Old Man Markley / Cobra Skulls

live in Minneapolis (2011)

MN_DrNick

Sept. 28 at the Triple Rock was supposed to have two separate shows, but due to Cobra Skulls running late the two were combined together. So that night (on Free Bacon Wednesday), the powers that be had Minneapolis have a show with the Cobra Skulls and Nothington tour combine with Old Man Markley and Pretty Boy Thorson and the Fallen Angels show for one of the best nights I ever had in Minneapolis.

To start off the show were two local bands from the Twin Cities: the Scurvies and Written Off. Not bad at all. The Scurvies were very influenced by '70s punk in their sound. Written Off were more of a country kinda punk band. Check them out when you get the chance.

Next up was Pretty Boy Thorson and the Fallen Angels. For those that don't know, this is Jesse Thorson's old band, which is pretty much a country-punk band. He now does his musical output through the Slow Death, more on the Midwest pop-punk side of things. It's been a while since I've seen these guys and they put on a fun ass show. Jesse had his usual banter. The band was pretty much playing their best show that I've seen them do in a few years, even if they don't do shows a whole lot together anymore. Pretty much the whole band was having fun, which I honestly don't remember them having when I saw them last. Jay from Nothington came onstage in a penguin costume at the end for Thorson to serenade. More than likely the highlight of the show.

Nothington came up next. I was up front with a few friends ready to rock. Jay even asked me before they started if I was ready to rock. And the band was on fire that night. They ripped through the set in 30 minutes, playing different songs from each of their three albums. And of course at the end "Where I Stand" was played and the mic was given to the crowd. Thorson came back to help sing along (which earlier he said the song sounded like Foghorn Leghorn was singing).

Cobra Skulls was up next and were great as always. They did three songs from Agitations right away and then went through the rest of the set doing the rest of their material. Devin sounded great on vocals (although not as rough like on Agitations). The band didn't miss a single note and had a solid 30-minute set, which felt too short. But still… the set was so great even me, overweight and out of shape, was in the pit for half the set.

To finish the night off was Cobra Skulls' label mates Old Man Markley. They were fantastic. Great live band with their bluegrass punk (honestly though, I hear little punk in their sound). They did a cover of Dillinger Four's "Folk Song" and Screeching Weasel's "Science Of Myth." Just a great way to end the night.

So this is more than likely going to go down as the best punk show I went to this year outside of a fest setting. All the bands were great that night, and of course…. FREE BACON!!