(Tom Thacker of Gob, trying to get the kids upstairs to keep the noise down. © 2009 Josh Lavoie.)
With rock music today dominated by indie bands and Nickelback clones, many people have been led to believe that punk is dead. Though resurgent in the early 90s with bands like Green Day and The Offspring, the scene certainly isn’t as vibrant and visible as it once was. Fortunately, seminal Vancouver punks Gob march on with tremendous vigor and energy, erasing any doubts about what the genre has to offer. Friday’s show at The Biltmore was no exception.
Following openers Burn Hollywood Burn and Theset, Gob burst onto the stage with an authority earned by 15 years in punk rock. Starting with “Prescription” from their latest album Muertos Vivos, they instantly set the tone for an eager audience accosting them with the energy of a six-year-old deviant child tearing through Mom’s stash of Bailey’s chocolates. Their signature distortion and aggressive vocal harmonies bombarded the punters at unspeakable volumes, causing 6’5” heavily-pierced and tattooed veterans to wince in response, but it was exactly what they came for. Fans of older material soon got what they came for as the band played “No Regrets” from The World According to Gob and “B Flat” from Ass Seen on TV.
(Theo Goutzinakis calmly explaining how much his head hurts and how he'd gladly kill someone -- ANYONE -- for drugs. © 2009 Josh Lavoie.)
Following openers Burn Hollywood Burn and Theset, Gob burst onto the stage with an authority earned by 15 years in punk rock. Starting with “Prescription” from their latest album Muertos Vivos, they instantly set the tone for an eager audience accosting them with the energy of a six-year-old deviant child tearing through Mom’s stash of Bailey’s chocolates. Their signature distortion and aggressive vocal harmonies bombarded the punters at unspeakable volumes, causing 6’5” heavily-pierced and tattooed veterans to wince in response, but it was exactly what they came for. Fans of older material soon got what they came for as the band played “No Regrets” from The World According to Gob and “B Flat” from Ass Seen on TV.
(Theo Goutzinakis calmly explaining how much his head hurts and how he'd gladly kill someone -- ANYONE -- for drugs. © 2009 Josh Lavoie.)
Shortly after dimming the lights for a grand total of five seconds, Gob reappeared from the darkness for their “encore”. The sing-along heavy second half, driven forward by excessive volumes, kicked audience participation into high gear. Tracks like “Beauville” and “You’re Too Cool”, belted out by singers Theo and Tom, were echoed by the Vancouver band’s hometown crowd at the top of their lungs. Truly a dedicated group, it was an impossibility to find someone not singing along. Their dedication was rewarded as the band rounded out their set with “I Hear You Calling” (of EA Sports NHL 2002 fame) and the classic skate punk anthem “Soda”. Whether or not they’re oblivious to the changes in the music scene or they just don’t give a flying fuck is irrelevant. Gob delivered an incredible, high-energy set covering 15 years of their own musical progression and not a single fan went home wanting, save for maybe some cotton to wad into their bleeding, satisfied ears.
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