Once upon a time I saw Unsane open for Orange 9mm and Snapcase at The Stone Pony. I was out of my hawdcoah phase by then and solely there to have my eardrums assaulted by Unsane. 

They were loud. Duh. Too loud and unsane for the hardcore fans though, who kept harassing the band throughout the set. At one point the band pleaded to “just let us finish so we can pack up and go,” but the Jersey HC toughs kept plugging away, so the band launched into the most painful, dischordant rendition of what I think was the Star Spangled Banner I have ever heard. The hardcore kids (and by “kids” I mean bald, tattooed grown men who were probably once in a Biohazard video but now have comfortable jobs as plumbers apprentices in Edison, NJ) were fuming. They rushed the stage and tried to grab the guitars. The bouncers hauled ‘em back as they threatened to meet the band in the parking lot and kick their ass. 

The band finished the song and welcomed an ass kicking in the parking lot, as it was a NO RE-ENTRY venue, which would mean the HC tuffs wouldn’t be able to get back in to see Snapcase. 

I left the show after Unsane was done, loitering outside like Travis Bickle while the band loaded up their U-Haul to leave town. Walking to my car in the cold, salty air, I could hear Orange 9mm playing inside. 

I saw Unsane again one week later in Baltimore, a town that appreciated AmRep immensely. The reception was warmer, to say the least.

(Source: pitchfork)