Last Friday, some friends and I decided to go to a show at a bar none of us had ever heard of, to see a band only one of us had. After slugging down some Mexican food and margaritas (as per usual) we unsuspectingly arrived at Whistle Stop, a locomotive-themed bar in South Park, San Diego. Upon first glance, the venue seemed like most of its kind for local shows: dim lighting, oversized disco ball, sticky floors and cheap Long Island Iced Teas. We nodded our heads to the opening band, and then took our places for the second. What came next absolutely blew our minds.
Film photos by @curly_foo on IG
Upchuck, a rising hardcore band from Atlanta, Georgia took the stage. Lead guitarist Mikey, rhythm guitarist Hoff, bassist Armando and drummer Chris emerged first without announcement. Lead vocalist KT followed, donning a shaved head and oversized overalls that emulated nonchalance. Slyly leaning into the mic, she declared “Alright, let’s fucking go.”
The pit immediately cracked wide open, and within seconds I had been slammed into a table several feet behind me. I knew then it was going to be an incredible set. Unfortunately, I had badly sprained my wrist a couple of days prior, and couldn’t think of an effective means of moshing without putting it at further risk. So very not punk of me, I know. I slinked to the back of the crowd, but luckily my height (see my previous tall girl article lol) granted me a clear view. The Atlanta quintet went on to perform their debut album “Upchuck”, an ode to the disaffected, disempowered yet effervescent spirit of youth. Encouraging listeners to “Boss Up” and break free of their societal constraints, each track exploded with passion and rage. KT immersed herself in the pit, impressively moshing and delivering sludgy hardcore vocals simultaneously. Gooey and expressive basslines from Armando evoked 90s grunge, while Mikey and Hoff on guitar fused electric rock and blues elements into Upchuck’s overall genre-bending sound. Chris’ coarse and redoubtable drumming served as the perfect heartbeat for a body of music that is actively reshaping the social and musical boundaries of punk.
Having recently toured with The Paranoyds and Amyl and the Sniffers, Upchuck are well on their way to the publicity and recognition they deserve. With no formal marketing team and limited social media presence, their music speaks for itself and needs no introduction. The talent, hard work and creative vision required for this kind of musical success only surfaces a few times per generation. As the band’s prodigious set concluded last week, my friends and I agreed it was one of the best shows we had seen all year. If you’ve ever wished you were around for the early days of punk or miss when music wasn’t a product of for-profit corporate interests, do yourself a favor and check out Upchuck. Their revolutionary spirit and undeniable raw talent is sure to take the world by storm.
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