REVIEW: Super Dark Collective Presents: Flatwounds, Senior Living, Moon Rules Apply and Torpedo Lane
01/24/25 @ No Fun, Troy
All photos by Debi Gustafson
“The concertgoers responded appropriately, lacing up their Converse and removing jackets, prepping for the formation of a mosh pit of windmilling arms and thrashing bodies, a theme that would repeat itself throughout the night.”
Fans of the post-hardcore scene were in for a treat at Troy’s No Fun January 24, with a stacked, four band line-up on the bill. The punk-grunge crowd showed up for Torpedo Lane, Moon Rules Apply, Senior Living and Flatwounds, ready to rock and mosh right from the start.
Torpedo Lane kicked off the night with a bang, warming up the crowd stat. They came in rocking heavy, but quickly followed with melodic, boppy vocals. The four person group is composed of Robby Storco on guitar and vocals, Chris Piccini on guitar, Gisela Barrett on bass and Dylan Galea on drums and vocals.
The Albany natives ripped through one song after another and showed the crowd they meant business. The concertgoers responded appropriately, lacing up their Converse and removing jackets, prepping for the formation of a mosh pit of windmilling arms and thrashing bodies, a theme that would repeat itself throughout the night.
Storco offered a melodic vocal range, paired with fierce facial expressions, showing the intensity Torpedo Lane pumps into translating their tunes into an invigorating performance.
The group announced that their next 518 show would be on March 8 at Empire Underground for the release of their upcoming EP. Despite being relatively new to the scene, the band seemed to already have fans of their own, singing along as they rocked.
Moon Rules Apply took the stage next, determined to make their first appearance in New York a memorable one. The Chicago native band is made up of Andre Holman (guitarist and vocalist), Logan Stogentin (bassist) and Ryan Weaver (drummer). They boasted a unique alternative rock sound, with resemblances of Pearl Jam. The trio also sported a heavy, grunge sound with echoing gruff vocals as a backdrop. Weaver’s electric energy on drums was eye-catching, as he seemed to never waiver from keeping such intense momentum that set the pace for each song. Each hit of the drum reverberated off the eardrum before bouncing about the room.
The other members also kept the energy at a high. Stogentin repped long locks of hair that accompanied each headbang, a notable look and vibe. What’s more, the bandmates were fully accustomed to their fun changes in tempo, swaying and rocking with each riff.
The moshing only picked up from there, and participants were getting sweaty but not deterred. Even as personal belongings were collecting in the middle, or thrown across the room – like someone’s glasses I caught – moshers were quick to lend a helping hand or phone flashlight.
The third band on the bill was Senior Living, another group of Albany natives. On drums is Jordan Demarest, who also contributes vocals and songwriting. Lead vocals, guitar and songwriting are sported by Zac Geddies and Aves is on bass.
Still following the post-hardcore trend of the previous bands, Senior Living also layered in a shoegaze undertone. They effortlessly transitioned from one song into the next with a dystopian reverb. The uniqueness of riffing a fast, hardcore punk sound before slowing things down and bringing the crowd back down to Earth is certainly not something all bands could pull off. But, Senior Living proved early on in their set that they had what it took. The chemistry between the performers and their respective instruments was apparent and necessary to rep the wide-range of sounds and genres packed into each moody song.
Even with a largely bandaged finger, Geddies led the group with ease and precision, not missing a beat. While a large mosh wasn’t exactly the vibe during Senior Living’s set, the audience was still energized and bouncing along to the vibes the performance had to offer.
Lastly Flatwounds, a four piece group from Albany, performed the final set of the night. Right off the bat, singer Colin O’Hare set the band’s intentions straight, stating that they were going to “throw down” and “get silly.” The rest of the rock band, consisting of guitarist Matt Degnan, bassist David Granger and drummer Wade Coonrad, followed suit, bringing high energy.
Throughout the performance, O’Hare, who flaunted a buzzcut with a dyed spiderweb shape, made fun banter with the crowd encouraging a mosh to form, to which it did, and even swallowed almost the entirety of the checkered floor at No Fun. O’Hare had a whiney yet husky, slightly Kurt Cobain sounding tone as he went about the stage.
Flatwounds teased new songs and spun the mic around to the crowd during more familiar ones, all before closing out the night with remarks about shopping local and cherishing safe spaces like No Fun and music scenes such as the one they find themselves involved in.
No Fun’s Friday night bill of heavy grunge, post-hardcore and alternative bands offered an individual experience with each performance. The artists brought their own sound and energy to the stage and laid it all out there for the members of the hardcore scene who packed in shoulder to shoulder, transporting the crowd somewhere far beyond the walls of No Fun.
