Throwaway Generation pleases punk fans
The house lights dimmed, the hot colored spot lights ignited and people who hadn’t known each other before crowded closer to dance and watch the original line-up of Throwaway Generation, Mike the Janitor and At Fault last Friday, in Hyrum.
Throwaway Generation has played together for more than five years, said drummer Drew Smith.
Smith said they started playing “basically to have fun, let out teen angst, and express ourselves. Punk rock is a genre that fits very well with teenage frustration.”
For a punk band in Cache Valley, trying to find a place to play can be frustrating, Harris said.
For a while, punk shows have been held in Hyrum at the South Cache Center, about half an hour outside of Logan City.
“We’re just grateful. This is the only place in town that’s come up in a while.
Doing this for so long, you see so many places that start up and shut down. It’s hard for a small town to keep live music going,” Smith
said.
Shane Harris, lead singer and guitarist, said Throwaway Generation has never played at Utah State University, but they would like to.
Smith said another frustration was low turnout at the events.
“It’s hard to get people out to shows. It’s hard to get them to see local bands,” Smith said.
But despite the frustrations, Harris said he likes being a small-town band.
“It’s cool. We’re the only ones. We haven’t got any competition,” Harris said.
Throwaway Generation has had quite a bit of success outside of Cache Valley. They did an East Coast tour and are scheduled to go to Seattle during Spring Break.
Larsen provided excellent vocals, proving that it’s all right to sing in tune if you’re a punk band. Between Harris and guitarist Bryce Larsen, an adrenal wall of sound shook everyone to the core as they danced and bopped their heads to the pure punk energy. Bassist Dave Morse and drummer Smith kept it steady and tight all the way through the set, as well as showing off a bit when appropriate.
Throwaway Generation had its show together, and everybody knew it.
They came out with all the confidence and power that one expects from a top-notch punk band.
It was extremely hard not to like anything they did, because it was performed so well and delivered so energetically. It was definitely worth the $5 entrance fee.
That’s not even taking into consideration the two opening bands.
The first band of the evening was At Fault from Salt Lake City.
They’re an extremely entertaining band that had songs ranging in subjects from love handles to baldness.
They called their music different names. At one time claiming it was “bald-core” punk – making a pejorative reference to the fact that the two guitarists were both losing their hair.
At Fault had brought really great guitar work and some pretty funny jokes, setting a good tone for the rest of the night. They were followed by Mike the Janitor, one of the oldest bands around. They date back to when there used to be shows in the Whittier Center.
Every punk fan remembers those days with longing.
Mike the Janitor came out donning Krispy Kream doughnut hats and kicked off their set with some good solid punk. At times, they sounded a bit like the Stray Cats on speed. The trio did a good job keeping the energy level high for the crowd.
In the end, the show rocked, pure and simple.