On Friday, July 20, 2012, Boston was in for a once in a lifetime treat. Refused, the Swedish hardcore band that created uniquely explosive nonconformist tunes, performed.
In 1998, Refused disbanded with a be all, end all breakup through a press release, “Refused Are Fucking Dead”. The members went on to other bands or creative endeavors and it seemed the songs would never be heard live again. On Friday, July 20, 2012 at the House of Blues, Boston was in for a once in a lifetime treat. Refused, the Swedish hardcore band that created uniquely explosive nonconformist tunes, gave us a show.
Dennis Lyxzén commanded the stage with unbridled intensity and grace, running back and forth with smooth Mick Jagger-esque moves that defy physics in such tight jeans. The band played every note with a symphonic precision as the dramatic uplighting flashed against their backs. Not a single audience member was fading; even the grandmother next to me in a black leather coat was tapping her feet. Lyxzén surfed through the crowd and belted out every throat-scraping lyric. The venue was filled with a reciprocal energy between the band and crowd with everyone realizing that it was a rare night of musical delight. Wrapping up with “Tannhauser/Derive” from their seminal album The Shape of Punk to Come, the audience was urged by Lyxzén to “remain curious” and followed by the ending chorus, “Boredom won’t get me tonight.” In “Dos-Equis terms,”
he was encouraging that we all stay thirsty.
Their set was prefaced by OFF! blazing through 80% (approximately) of their entire speed-laced catalog. Black Flag/Cirlce Jerks/OFF! founder, Keith Morris led the group like a mildly restrained maniac. Each song snapped out into the crowd with minimalist breaks and riveting authority. Keith continues squiring volatile lyrics into his late-fifties. In between sets, he thanked everyone generously and reminisced the audience with his first-hand experiences in punk rock history and guidance on “getting loose” and “living your life.”
I wish he was my dad.
So allow me to reiterate. Between these two heroes of punk and hardcore, Boston was spoiled rotten on Friday, July 20.
