Sometimes it's nice to see a show that's not in the Boston area. I tend to see shows at the same clubs regularly, and make pretty much the exact same drive once or twice a week. Portsmouth is one of my favorite towns to go to for shows, since it's just nice to walk around. When I saw that Tysk Tysk Task and Hell Beach were playing together at the new and improved Press Room, I knew I had to make the trek up to the seacoast. Plus, I had been meaning to check out Grub Lord for a while, so that was just a bonus.
Opening the show was the virtually un-Googleable 2000s. Hailing from South Berwick, ME, they brought a group of diehard fans who were energetic and pumped for the show. I'm going to guarantee that every write up about them is going to include a line that they sound more like the 90's than the 2000's, which is accurate. They had a sound like if Nirvana had decided to go with a more mainstream sound after the success of Nevermind. It was a solid set that was a great introduction to a band I'll probably never be able to find on any social media.
Coming up next was Tysk Tysk Task, on a weekend trip breaking in a new bass player. Considering that I've seen them dozens of times over the past few years, you'd think I'd be bored with seeing them again. However, Tysk Tysk Task continues to evolve as a band, in both their sound and presentation. Frontwoman Samantha Hartsel has become more of a performer in the past year, and this summer has seen more of a focus on her vocals, which is becoming an apparent strong point of the band. Songs like "Contagion" continue to grow, despite how many times I've seen them. They might not have been known by everyone in attendance, but they grew their fanbase considerably by the end of their set.
I had only seen Hell Beach once opening for Rebuilder. I didn't know what to expect back in December, so it was great to see them again as a fan. Their new album, BEACHWORLD, had just come out that day, so they took the stage with a little extra excitement. A Hell Beach live show is a pure delight, and they may be the most fun pop punk band in the New England music scene, if not all around. First, they have a keytar, which is always fun. Aside from that, you're watching four people just radiating joy on stage. Plus, a song like "Poison Mind" truly needs to be heard live with a crowd just belting out the chorus.
Grub Lord closed out the night, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect with them. On record, they have a bit more of a twee/Beat Happening sound going on. Live, they were a bit more straightforward punk-ish. They're another band that doesn't take themselves too seriously, and were having a bunch of fun on stage. They were noisy, a little chaotic, and oddly catchy. A personal bonus for me was that more than a few songs had a bit of a spooky theme, but a song like "If She's Your Girlfriend Why Is She Playing With My Mullet." I've been meaning to check out Grub Lord for a while, and hopefully I'll be making a return trip to Portsmouth to see them again soon.
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