It’s been a while since Providence native Jon Dwyer and San Francisco garage noise punks Thee Oh Sees have been in The Creative Capital. I’m pretty sure the last time they played in town they were ripping apart an Olneyville DIY spot roughly seven years ago. On November 15, the setting was a bit more refined as Thee Oh Sees took the stage at Aurora on Westminster Street and headlined a stacked bill put together by Wolfstuff Presents. Joining the fray were local sludgy surf punks Gymshorts, southern psych fiends Holy Wave and Aussie jangle punks Straight Arrows. It was a show that promised to be one of the best shows of 2016 and it definitely lived up to the billing.
Gymshorts kicked things off to an energetic start as people were filling in toward the stage. They started off with “Copy Cat” and the crowd was immediately captivated. Halfway through “Bed(Stuy)” Sarah Greenwell grabbed the mic and got right in the audience’s collective faces during a song that had multiple breakdowns. A new song titled “Ding Dong Ditch” was a rager packed full of fury while the rebellious “Hey Parents!” finished off the set. Since their start in 2013, Gymshorts has managed to do the unthinkable and musically grow as a band despite multiple lineup changes, and it showed during the performance.
A more recent addition to the lineup was El Paso, Texas, psych rock act Holy Wave. They were coming through on a fall tour to conclude a year that included their latest release, Freaks Of Nuture, that came out in February. The quintet’s rhythmic tone had the attendees in a trance. People were getting excited and amped for the rest of the evening as these southern groove masters brought a cool vibe. Holy Wave’s performance was a welcome surprise and their stage presence was magnificent.
After the switch-around of instruments, Straight Arrows, all the way from Sydney, made their presence felt with their unique take on punk rock. The audience was definitely in the mood to dance, and the steady beats and jangly chord progressions of Straight Arrows’ songs made it easy to bust a move. Their performance made emotions rise, and it was the perfect way to get people ready to see the dynamics of Thee Oh Sees.
Moments later, Dwyer, Tim Hellman, Ryan Moutinho, and Dan Rincon took things over and pandemonium ensued. The band’s noisy, shoegazy and psychedelic garage punk sound had the whole room moving from side to side. It was one giant mosh pit in the center of the floor and people were bumping into each other as if they were bumper cars at an amusement park. It was a Jameson-fueled performance that electrified the night.
It was a wonderful time at one of the coolest spots in Providence. Aurora has delicious cocktails and a wide variety of beers, and the sound quality is impeccable. Grab Thee Oh Sees’ latest album, A Weird Exits, and their upcoming release, An Odd Entrances, that’ll be out on November 18. Then go see them live when they roll through your town. It’ll be an unforgettable experience.
Thee Oh Sees Website: theeohsees.com