Review - Refused, The Hives, The Bronx @ The Warfield - 4/18/2012

Photo by scottyfp

A couple months ago, I sat in the online waiting room on my work computer, hoping for the “best seat available” for Refused’s reunion show at the Warfield located in San Francisco’s beautiful Tenderloin district.  I wasn’t alone in the anticipation as tickets sold out in 3 minutes.  Fast forward to Wednesday, April 18.  Most of my friends got floor tickets, but I was all by my lonesome with a front row lower loge seat – which turned out to be one of the best seats in the house, so I didn’t really mind being alone up there.

My favorite current punk band, The Bronx, opened the night with ferocity, blasting through a short (too short) set with their 10 years worth of vigorous punk rock n roll – even playing a new one about a rabbit.  Hardcore. It was refreshing to see the proper Bronx destroy since lately it seemed that their mariachi version had taken over.  Singer Matt Caughthran was in good spirits as usual, jumping into the crowd for a little mosh and scream, of which I had a great view in my lower balcony seat.  Down in the pit, he just seemed like another enthusiastic mosher, and from the crowd surfing he was doing during Refused’s set, that’s exactly what he is: a fan.  The band moved around more than I remember, and you could tell they were genuinely stoked to be a part of such a special night.  What a perfectly kick ass way to open the show.

And the ass kicking continued with the next act, Sweden’s own, The Hives.  Decked out in top hat tuxedos, the band played hit after hit from their 20 year catalogue of rock n roll.  Singer Howlin’ Pete’s “holier than thou” comedic banter is at times hilarious, at times annoying.  But all in all, The Hives are a fun fun band to watch.  Pete told the crowd that back in the 90’s, “Before Christ”, they used to play shows with Refused back in Sweden.  Even though I prefer The Bronx’s music over The Hives, they still put on a lively, entertaining set and were a great fit as support for their Swedish comrades. 

As soon as The Hives left the stage, an “ominous drone” (thanks for that, Jake) took over the house PA.  The creepy ambiance continued as the curtains closed, and kept on droning as those red curtains reopened about 15 minutes later, to reveal a giant black screen.  Droning continues.  Lights slowly get brighter and brighter, illuminating the screen that now clearly reads, REFUSED in large capital letters.  The light shines through the word with the power of the sun, brightness that is almost blinding.  The drone stops and a voice says, “Worms of the Senses.  Faculties of the Skull.”  Then the screen/curtain falls and Refused are unveiled, exploding into the announced song with Dennis Lyxzen screaming  the first lines, “I’ve got a bone to pick with capitalism/ and a few to break!”  I’ve never seen a crowd so excited.  I’m not so sure I’ve ever been so excited.  It’s been 14 years, and they are back in full force.  So much energy, so well played.  They sounded just about perfect.  I felt like I was a part of something special, something historic – and so did Dennis Lyxzen who told the crowd how surreal this all was.  And it was.

The set ended with an encore that included crowd favorite, “New Noise” which brought the floor into such a frenzy that no one was left standing still, and very few were left seated in the balcony.  The ocean of fans below looked more like a violent sea storm, one giant mosh pit.  I could feel the overhang of the balcony bounce which was both disconcerting and thrilling at the same time.  The band closed with “Tannhauser/Derive” which asks, “So where do we go from here?”  Good question, Refused.  I truly hope the answer has something to do with Lyxzen’s final statement to “stay wild, stay fucking hungry.”  Please take your own advise, Dennis.  Keep this band alive, keep touring.  Because Refused are still an incredible live act that everyone should witness.