Jeff Rosenstock Positively Rocks Columbus, Ohio: Review
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The post Jeff Rosenstock Positively Rocks Columbus, Ohio: Review appeared first on Consequence.
At this point, Jeff Rosenstock is something of an indie rock folk hero. He’s the Dave Grohl of the underground, the Johnny Appleseed of DIY punk circles, touring the country and planting good vibes and angsty tunes wherever he happens to set up shop. On Friday, April 5th, he rolled through Columbus, Ohio, to do just that, and judging by the number of giddy grins within the packed King of Clubs venue, it was a successful outing.
Dubbed “THE REVENGE OF JEFF ROSENSTOCK: FREE FROM DISEASE… IMPRISONED BY CAPITALISM!” tour, Rosenstock’s current run encompasses re-scheduled shows from his canceled 2023 tour, as well as a couple of extra stops… you know, as a treat. It’s another leg of album support for his great project from that year, Hellmode, and one that finds him accompanied by Philadelphia indie-rockers Gladie and one-woman show Sidney Gish. In other words, the bill boasts bangin’ guitar music from front to back.
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Gladie were first to take the stage, and as the clipart visual stated behind them, it was another amazing live performance from the band. The sound mixing in the room was a tad off, with the bass and toms bearing down on the rest of the band, but the songs of their excellent 2022 record Don’t Know What You’re in Until You’re Out are simply too well-written to be ruined a slightly unbalanced mix. Gish, for her part, charmed her way through her set, often building her songs piece by piece via a looper pedal. Powerhouse singles like “Presumably Dead Arm” and her cover of STRFKR’s “Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second” won over anyone not attending primarily for her (I talked to more than one of these).
By the time Rosenstock was set to take the stage, any mixing kinks had been worked out and the pit was ready to rage. As if he was anticipating such energy, Rosenstock came out swinging, walking out to System of a Down’s “Chop Suey” before picking up his guitar to finish the song alongside the track.
What followed was 20-plus high-energy rippers. As expected, Rosenstock leaned heavily on Hellmode, with nearly all of that record’s 11 tracks landing on the setlist. Old-heads, fear not, as the band pulled out plenty of fan favorites as well, from Worry.’s “Wave Goodnight to Me” to We Cool?’s “Nausea” to Ska Dream’s (!!) “Leave It in the Ska.”
What really sets Jeff Rosenstock shows apart is the genuinely accepting, deeply kind community. Whether it was the aging Millennial with whom I talked about local beer gardens as I walked in or the kid in his late teens moshing his heart out to “Festival Song,” any given attendee was simply stoked to be there. As soon as the doors opened, there was a palpable, contagious feeling of joy.
Such an environment is one Rosenstock has put conscious, constant effort into fostering. It starts with the music, of course, but everything from his social media posts to his merchandise puts his values front and center, and he’s not afraid to tell assholes to fuck off and don’t come back.
A few songs in, he encouraged the crowd members to greet those around them. After the meeting, he plainly and unambiguously asked everyone to take care of each other, that if someone is putting their hands where they don’t belong or generally stirring up trouble, to round up a couple of new friends and get that jabroni off of the premises. It’s an ask he makes of every crowd (listen to it captured on tape here), and it does wonders to keep everyone feeling safe and relaxed.
Good guy Rosenstock continued to address the crowd directly throughout the night, helping moshers find their lost possessions and expressing his gratitude again and again. And when he says “thanks,” it’s clear he means it. He might not be playing ska-punk in basements anymore, but he’s bringing the same ethos he had back then to these bigger clubs. If it weren’t for the eight-dollar beers and metal detectors, I might have forgotten I wasn’t at a house venue altogether.
Ultimately, it’s the best kind of party, one that’ll leave your shirt soaked in sweat, your face sore from smiling, and your hand beet-red from high-fiving all of your new buddies.
For more Rosenstock goodness, check out the list of 10 Fucking Cool Records Jeff Rosenstock Thinks Every Music Fan Should Own, as well as his most recent appearance on the In Defense of Ska podcast.
Jeff Rosenstock Positively Rocks Columbus, Ohio: Review
Jonah Krueger
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