All the Things We Love About Punk Music

By Diane Miller
Music Editor

From the same genre that brought us the Sex Pistols and the Clash – the promotion of anarchy, chunky guitar playing, and the fashion of Mohawks, spiked leather coats, and black fingernail polish – comes a band from Minneapolis called Off With Their Heads (OWTH). These hardcore Midwesterners bring together all the things we love about punk music through their individual personalities and attitudes that fit the genre to the razor sharp T.

Since forming in 2002, OWTH has released numerous EP’s, been featured on hot compilations, toured internationally, and has cycled through many different members to get where they are today. It got its biggest break touring with Against Me in 2009. During that tour, the president of Epitaph, Brett Gurewitz, contacted the band and it soon signed to the same label that houses quintessential alternative rock bands like Rancid, Alkaline Trio, and Weezer. Gurewitz says “Off With Their Heads might be the best punk band going right now, Epitaph needs them; music needs them,” according to the band’s website.

The band members are clearly influenced by punk from the late nineties/early 2000s, when the genre dominated the alternative scene. In fact, they sound just like the bands that came out of that era. To refresh our memories, it was the same time when the Warped Tour was THE alternative music festival to attend – before, mind you, it became accessible to teenage girls with bands like Simple Plan and Good Charlotte, which killed its “coolness.”

For one thing, their music pays respect to what they love, even if it is not the only style of music they listen to. Ryan Young, the lead singer, is also a fan of Alison Krauss, Arcade Fire, Eminem, and The Flaming Lips, to name a few. Who would have guessed?

As a performer, Young is engaging and full of life. His songwriting abilities allow listeners to be able to sing/scream along with the band, whether it is at a show or inside a car. If you have never sung along to punk, I highly recommend it. It feels incredible. My personal favorite sing-a-long punk tunes include Against Me’s “We Laugh At Danger and Break All the Rules” and Tilt’s “Old School Pig”.

OWTH is straight out of moshers’ and head-bangers’ dreams. Young has a wicked, powerful voice – think a mix between Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, the back up vocalists of Rancid, and Tim Barry of Avail. The singer does everything he can to not sound cute or beautiful, instead using a “tough-and-full-of-rage” dynamic with emotional lyrics to express personal and social issues. And the instrumentation is just what you’d expect from a punk band – fast paced, muted power chords in repeated rhythms during the verse, strung out chords during the chorus, and a build up of energy throughout.

Being in the crowd of a punk show means you can let loose because not a single person will judge you for throwing your body around at others, letting your fist fly in the air, and screaming back at the band. In fact, it is encouraged! Watch the band’s video for their hit song “Drive” on Youtube and see for your own eyes, or just come to the show at the Aquarium on November 29th and experience it first hand!

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IF YOU GO
WHAT: Off With Their Heads Performs
WHERE: The Aquarium
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 29th at 10:00pm
COST: 7$