Images: Bomb the Music Industry!, Hard Pipe Hitters August 20, 2012 (house show)

When I think about the Vegas music scene from when I was in high school I realize how unknowingly spoiled I was. For one, there were more than one venue at a time hosting smaller, all-ages shows. For another, house shows were a regular occurrence. I could count on at least one every weekend and it was a great way to see bands, catch up with friends and make new ones. Plus house shows always have free ins and outs! What a deal. Lately the house show scene has been making a much-needed comeback and to my delight, this was the way I was able to finally see one of my favorite bands live – New York’s punk/ska collective Bomb the Music Industry!

I came close to missing this show due to personal issues, so by the time I got to the home, openers Hard Pipe Hitters were already on “stage” – in this case a small space in the backyard with a slight drum riser. And there was a tented canopy to block out the setting sun so take that, “big sunscreen!” If you haven’t heard the ‘Hitters yet then you’ve been missing out on one of the most fun local bands in town. They play a fast, aggressive style of punk rock that isn’t far removed from older Leftöver Crack or Rancid’s self-titled 2000 album and they succeeded in whipping up a cloud of dust through the pit they inspired.

Bomb the Music Industry! was next, starting their set with “The First Time I Met Sanawon” from their Adults!!!: Smart!!! Shithammered!!! And Excited by Nothing!!!!!!! mini-album and the crowd immediately squeezed as close as possible to sing along with BTMI mastermind Jeff Rosenstock. Someone who seemed to be in charge (the homeowner, perhaps?) aggressively and unwarrantedly adopted a “bouncer at a corporate venue” cosplay by shoving everyone back as the band went into “493 Ruth.” But a confused Rosenstock quickly invited everyone right back up to keep on singing by the time he got to the particularly cathartic line “I could never understand why people can’t begin again.”

The band – which also included John DeDomenici on bass, Mike Costa on drums and Tom Malinowska on guitar – did a great job working in tracks from across their extensive catalog. Rosenstock traded his guitar for the keys on dancy track “I Don’t Love You Anymore” from 2007’s Get Warmer and the whole crowd was invited to sing the refrain as he held the mic into the audience for “25!!!” from 2009’s Scrambles.

Some of the biggest responses, however, came from the band’s latest, my favorite album of 2011, Vacation. “Hurricane Waves,” “Can’t Complain” and especially first single “Everybody You Love” were delivered to great fanfare – which in this case meant crowdsurfing across the small yard. I was worried going into the show that it would be shut down early by the police but to my happy surprise it actually ran a bit later than expected due to the band succumbing to requests for an encore.

Shortly before the Vegas date, Bomb the Music Industry! announced that they would be retiring from touring. The sadness this brings is only quelled by the fact that I finally got to see them live, and that the show was as good as it was. The vibe was positive, the band played amazingly and I left feeling a whole lot happier than I did going in. BTMI may be gone, but I hope that house shows of this kind can become a fixture here once more.

-Emily Matview | https://www.flickr.com/photos/holdfastnow/