On January 13, 2015, Red Bull Sound Select put on quite the showcase at Baby's All Right in Brooklyn. And what a fun group of well-dressed punks were there!

Brooklyn-based Aye Nako was first. I don't know much about the band, but they were an enjoyable group of youngsters. The pop punk sound threaded throughout seemed like a work in progress, but they were definitely a well-suited opener.

The same cannot be said for Ryley Walker. Backed by an acoustic guitar and upright bass player, Walker clearly changed the vibe of the room. Sitting his whole set was an odd choice, allowing only the front couple rows a view of the singer/guitarist. I don't want to say it was bad because I'm sure someone somewhere in Brooklyn was looking for Walker's low-key, high-pitched shrieking. But they weren't at Baby's All Right Tuesday night.

There was a seismic shift in energy for Beach Slang. Admittedly, I had not heard Beach Slang until the beginning of this new year but have devoured their eight songs daily since. Oh, man, they did not disappoint. From the second James Snyder walked on stage in his schoolboy hat and coat, the band owned the crowd. The group had a heavy Replacements vibe, especially on sing alongs “American Girls and French Kisses” and “Punk or Lust.” Even playing only thirty minutes, Snyder had plenty of time to sprinkle in heartfelt anecdotes and, the real treat, a brand new song! 2014 was a hell of a year for Beach Slang, and if this show was any indication, then 2015 looks to be just as fruitful.

Hop Along closed out the night and was equally great. As much as I enjoyed Get Disowned, their live show was an entirely different beast. Not to be outdone by Ryley Walker, Frances Quinlan flaunted her own impressive wail. On more than one occasion, I found myself concerned with the lengths she was willing to take her vocal cords. Her voice ranged from a brutal rasp-yell to gentle cooing, often within the same verse. “Tibetan Pop Stars” was a noticeable highlight as well as the couple new songs they debuted. Before finishing, Quinlan opened up her very first can of Red Bull, maybe the only product placement of the night. *

If Redbull was trying to prove they know what's going to be big in 2015, this was a good way to start the year.



*There was the giant Redbull sign hung on the backdrop, but you have to expect that, right?