An evening full of talented Denver punk acts awaited attendees at Program Council’s most recent concert in Club 156. This past Saturday, I ventured up from the basement of the UMC to check out the show.
First to take the stage was Loretta Kill, a three-piece that played a tight set. The three members seemed unfazed by the small number of audience members—at this point in the night there were only about ten people in attendance—and delivered songs encompassing teen angst with elements from classic punk acts. I even found myself drawing similarities to Green Day at some points in the set. Loretta Kill closed out their set with a cover of Nirvana’s “Territorial Pissings” followed by a somewhat unnecessary theatrical display of collapsing on the stage and smashing guitars.
Up next was Princess Dewclaw, the only group I was familiar with going in and the one I was personally most excited to see. They played a fantastic set featuring both new songs and tracks from their “Teenage Werewolf” EP which was released via First Base Tapes back in December. The five-piece plays a unique brand of punk that blends screams of girl power with a synthy, spooky backdrop. One of the standout highlights in the set was a long, droning new track that felt almost hypnotizing; and as always, the band let everything loose on “Walk of Shame.” Amanda Gostomski’s presence as lead singer was as interesting to watch as ever, and all five band-members truly showcased their raw energy and talent.
Finally, it was time for The Beeves. More people had shown up by this point, so the venue was fairly full compared to earlier. The band launched right in to an endearingly theatrical ska-punk set that was all their own. They were well-rehearsed, leaping around on stage in orchestrated motion. The Beeves were riotous and goofy, effortlessly blending their classic punk influences with folk and reggae to create a distinctive sound. Bringing a refreshing dose of fun to their genre while showing effortless stage presence, The Beeves rounded out the evening’s talents immensely well.
By Hannah Morrison