Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Fourth of July's patriotic holiday show at the Replay
Posted
by April Fleming on
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Lawrence sounded like a war zone last night. Nobody seemed to care that it was a Monday. It was more like a Saturday at the Replay -- the beer garden patio and bar inside were both crowded and pulsing with music.
First up for me was JabberJosh, a bass-and-drum combo featuring brothers Sam and Will Gunnerson. Both were already sweating before their set even began, but they weren't deterred from launching into a bruising set of crashing metal. The audience took to it immediately. Younger brother Will on drums is a very impressive technician, pounding out elaborate, complex rhythms, much of the time with his eyes closed. The sounds of the brothers' distorted bass reminded me of Death From Above 1979 -- never a bad thing. Will was also happy to banter with the crowd. "Sparklers and snakes everyone, that's all we got," he said, before launching into what was explained as an ode to the holiday. The only intelligible lyrics: Go blow your ass up.
In the middle of JabberJosh's set, beloved local rapper Approach (who occasionally performs with the Gunnersons under the name Swanson) was invited onstage. Rap and rock do not typically bed well together, in my opinion, but this was a rare exception, if for no other reason than the sheer amount of talent on display. It was definitely not something you would come across at, say, Rockfest. Approach can rap faster than I can think, and somehow is capable of matching the volume and speed of the Gunnersons.
After a quick break and dip into the shoulder-to-shoulder beer garden for a snack (they serve great food in the summertime), it was time for Fourth of July to take the stage. "What do you think?" asked frontman Brendan Hangauer, waving a small plastic flag. "Should we sing the 'Star-Spangled Banner'?" The adoring audience agreed, singing along with surprising fervor.
The Replay was feeling quite patriotic, which I suppose is fitting for a band that has long described itself as "the most patriotic band in Lawrence." The audience participation did not stop at the "Star-Spangled Banner" -- this band is popular with the ladies, and girls sang along to nearly every song. It's easy to understand the love -- it was a reunion of sorts for the Hangauer brothers in Lawrence, but the band's music, also, is just so damn catchy. With songs about partying, longing and love, Fourth of July is particularly relatable to the young college crowd but fun-loving and earnest enough to appeal more broadly. Or maybe the girls were just loving that two-thirds of the Hangauer brothers had removed their shirts. Maybe it was the trumpet.
But not all love can last, not even at the Replay. The band wrapped up its set, the dance party in the beer garden came to an end, and we soon heard the familiar, friendly chorus of the Replay bartenders: "Get the FUCK OUT!"
Tags: fourth of july, jabberjosh
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