I was sitting at my desk last week, and High Waisted posted that they'd be opening for Diarrhea Planet at Music Hall of Williamsburg. High Waisted put out one of my favorite records of 2016, and Diarrhea Planet are one of the best live acts around right now; so I figured, "What the hell?"
If I'd known then what I know now: that I'd be used multiple times as a human step ladder by people wanting to stage dive during Diarrhea Planet's set, that I wouldn't be able to bend over and tie my shoes today, that I'd carry an impression of the MHOW stage across my ribs for the next week or so, that I'd end up with some of my favorite photos I've ever taken... I'd do it all again.
As usual, I got to the venue too early but in plenty of time for MHOW pre-show happy hour in the downstairs lounge. Steely Dan gave way to 80s hits like "Weird Science" and Peter Schilling's "Major Tom" as I sipped the one beer I'd be allowing myself for the night. I headed up into the barren and empty performance space at around 8:45.
High Waisted took the stage at just about 9, and there were maybe 10 people in the audience. But here's where bands can learn something. High Waisted started their set and played as if they were playing to a packed house. Singer / guitarist, Jessica Louise Dye, kept smiling and enjoying herself until the room eventually started to fill. Steven Nielsen (guitar), Jono Bernstein (drums), and Jeremy Hansen (bass) tossed their hair, jumped from the drum risers, and just generally brought it.
They played through songs from On Ludlow and closed the set with an aggressive version of "Miserlou." By the end of their set, there was a pretty large crowd dancing right along with Dye. That charisma that can draw people in makes High Waisted a great band to shoot; and, if theirs was the only set I saw, my evening would have been made. Luckily there was more.
Next up were Nashville's Western Medication. They're touring with their paisanos in Diarrhea Planet, but I was unfamiliar with them before last night. The band played a relentless set of post punk-influenced jams. Really the kind of stuff I'm into. Their set was also super high-energy, and they definitely won over the crowd. It's really impressive when an opener you've never heard before can play through a set and never have you counting the minutes to the headliner. Western Medication's 40-minute set felt almost too short.
The crowd pushed up front and started getting rowdy before Diarrhea Planet came out. Someone's friend named Tristan, I think, arrived; and the guys behind me all took up the chant of "Tris-Tan! Tris-Tan! Tris-Tan!" That eventually became "DIA-RRHEA! DIA-RRHEA!" and the band walked onstage showered by that chorus.
Then they started. And they pretty much did not stop for the length of their set. It was just a barrage. Song after song without a break. The crowd roiled behind me. Punching me in the spine. Pinning me against the stage as I tried to take pictures.
About halfway through the set, the stage divers -- seemingly egged on by the band, mostly by guitarist Mike Boyle -- started climbing onstage. One guy used my back and collar bone to give himself a boost. People were running up onstage, hugging members of the band, dancing. It was pandemonium. The crowd loved it. The band seemed to be loving it. I kinda loved it.
Diarrhea Planet played a little over an hour, I think. "Separations," "Ain't No Sin to Win," "Emmett's Vision," "Life Pass." Lots more. I wasn't taking notes.
I headed out to the street aching a little bit, looking like someone had just beaten the crap out of me -- which they kind of had -- and feeling pretty damn good about the whole evening. I'm probably getting too old for this kind of thing, but I hope I never feel that way.
Diarrhea Planet and Western Medication hit Bowery Ballroom tomorrow night, 10/6, with White Rope.
All the pics are up in the Flickr galleries.
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