Tuesday 16/10/07 Bouncing Souls, Lifetime, Modern Life Is War @ Webster Hall, New York

New Jersey punk rock regales its own myth and allure to those who involve themselves fully.There is a traceable pedigree that surrounds this culture, not bound by age, or creed, or race, but simply by ideas and questions. This punk culture, is an experience unto itself, and such an experience is amplified by the coupling of two of Jersey's finest bands, Lifetime and the Bouncing Souls.

Webster Hall was relatively crowded once I arrived, a throng of Misfits and CBGB T-shirts blocked my passage from the downstairs bar to the mainstage. I missed the first set, but showed up right as the second supporting opener, Modern Life Is War, took the stage.  MLIW is one of the better opening acts I've seen at a punk show, and they fit perfectly on the bill. The turnout for just this band and its energy mirrored that of those on stage from Marshalltown, Iowa, and as they played songs from their upcoming third release, Midnight In America, the sweet heat from both the onlookers and the stage built into billowing torrents of smoke that filled the hall. The long breakdowns in there songs did a good job of letting each individual rift ring clearly, and created an atmosphere that was densely packed with sound, white light, and white heat.

Then Lifetime took the stage. Those clouds of sweet sweat and anticipation broke, and hardcore rained from the balconies.  Ari Katz and the band controlled the fever of the mosh pit with the setlist, weaving old songs like ‘Young, Loud, And Scotty’ into songs from their new album such as ‘Northbound Breakdown’ and ‘Just A Quite Evening.’ ‘25 Cent Giraffes’, one of their closing songs, seemed to embody the mood of their set, and likewise, their whole existence. Lifetime has the punk minute plus song down to such a science, that it’s a mind bullet to anyone unfamiliar with their presence. The attack ratchets frequencies like no other band, and makes for an awesome live show. All of this awesomeness and the head liner has yet to take the stage.

Once the Bouncing Souls came out, they were immediately met by screams, whistles and the purest love and respect possible. ‘East Coast **** You’ and ‘Argyle’ received some of the best reaction, with a mosh almost as big as the venue. It's said by some that the Souls are a poppier version of some of their Jerseyan punk brethren, and the next to receive the crown of punk rock elite. Perhaps that's true.  Actually, the first tour the Souls went on, they opened for Lifetime, and with Lifetime now moving toward retirement, this show was fitting for a showcase of hardcore love. Regardless of the sentimentality that is perhaps woven into this event, the ultimate fact is that this was an excellent show in pieces. Modern Life Is War, Lifetime, and The Bouncing souls separately made this fantastic, so combined it was the best some of parts to every come from a state with such a justifiable punk reputation.