CRO-MAGS TAKE THEIR (JAM) ON THE ROAD
Late last December, I braved some bitter winter weather to catch NYHC pioneers Cro-Mags play an almost intolerably crowded gig at Andrew W.K.’s Santos Party Haus. And boy, was it worth it! With original vocalist John Joseph and drummer Mackie Jayson, alongside members of Leeway and Sick Of It All, the current incarnation–previously touring as Cro-Mags(Jam)–ripped through so many classic Age Of Quarrel cuts to the evident delight of a flailing, furious crowd of devotees. Thanks to the Intarwebz (and a courageous soul willing risk injury to record it), you can actually watch a full set from a couple days prior in Philadelphia here. But even such great footage isn’t the same as actually experiencing the band live. Well, thankfully, many of you will get the chance now that a number of Cro-Mags gigs have been announced.
It all kicks off later this month in Florida, where up-and-coming locals The Attack (read: not Attack!Attack!) will open two dates in Orlando and Miami respectively. A week later, Cro-Mags make their way up to Baltimore (which will hopefully have dug itself out of the recent Snowpocalypse) for an aptly named “Legends of NYHC” show with Killing Time (whose new record is now out on Dead City). Most of the remaining dates include melodic hardcore headliners H20 and openers Alpha & Omega. Though not yet confirmed, I doubt I’m speculating too wildly when I say that their “special headlining appearance” scheduled for May 15th in New York will be at the annual Black N Blue Superbowl Of Hardcore happening that date at Webster Hall. (Joseph all but announced their involvement from the stage at the show I went to back in December.) Once these dates are wrapped, Cro-Mags will regroup in May to record a brand new fucking album!
Feb 26 Orphium in Tampa, FL
Feb 27 Backbooth, Orlando, FL (w/ The Attack, The Angst)
February 28 Churchills Pub, Miami, FL (w/ The Attack)
March 6 Sonar, Baltimore, MD (LEGENDS OF NYHC w/ Killing Time, Inmates, Set to Explode)
March 10 The Clubhouse, Tempe, AZ (w/ Alpha & Omega, Life In Chains, Out For Revenge)
March 11 Chain Reaction, Anaheim, CA (w/H2O, Alpha & Omega)
March 12 Chain Reaction, Anaheim, CA (w/H2O, Alpha & Omega)
March 13 Thee Parkside, San Francisco, CA (w/H2O, Alpha & Omega)
March 14 Thee Parkside, San Francisco, CA (w/H2O, Alpha & Omega)
-GS
[Gary Suarez usually manages the consistently off-topic No Yoko No. He recently quit Twitter.]
