shows
the promise ring
the heart of a Midwest musical ."/(.(%!#!')!#+%25(%<(&#!'(# rest of the country. That night at the sold-out Turner Hall felt less like a concert and more like a high school reunion, and I mean that in a good way. It ,((.(&#),#!'"58'#(/(*K"%(# was catching up with someone, as though the band didn’t only release some great records, but represented a lost time in these people’s youths. Since I was "%0K#!'*((#-'(%#!'(+*#$*,!#*(<"*&# <).(#"5!;#H#&+&%I!#')/(#)%K#"7# these personal connections, but it was comforting to be in such an excited and friendly crowd.
#:'(%#!'(#>)%&#$%)00K#!"*(#!'*"58'# the fast-pulsing opening track to their classic Nothing Feels Good “Is This Thing On?”, a mosh pit broke out, albeit mild and full of late 20- and early 30-year-olds in sweaters, and the rest burst into pogo dancing and shouting along with the chorus. They played )00#!'(#7)%#7)/"*+!(,#7*".#!'(#*(<"*&,# and a lot of B-sides and obscure EP tracks, including the amazing “E. =(N),#?/(i#7*".#)#,60+!#{i#-+!'#7(00"-# (."S/(!,#=(N),#+,#!'(#G(),"%9#
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THE REST BURST INTO POGO DANCING AND SHOUTING ALONG WITH THE CHORUS
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Opening the show was Milwaukee’s own Celebrated Workingman. The hometown <*"-&#,((.(&#!"#0"/(#+!;#>5!#!'(+*# When they came out for their encore, pPS(,45(#85+!)*,#)%&#!'(#"/(*S a"%#M"'0(%I,#K"5%8#,"%#<).(#"5!#)%&# !'(S!"6;#)0.",!#!'()!*+<)0#/"<)0,# danced onstage for their breakthrough and antics of lead singer Mark ,+%80(#E:'K#A+&#:(#1/(*#L((!Zi9#H!# ?.+&,!#!'(#&(!(*+"*)!+"%#"7#'+,#$*,!# Waldoch didn’t quite capture me. Their was heartwarming to see the band, 8*"56#C)6I%#B)]];#,+%8(*h85+!)*+,!# E'()*!S"%S,0((/(i#)(,!'(!+<,#&+&#$!# %"-#)&50!,#-+!'#7).+0+(,#)%&#0+/(,# A)/(K#a"%#M"'0(%I,#,+&(#6*"F(<!#<).(# well with the headliners, though. outside the realm of indie music, come to the forefront. That project was the together without it seeming just like a Promise Ring. While it is arguable G5%%+%8#"5!#"%#,!)8(#!"#!'(#0(/(0#"7# trip down memory lane. Where there -'+<'#8*"56#-),#."*(#+%25(%!+)0#!"# applause a band usually gets after was certainly an element of nostalgia !'(#()*0K#!"#.+&Su\I,#E(."i#."/(.(%!# !'(K#')/(#60)K(&;#!'(#D*".+,(#G+%8# 6*(,(%!;#+!#-),#">/+"5,#!'(#D*".+,(# (before the genre made one shudder), opened the show with “Size of Your Ring was just playing music like they the Promise Ring made a bigger X+7(;i#7*".#!'(+*#5%&(*)66*(<+)!(&#$%)0# @%(-#'"-;#-+!'#a"%#M"'0(%#)-@-)*&0K# %).(#7"*#!'(.,(0/(,#+%#!'(+*#!+.(#!')%# album Wood/Water and immediately dancing while the rest of the band C)6I%#B)]]9#?7!(*#*5%%+%8#)#,(/(%SK()*# >*"@(#+%!"#ER)66+%(,,#+,#?00#!'(#G)8(;i# F5.6(&#)*"5%&#"%#,!)8(9#?!#"%(#6"+%!# course and releasing four critically off a(*K#1.(*8(%<K . For the rest of the a"%#M"'0(%#,)+&;#E:'(%#-(#-(*(#@+&,;# acclaimed albums, the Promise Ring $*,!#')07#"7#!'(#,'"-#!'(K#7"<5,(&#"%# we’d play for 30 minutes before we called it quits and went on to other their later material, which constituted 8"!#!+*(&#)%&#?AA#)%&#-)%!(&#!"#&"# 6*"F(<!,9#?0.",!#)#&(<)&(#0)!(*;#!'(# a generally slower and quieter sound something else,” but continued, “… band announced a reunion, with the that yielded longer lines at the bar Tonight, we’re going to play until you $*,!#,!"6#>(+%8#!'(+*#'".(!"-%#"7# and made the crowd noticeably -)%!#5,#!"#0()/(9i#1/(%#)7!(*#"/(*#`\\# Milwaukee. restless for their earlier post-hardcore .+%5!(,#"7#.5,+<;#!'(#<*"-&#%(/(*#0",!# their enthusiasm for the band and after Wisconsin has had its select musical ,(0(<!+"%,9#?7!(*#)&.+!!+%8#!')!#'+,# /"+<(#-),#E)#0+!!0(#,'"!;i#a"%#M"'0(%# !'(#(%<"*(#(%&(&;#+!#-),#">/+"5,#!')!# groups reach worldwide recognition apologized, jokingly saying “If we (/(*K"%(#,!+00#-)%!(&#."*(#7*".#!'(# ca+"0(%!#V(..(,;#W)*>)8(;#M"%#H/(*d;# -(*(#6*"7(,,+"%)0,#-(#-"50&#')/(# Promise Ring. but with the Promise Ring comes a cancelled.” certain amount of pride. They were at tyler FASSNACHT
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