Joe Casey of Protomartyr, performing live at Off Broadway. Photo by Laura Jerele.
w/ Vinny Moonshine
On June 24th, Off Broadway welcomed the triumphant return of post-punk revivalists Protomartyr. It was one of the best turnouts I had seen at the South City venue in recent memory, with the band’s passionate fanbase showing up in full force in spite of the sweltering midsummer heat. Protomartyr had previously played Off Broadway in November, and many in last week’s crowd had attended that show as well.
The evening kicked off with a set from Vinny Moonshine, an indie pop artist and longtime friend of the members of Protomartyr, all of whom are based in Detroit. Vinny instantly brought to mind Suicide’s Alan Vega, both in the minimalism of his stripped-down synthpop music and their shared fondness for wearing sunglasses indoors. Despite the superficial similarities, his music is quite distinct from other lo-fi synthpop artists, with samples of reggae and lounge music spliced between the minimal chord progressions and Moonshine’s warbling, off-key vocals. His set was an offbeat and relaxing contrast to the comparatively intense act that followed.
The room was packed wall-to-wall by the time Protomartyr took to the stage. Since forming in 2012, this band has remained at the forefront of modern post-punk bands due to the reliable quality of their releases, the most recent addition being Formal Growth in the Desert, released on June 2nd. As is the case with the band’s other releases, this album finds them making incremental refinements to their established sound rather than engaging in wild experimentation, an approach that has contributed to the band’s reputation for consistency and their enduring appeal.
Protomartyr has also developed a significant following on the basis of their live performances, the centerpiece of which is the unique stage presence of vocalist Joe Casey. His unassumingly “ordinary” appearance, always sporting a suit with a beer in hand, brings to mind David Thomas of the pioneering post-punk band Pere Ubu, with Casey generally looking like someone you’d expect to be selling Buick LeSabres in a used car lot rather than fronting a punk band.
“It’s hot outside, why the hell did I wear a suit today? Anyways, here’s a song about my mom,” said Casey as he introduced “The Author,” one of the songs from their latest album.
Protomartyr’s set consisted of the bulk of Formal Growth in the Desert, as well as many fan-favorite songs from throughout their discography. In addition to the band’s core lineup (vocalist Casey, guitarist Greg Ahee, bassist Scott Davidson, and drummer Alex Leonard), they were also joined by Kelley Deal, best known for her work with The Breeders, a band she fronted with her twin sister Kim Deal of Pixies fame. Deal previously collaborated with the band on their song “Wheel of Fortune,” the performance of which was one of the highlights of the evening’s set.
“We’ve got two more songs, and then we’re going to go backstage for about 60 seconds, depending on how loud you clap,” vocalist Casey said when introducing “Wheel of Fortune,” to applause. “Jesus, save it until we leave!”
Despite the brutal heat (offset by the air conditioning and fans throughout the venue), the crowd was energized and eager to move to the punchy, angular rhythms. There were both seasoned Protomartyr fans and new converts in attendance.
“I’m pretty sure my first show [at Off Broadway] was Protomartyr last fall… I’ve been going here ever since then,” said Bryce of West St. Louis County. “They’re definitely my favorite band, especially after that show. I went and saw them in Chicago after that. Definitely my favorite live act.”
“It wasn’t as hot as it was in there when they played in November, so I felt like they had a lot more energy then. It’s not like they didn’t have energy tonight, but they were more focused tonight. Whereas the last time it was a pretty wild show.”
“My partner’s really into [Protomartyr], so they showed me them,” said Maddie of South City, who had not listened to much of the band before last week’s show. “I really like them a lot, but they’re way better live. I’ll definitely be listening to more of their records for sure.”
Both commented on the unique, offbeat charisma of Joe Casey.
“He has one of the most unique stage presences I’ve ever seen,” said Bryce. “I’m trying to think of a way to describe it… Like a funeral parlor director. He kind of reminds me of George Costanza’s depressed cousin.”
“The lead singer’s really good,” said Maddie. “He has a very, I wouldn’t say energetic, but he has a very bold stage presence.”
Protomartyr recently wrapped up their current North America tour with a performance at Thalia Hall in Chicago on July 13th. After taking a break from touring for a few weeks, they will embark on a months-long European tour, playing over a dozen countries between August and November. | David Von Nordheim
