Punk shows have their roots in skateboarding, house shows, one-night-only basement clubs, the feelings of rebellion and angst turning into music best listened to from a mosh pit. Alles Kapot (which translates to Everything is Broken) at Pier15 in Breda NL, honored those roots, but turned the formula upside down, holding this show upstairs, but the dark, smoky vibe was still there. So were skateboards, since Pier 15 is also a skatepark which was still occupied well into the night.
Florida Men kicked the party off, with distorted guitars tearing riff after riff paired with a fast beat on the drums. The calm and friendly crowd quickly changed into a sweaty mass of feet and fists. While the smoke machine turned the air from clear to foggy, the mood changed from placid to cathartic. The packed floor somehow found room to accommodate the most enthusiastic dancers. Then the music stopped and the house lights came on to show the same people smiling, laughing and hugging. As a former resident of Florida, and life-long punk kid, I approve.
After the break, Wet Sox came on like a freight train; sudden, loud, and imposing. Jelle van Dun, the lead singer, spent as much time on the floor as he did on the stage. While the enthusiastic throng needed little encouragement, they still got calls from Van Dun for circle pits, and van Dun crowd surfing. There was pushing, shoving, falls, spills, thrills, and a fan even fell onto the stage, knocking the guitarists wedge monitor onto the floor. As quickly as it had happened, he was pulled to his feet and another person placed the monitor back where it belonged, all without the music missing a beat. It was chaotic, but organized. It was frenzied, but friendly. There was pushing and shoving, but also camaraderie and care. Wet Sox embodies punk music, fighting the system with songs like “Lost at Home”, “I Need to Get Out”, and a throwback cover of “Break Stuff” from Limp Bizkit. They even paid homage to the iconic movie Home Alone with a christmas sweater straight out of their music video “I Need to Get Out” which coincided with Catharine O’Haras death on the date of the show.
After the headliner Wet Sox blew the roof off of Pier 15, there was a short break while the stage was reset for Captain Kaiser. This lulled me into thinking the Belgian act would be a wind down, and the first 30 seconds had me thinking I was right. Wrong. Within minutes, the floor was engulfed in dancing by the exhausted and intoxicated group, and fog. Lots of fog. Sascha Vansant, the lead singer, was in the crowd with his thousand-yard-stare, challenging fans and newcomers alike. I was wired for hours. The energy was still coursing through my veins, the sounds still ringing in my ears.
It didn't matter who you came to see, it was a party, and an event not to be missed. Beer was poured, drank, spilled. Heads were banged, or just lightly nodded along to the beat. There is no one way to enjoy punk music. At the end of the night, strangers have become friends, bruises are nursed, and another band's patch is added to your battle vest. Punk is alive and well. Are you ready to rock? Then don't miss the next time Florida Men, Wet Sox or Captain Kaiser come to a venue near you. And check out the upcoming shows at Pier 15