Concert Review: shame (Motorco Music Hall)

BY MARK DOLEJS

shame brought the fun to Motorco Music Hall and their fans were quite appreciative Wednesday night. I think the fans were just as sweaty as the band was, after rolling around in the crowded mosh pit that sprung up multiple times during the show.

This South London post-punk band’s set was really tight and the energy was incredible on songs like "Tasteless," "Six-Pack," and "One Rizla." Both guitarists, Eddie Green and Sean Coyle-Smith, are highly skilled and blistered through the night, tune by tune.

But, like any good punk band, bassist Josh Finery carries shame on his back providing the heartbeat through songs like "The Lick" and "Burning by Design." Finery breaks out of his unassuming demeanor, and kicks ass on the chords, thrashing about from song to song.

Front man Charlie Steen engages the audience from the very start, often encouraging the crowd to come closer to the stage. He did this for a song early in their set. After first standing on the tops of shoulders of fans while belting out lyrics, and then proceeded out into the audience for a bit of crowd surfing.

Like a stiptease show, Steen started unbuttoning his shirt, a couple of buttons at a time, during the first couple of songs. He finally ripped off his shirt to the cheers of the crowd. Drummer Charlie Forbes also got shirtless after several songs, while keeping the beats behind the drum set.

The crowd was great for this show, even the old geezers like myself were dancing and moshing with the mostly younger crowd.

shame started their current US and Canada tour at the Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta and have a total of 20 shows running through the first week of June. Several of the 17 songs in their set were from their newly released record, Food for Worms, which was released in late February. Check it out, it’s good stuff!

[message]

MARK DOLEJS

Photography is an avenue that Mark Dolejs uses to learn about the people and places that cross his path. After more than 30 years as a photojournalist, Mark enjoys concert, macro, and roadside photography. Follow Mark on Instagram at @solidrockpix.

Read Mark's posts here.