Two top bands bring their Punk'n'Roll to Austria's capital
The sold-out former slaughterhouse, Arena in Vienna, is buzzing with anticipation long before the bands are ready to take to the stage – which confirms what a perfect match it was to put these two high energy acts on the same bill!
Although billed as the support, this does not show when DeeCRACKS take to the stage in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, and without further ado head straight into ‘Stroll the Streets’ from their 2014 album ‘Beyond Medication’ – this is met with a roar of approval. The rhythm section consisting of Yeahman (bass) and Mike Dee Crackus (drums) provides a super tight backing to Matt’s rather rough vocals.
Crowd pleasers like ‘Standing On My Head’ and ‘Not Another Minute’ are mixed with competent covers of the Ramones’ ‘Pet Sematary’ and sped-up version of Eddie & the Hot Rods ‘Do Anything you Wanna Do’, blasted out in machine gun style, without wasting any time on in-between-song banter. When the guys leave the stage, following a way too short set, the crowd shout out for encores in vain..
DeeCRACKS are not an easy act to follow, but Teenage Bottlerocket immediately show – when they plunge into ‘Necronomicon’ followed by ‘Don’t Want To Go’ – that they have no intention at all to give the game away to the hometown heroes! Lining up hit after hit at breakneck tempo they ignite the pit into a chaotic mess of pogoing bodies.
‘Blood Bath at Burger King’, ‘Skate or Die’ and ‘She’s the Shit’ from last year’s excellent ‘Ready to Roll’ album leaves no time for catching breath, as Teenage Bottlerocket’s Miguel Chen’s pumping bass and Darren Chewka’s tireless drumming urges on the guitar slingers Ray Carlisle and Kody Templeman, who split lead vocal duties.
Ending the set with ‘On my Own’ (with a bit of ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ thrown in for good measure) there´s no way the crowd’s gonna let them off that easy. After a short interval, the band is back on stage for another 4 songs, ending procedures with ‘So Far Away’ from 2005’s ‘Total’.
Completely drenched in sweat, we are literally steaming when as we spill out into the freezing Vienna night. The chances of catching a cold are as likely as catching the U-bahn home..
Sometimes, reports about these two bands are a bit derogatory, referring to them as “Ramones clones”. While there’s no denying the influence, what we were served tonight was a veritable masterclass in catchy, no-nonsense pop-punk.
Catch Teenage Bottlerocket at Plan B, Malmö, Sweden tomorrow, or on tour in the US this February and March – dates and tickets HERE
Main Photo Credit / All Photos & Videos: PER-ÅKE WÄRN
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