Review: The Menzingers supported by Press Club & Varsity Cheerleader at The Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne, March 14th, 2020.
We live in strange times indeed. With mass gatherings of over 500 people cancelled only the day before, Philadelphia’s The Menzingers were one of the last big shows in Victoria to go ahead for the foreseeable future, so Melbourne made sure we went out with a bang.
Varsity Cheerleader opened things up with a set of emotional yet uplifting pop punk that sounded huge. I feel bands like this are sorely lacking in Melbourne right now and I’m looking forward to catching them again.
Check out Varsity Cheerleader’s ‘Free Throw’:
Press Club are one of the hardest working bands around, their output is prolific, touring schedule immense and live show intense.
Vocalist Natalie Foster moves around the stage like the most endearing possessed demon you have ever seen while somehow managing to never miss a beat, Greg Rietwyk’s guitar sound is huge, while the solid rhythm section makes Press Club voted most likely (by me) to be rocking harder than ever this time next year.
The crowd was beginning to swell during Press Club’s set with unhinged singalongs to bangers such as, ‘Suburbia’ and ‘Get Better’. Another solid set from a great band.
Check out Press Club’s ‘Get Better’:
As the stage lights went dark, The Croxton had swelled very close to its 900 capacity, the huge turnout was surprising under the circumstances; easily the biggest Menzingers headline show in this part of the world.
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Kicking things off with ‘America (You’re Freaking Me Out)’ from latest album Hello Exile, the crowd were rabid and keen to party, the mass singalongs continued with tracks such as ‘Good Things’, ‘Midwestern States’, ‘Anna’, and ‘I Don’t Want To Be An Asshole Anymore’ drawing huge responses.
The band borrowed heavily from breakthrough album On The Impossible Past and recent releases After The Party and Hello Exile, at times Greg just stood back in amazement as the crowd sung every word back at him. I have seen the band a few times and this was easily the best, the livewire atmosphere creating a truly memorable experience.
The Menzingers seemed genuinely humbled with the response letting the crowd know this was their last show for the foreseeable future, they were heading home tomorrow, into the unknown, and were glad to have gone out on such a high.
The Menzingers provided what any great punk show should, a much-needed release for many uncertain about what the future will hold.
Check out The Menzingers’ ‘After The Party’:
The Menzingers @ Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne 14/03/20 Setlist
‘America (You’re Freaking Me Out)’
‘The Obituaries’
‘House On Fire’
‘Mexican Guitars’
‘Portland’
‘Good Things’
‘Burn After Writing’
‘Thick as Thieves’
‘High School Friend’
‘Tellin’ Lies’
‘Last To Know’
‘Strangers Forever’
‘Midwestern States’
‘Anna’
‘I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore’
‘Nice Things’
‘Gates’
‘The Freaks’
‘Lookers’
Encore:
‘In Remission’
‘After The Party’
