The Triangle

Issue date: 1/13/06 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: labproductions.com

Over break, I found myself in Mexico. In the budding tourist resort of Progreso, I happened upon a group of kids playing soccer. They were listening to some Mexican punk rock. As I kicked a stray ball back to one of the players, I asked them what they were listening to. "Música de la rebelión" was the answer I got. "Rebelling against what?" I asked and got the answer I was expecting: "todos los malos." It is quite ambitious and down right presumptuous to think that a mere punk band can do anything about "all of the evils" in the world, but that's not the point. The point here is you can't give up or grow complacent, and no matter the situation, there will always be music around to heighten your mood. I walked down to the First Unitarian Church Saturday Jan. 7 armed with this knowledge. Dillinger Four was headlining their first show in Philly in years, and it was likely to be their last for just as many.

I met my friend Mike at what I contended would be the best show of 2006, despite being only one week deep into the new year. As I walked through the doors, the first band was already playing. It was a folky Irish sounds band, more Pogues than Flogging Molly, but I didn't catch their name. The second band, F---ed Up, was a slightly above average hardcore band from Canada, featuring members from Career Suicide. Overall, the opening acts were nothing to write home - or University City - about, but of course, I didn't go to see them.

Paint It Black played next. I'd consider myself a Paint It Black fan. As I browse through my most played songs on iTunes, PIB's second release, Paradise, sits at the top, with over 40 plays since I bought the CD last March. Frontman Dan Yemin knows how to work his home crowd in Philadelphia. Although their set was almost identical to their last three shows before, it's still great to hear new songs like "Ghosts" and "Angel" live. Of course, they played "Election Day," the only song in which Yemin mentions another band. That band? None other than Dillinger Four, who he calls the best punk band in the United States. The band closed with "Memorial Day," as customary, and Dave Hause was on stage to help with the vocals. Also at this time, show promoter Sean Agnew decided to stage dive right onto my head, but I'll forgive him, since he didn't knock out Andy's bass cables. There's a reason Paint It Black holds the record for most shows played at the Church: They are simply that damn good.

Continued...

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