FRANK TURNER / DESCENDENTS / NOBRO – THE DOME
By Mark Turek
On February 19, Frank Turner and his Sleeping Souls along with co-headliner Descendents brought their punk message to the fabled Dome at the Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, Connecticut. Opening support was provided by Canadian garage punk band NoBro.
When the lights went down Nobro hit the stage. NoBro was founded by Kathryn McCaughey (Vocals/Bass) and features Tara Cohen (Keys/Percussion), Karolane Carbonneau (Vocals/Guitar), Andy Silver (Drums), and Josee Caron (Guitar). These 5 young ladies hit the stage with the idea of taking no musical prisoners.
Photos Mark Turek
Nobro throttled through a group of eclectic power-punk offerings, “Eat Slay Chardonnay” “Delete Delete Delete” and “Don’t Die” where a few of the nights offerings. They were totally a credit to the punk genre. Dynamic, explosive and animated with great stage theatrics. They never once missing a beat. Nobro left a lasting impression on this photographer and I, along with most of the crowd look forward to their return in the future.
Next up is a band who need no Introduction. If you attend a show with Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls you know exactly what you are getting.
Opening with the classic “I Still Believe” followed by “Try This at Home” and “Nevermind the Back Problems” Frank Turner lead the photographers through a compelling series of head banging music within our allotted 3 songs in the pit. Frank’s dynamics were as forceful as ever with his aerial leaps and onstage antics. The Souls were just as potent and consisted of Ben Lloyd (Guitar), Matt Nasir (Piano/Organ), Callum Green (Percussions) and Tarrant Anderson (Bass).
Photos Mark Turek
The mosh pit started fast and furious and it was interesting to observe from the higher elevation point at the Dome. It was akin to watching a hurricane form as the band continued with a series of favorites before slowing it down. Frank Turner went solo acoustic on “ Be More Kind” and “The Ballad of Me and My Friends”.
After the acoustic interlude the band got back to rocking several favorites including “Do One” and “Recovery”. Then Frank Turner brought out 2 new tour debuts, “Out of Breath” and “Polaroid Picture”. Crowd favorite “Four Simple Words” closed out a very robust 19 song list and left the audience in a frenzy.
Finishing out the evening were The Descendents from California bringing their wild brand of punk to the Oakdale. Front man Milos Aukerman wasted no time whipping the crowd into a mania with the song “Everything Sux” followed by “Hope” and “ I Don’t Want to Grow Old”.
Photos Mark Turek
As Aukerman poured on his “punks aganist the world persona”, guitarist Stephen Egerton tore up the stage with his signature theatrical moves looking all the world like a Faustian demon. Bassist Karl Alvarez supplied the low end and drummer Bill Stevenson beat the skins into submission.
One of the highlights of the evening was Stevenson passing drum chores to a 14 year old fan who held up a sign saying I can play drums on “I’m the One”. Urged on by the audience the band welcomed him on stage and the youngster proceeded to knock it out of the park bringing the house down.
The Descendents were on fire this night with a solid 30 song set followed by a 4 song encore bringing a tour song debut of “Feel This” and finishing with “Get the Time”. It concluded an epic night of punk rock at it’s finest.
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