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Review Wed May 07 2008
Review: Night Marchers @ Schubas, 5/4
When the summed lore of band members precedes every mention of the band, it's usually a sign that the band doesn't stand close to previous bands that the members have been in. Not surprisingly, this is the case with Night Marchers and especially their debut album See You in Magic. It has a lot of moments reminiscent of the punk/post-hardcore sound that these people have toned over time, but it's never quite as cohesive as is now expected from such an esteemed collective. Then again, it's becoming nearly impossible for John Reis, Gar Wood and Jason Kourkounis to top output from their previous bands. (Quebecois newcomer Tommy Kitsos of CPC Gangbangs hasn't had quite the history that his bandmates have, but that could change if he keeps his current company.)
However, one not great album isn't enough to keep fans away from these dynamic performers live. As anyone who's seen Rocket From the Crypt or Hot Snakes or Burning Brides (or any other band that these people have been in) knows, the presentation can do wonders for the source material. And that was clear to the nearly capacity audience at Schubas on Sunday as Night Marchers brought down the house sounding heavier and crisper than they do on See You in Magic. This was especially evident early on when Reis, Wood, Kourkounis (one of the hardest drummers I've ever seen) and Kitsos were totally locked in on "In Dead Sleep." The deserved thunderous reception led Reis to remark, "You're right. That was awesome. For once we see eye to eye." From then on the foursome ripped through the rest of the album plus songs from the "Scene Report" single with nary a slip. With inspiration from "Paint It Black", "And I Keep Holding On" closed out the night with a wallop of guitars. From this group, I expected nothing less.
San Diego's Muslims opened with an intriguing set showcasing their love for rock'n'roll like Nuggets and punk like the Modern Lovers. (Oh, and Night Marchers had a fine merch table draw with Reis handstamping 7" records on demand.)