There’s something about stepping into a packed venue on a crisp Autumn night that feels like being 16 all over again, and last week’s show was exactly that. The night opened with Pain of Truth, a band from Long Island, New York, which, as a fellow Long Island native, had me locked in right away. Their set was raw and unpolished in the best way, a hometown flavored reminder of the DIY spirit that built the entire Long Island underground hardcore scene.
Then came Origami Angel, and to say they blew the crowd away would be an understatement. Their genre-bending blend of emo heart and electronic chaos felt like lightning in a bottle: unpredictable and utterly captivating. Every synth hit and guitar riff seemed to ricochet through the room, leaving the audience buzzing before the night’s heaviest hitters even touched the stage.
Neck Deep followed, and that’s when things really got rowdy. The moment they launched into their first riff, the barricade surge was immediate, the kind of chaotic energy that reminds you why we put ourselves in these pits in the first place. Their setlist was a perfect balance of nostalgia and newness, weaving fan favorite classics with fresh singles that had the entire room screaming every lyric. The passion this band pours into their performance is palpable, sweat soaked and heart forward, just as punk should be.
And then, of course, The Story So Far. There’s a certain understated magic to how they take the stage – no gimmicks, no theatrics, just some guys and a catalog of songs that mean the world to people. Their set was honest and beautifully powerful, a reminder of why fans have clung to their music so fiercely over the years. Each track felt like a conversation between band and crowd, intimate and deeply vulnerable.
By the end of the night, the venue was a glorious mess of crowd surfers, hoarse voices, and euphoric exhaustion. It was everything a punk show should be: chaotic, cathartic, and deeply human. For me specifically, it was a reminder of why live music matters so much to us all, because in a room full of strangers screaming the same words, you realize you’re not so alone after all.
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