The Hemlock in San Francisco has been host to some of the best shows this photographer has ever seen. Victory and Associates and Hurry Up Shotgun kept true to this fact.
This was the first show for Victory and Associates but old hat to the players involved. Comprised of ex-members from Mount Vicious, Replicator, Ned, Ghost to Atom, Radio Crimes, My Sunny Disposition - you get the picture. These fellows are no stranger to the rock. This is yet another project for frontman Conan Neutron who, on the heels of releasing the anti-Rove compilation Courage and Consequence: The Unabridged Audio, must have had one more thing to get off his chest. And that he did. Victory and Associates have all the flavors of the best anthemic rock while leaving behind the synthetic lyrics and sophomoric dressings that usually go along with such song writing. The song Thousandaire tells you with unabashed mockery, "you may doubt my success but baby I'm a thousandaire. Millions can bring the bummer but man I could hardly care. I am not much for preaching but lethargy's a sin. Don't just prepare to lose you must prepare to win". Couple this with big crowd pleasing guitar riffs, smart drumming and an urge to fist pump and you get a resounding win all around. If Cheap Trick got into a car crash with Danzig while listening to the song Kids in America, you might end up with Victory and Associates.
Hurry Up Shotgun - photo - Shannon Corr
Hurry Up Shotgun have a way of exuding nervous energy. They cut through piercing angles and parts that wrap back around themselves. Not too much math but just enough to keep the music geeks happy and not turn away the average listener. Singer/guitarist Austin Pitts reaches up high in his register to a beautiful pitch that gives comfort but keeps the edge sharp. Clever arrangements and plenty of dynamic layers. When they start the claps at the beginning of Ship up for Sail you'll be instantly hooked and on board for the trip. If Chavez beat up Husker Du by hitting them with bats they stole from Steve Albini, Hurry Up Shotgun might be the outcome.
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