Last Night: Thorns of Life at the Hemlock

Thorns of Life
Monday, January 26, 2009 

Hemlock Tavern
Review By Brian Moss
Photos by "Shanty" Cheryl Groff
Better Than: Trite trends and reunion shows.

Musical nostalgia offers quite the philosophical predicament. Fearing an inevitable slip into the old curmudgeon who shakes his cane at the kids of today, I wonder whether I'm losing touch, or if rock's subversive elements have legitimately stagnated. Perhaps when we're young our desperation for something to call our own gives anything atypical a blinding appeal. Or perhaps independent rock and roll really is lacking soul.

For those who came of age on '90s punk, the recent influx of reunions from the scenes' more prominent bands expectedly sparks interest. But the cynic in me wonders whether it's too much to ask for a little gracefulness. What about something new and vibrant that doesn't involve rehashing glory days or milking the cash cow? After watching Brooklyn's Thorns of Life last night at the Hemlock, I've realized there's hope to reap, but also confusion to cope with.

For many, the band is a super group. The Internet has been bombarded for months with videos of Thorns' house shows and gossip regarding this new project featuring Blake Schwarzenbach (Jawbreaker, Jets to Brazil), Daniela Sea (Cypher in the Snow, Showtime's The L Word), and Aaron Elliot Cometbus (Crimpshrine, Pinhead Gunpowder). Lucky for us West Coasters, Thorns have been in California (the native state of all three members) for the past week offering up a string of announced and hushed dates.

The hype alone creates staggering expectations. Last night at the Hemlock's "secret" show, the metaphorical woodwork burst: a line circled the bar's perimeter, packed with thirty- to forty-somethings and idolizing youthful scenesters trying to get their first glimpse of these punk darlings. Pabst-swilling regulars and curious randoms were swept up in momentum of the buzz. Corralled into the Hemlock's back music room, things were claustrophobic, sticky, and unavoidably personal.

Thorns' short set was stacked with songs that were obviously new, yet sounded oddly familiar. The band transitioned somewhat recklessly from a classic East Bay punk aesthetic to emotive indie rock and back again. At one point Cometbus stopped 30 seconds in to a song, laughed it off with the band, and restarted. Widening the genre gap, Schwarzenbach ended the set with a folkish solo number, complete with harmonica. Lyrically, what could be deciphered through the mud of live sound was moving, full of wit and heart.

The audience only added to the awkwardness, as their frothing, blind worship was palpable in the requests for Jawbreaker and Jets songs they yelled between every Thorns tune. The crowd cheered the bad lines, and overlooked the good ones.

The set and setting were simultaneously sloppy, strangely beautiful, comforting, and aggravating. While it would've been easy to leave the Hemlock disappointed in the performance, it was also crucial to keep in mind that Thorns is a still-blooming band - and, for that matter, one that's comprised of individuals who embrace a down to earth performance demeanor. For fans old and young, jaded and wide eyed, there's something timeless about the trio's dirty hooks and unrelenting conviction. With a build up as big as that for Thorns of Life, early expectations often take a turn for the unrealistic. For now, I've at least got a new song stuck in my head and a shaking cane that I'll leave on the shelf.

Personal Bias: Spending 15 or so years of listening to the members' past projects.

By the way: The Internet nullifies secret shows.