage. Jayden's walking bass under Nate's high-end dotted strumming adds so much to their sound.

The fast and funky ska sections are made so much more fulfilling by the slow, gut-wrenching breakdowns that still managed to feel doomy and dissonant. Living on the Rez is definitely their strongest, most fun song. You can see it in the pit, too. They're just fun. Stream Crack Rez Steady.

It was finally time for the main event. You could tell that almost everyone there was there to see Monette--an army of little punks already piling near the stage with their solider shirts. The trio rolled into a minimalistic barrage and rolled that again into Attack Objective B. Under Bremer's trampling guitar, Adi came in with a bass so crunchy you could take a bite. A herd of punky noise.

There's one key philosophy to all of music, and that is the art of dissonance and release. If there's one band that I could confidently say has mastered this above all else, it'd be Monette. Dissonance builds like the coming tide of war until the sweet release of "normalcy" washes over the crowd with Bryce's waving ride. They know exactly what is needed and exactly when--between the sporadic and devious rhythms and tangling guitar, every song is a bipolar, breakneck, vibrating call into the new age of punk. Not to mention the vocals...

Kink's bass is already nothing short of iconic and the moment it's heard the crowd was shocked into movement. Bryce's gunshot-snare cracked into the Legion above their bubbling and insane drums. Each member's voice is unique in tone and content, yet collide to form an addictive, angsty and formidable force of energy. Nothing beats hearing MK's final "EUTHANASIA!" live. Stream Scraps.

I'm hoping to get these out more regularly this summer, I'll be trying to go to a lot more shows whenever I'm free--which is more often now. Please don't hesitate to comment or email me [fosterhildingmusic@gmail.com] or shoot me a dm on Instagram about music info, upcoming shows, albums, or even just to talk about other music shit. I'm always looking for more local stuff to become obsessed with.

- Foster

Huge and epic and awesome announcement as well, Toothache's debut EP, Nowhere to Spill is releasing soon.