Punk Rock Ist...Tot?

Just when you thought that college campuses would be unable to handle any more scourges to their populations, with meningitis and date-rape rampant, a new scourge has reared its ugly head: severe, humorless sobriety.

Last night we found ourselves in the midst of a sedate and calm crowd of clean-cut, upstanding young college students at a co-ed mixer held in the HUB Ballroom, featuring the touring acts of the NME Rock 'n' Roll Riot Tour--Art Brut, The Blood Arm and The Hold Steady.

We don't want to be haters, really, but when the lead singer of one of the bands gets pissed at you for not getting into it, what are we supposed to say? You paid good money for this, kids. The fact that the energy in the room had edged up slightly by the end of the first set was owed exclusively to the fact that Art Brut is one of the hardest-working touring bands today and delivered a consistently hard-hitting set of dirty-punk pop songs.

This is our third Brut show (we've seen them every time they've hit Seattle save for Bumbershoot), and they've delivered every time. Admittedly, the HUB Ballroom's layout didn't permit for the rafter-diving finale we saw lead guitarist Ian Catskilkin perform at their last Neumo's appearance, but two years of touring has only honed their live skills. But all was more or less for naught.

Guitarist Jasper Future's repeated attempts to lead the audience into a clap led to a half-hearted following that soon evaporated. Argos got a small part of the audience chanting along to Brut-standard chant, "Art Brut! Top of the Pops!" And the only fist-pumping to go along with their catchy single "Direct Hit" was limp-wristed at best.

By the end of the show, Eddie Argos apologized for initially being so clearly pissed at the audience, then not-so-subtly encouraged them to partake of the liquor of which he's so fond next time they're in town. We heartily agree--has the UW been taken over by Bob Jones U.'s rejects? Loosen up, people. We felt bad for many of young women who actually had the guts to dance along to the music. Note to the guys: Don't leave the ladies hanging. Dancing is part of the magical coming-of-age ritual we like to refer to by the euphemism "seduction." We know girls are scary (apparently) at your age; get over it and show them a good time. Trust us--you won't regret it.

So, for all those who had the guts and gumption to rock out and dance: we salute you! As for the rest of the kids out there...maybe they were youth groups that showed up for The Hold Steady?

The video above features Eddie Argos of Art Brut doing a keg stand.