White Lung, Nu Sensae, Prison, and The Botherations

All Photos by Daniel Ahrendt

The last time White Lung almost played in Seattle, it would have been at Ballard’s 2 Bit Saloon. Very unfortunately, vocalist Mish Way somehow got second degree burns on her face and had to get medical attention. All appears right now as they’ve been touring the U.S with fellow Vancouver punks Nu Sensae. As ambassadors for one of the most active and inventive punk scenes on the continent at the moment, both groups excel at creating mutant-riot-grrl sonic thrash fests.  Think Bikini Kill with nuclear dark attitude and enhancements. Like huge lobster claws.

Sonically, everything was great from where the audience was standing. They sound pissed off and strong. Way’s monochromatic, shot gun yells were launched by the rail gun rhythm section of the bass and drums. The guitarist plays like a speed-addled telegraph machine or the world’s most perfectly inaccurate rifle. Gang of Four‘s Andy Gill should be proud and maybe a little jealous.

As good as White Lung’s set sounded, it lasted 25 minutes. As pissed off as their music sounds, it appeared that they were actually pissed off about something. No one in the band wanted to be there. While the audience was quite small, mostly comprised of other bands, their friends, and venue employees, the aggravation in Way’s voice seemed born from more than a small turnout. Maybe it had something to do with how fast the bands were playing their sets and how quickly they set up and tore down their equipment. Oh well. The tunes were good.

Nu Sensae produce an impressive amount of noise for two people with a drum kit and bass. If Death From Above 1979 had continued to play while still being at each other’s throats with the addition of more booze, you might get these guys. Swap out the four on the floor dance sensibility for a cancerous Germs-inspired snarl and you’d get even closer.

The award for most genial act of the night went to the Seattle garage punk three piece Prison. This band could so easily be a cartoon. The guitarist and vocalist is tall, lanky, and gab-filled. The bassist thrashed around in heels more capably than anyone I’ve ever seen play an instrument. The drummer wore a Slayer shirt and played equipment that was equal parts drum set and duct tape. Together they produced a rather conscious melding of garage punk and doom metal complete with headbanging breakdowns. Quite the treat.

Despite the show being over at 10:10 pm and the small crowd, the music was quite enjoyable. Here are some videos of…oh wait, my camcorder disappeared that night. If it ever finds its way back home, videos will pop up on SSG. Until then, here are some other people’s recordings of the bands at past shows.

Update 11/29/10: The prodigal HD Flip has come home. Instead of those videos taken by other people mentioned above, here are a few videos by yours truly.