By: Emily Zemler
There’s a grand old debate over whether punk rock is dead. Although die-hards claim punk died in 1979 when most of the originals went defunct, dozens of today’s musicians still struggle to keep the spirit and the sound alive. But much of this “punk rock” feels contrived, particularly when the bands making it ride around on plush tour buses and yelp about being anti-establishment while major labels pour money into marketing their albums. Here’s where Philadelphia threesome the Loved Ones come in. Rather than try to be punk rock, the group, which formed in 2003 from the ashes of the revered Kid Dynamite, simply are. Singer Dave Hause’s coarse, world-weary vocals, tinged with a noticeable sense of desperation, meld with straightforward, three-chord riffs and percussive thump for an uncomplicated style of rock congruent with Strike Anywhere and the Bouncing Souls.
After releasing an EP on Jade Tree last year, the trio inked a deal with indie punk rock powerhouse Fat Wreck Chords to put out their debut full-length, Keep Your Heart. Listening to Hause howl on the subtly catchy “100K,” it’s hard to imagine that he started out a lowly merch guy for other bands. “You’ve ground your teeth down to the gums,” Hause chants. “Your eyes are bloodshot from staring at the sun.”
The Loved Ones are on the road throughout the spring, and Keep Your Heart is out now.
The Loved Ones tour dates:
3/3, Worcester, MA (The Palladium) 3/4, Cleveland, OH (House Of Blues)3/5, Chicago, IL (House Of Blues) (Two Shows: 6pm/11pm)3/7, Detroit, MI (Alvin’s)3/8, Kingston, PA (Backstage Enterprises) 3/9, Washington, DC (Black Cat Backstage)3/10, Richmond, VA ( Nanci Raygun)3/11, Asbury Park, NJ (Club Deep) 3/12, Philadelphia, PA (First Unitarian Church)3/17, Austin, TX (Emo’s)4/20, Denver, CO (Hi-Dive)4/22, Seattle, WA (The Paradox)4/23, Portland, OR (Food Hole)4/27, Seattle, WA (Che’ Caf�)4/28, Anaheim, CA (Chain Reaction)4/29, Berkeley, CA (924 Gilman Street)4/30, San Francisco, CA (Bottom Of The Hill)5/10, Calgary, AB (University Of Calgary)5/12, Winnipeg, MB (The Venue)5/16, Hamilton, OH (The Underground)5/18, Ottawa, ON (The Surface)5/19, Quebec City, QC (L’anti)
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