THE ANTI-QUEENS WITH MAKEWAR AND THE IRON ROSES — LIVE AT WAREHOUSE!Since 2012, The Anti-Queens, led by Emily Bones, have been a force in punk rock. Their sound, as defiant as their name suggests, blends raw energy with profound lyrical depth. In 2015, Valerie Knox joined on guitar and backing vocals, previously known for her work with Black Cat Attack. Before officially joining, Valerie led the band on their inaugural USA tour, showcasing her prowess in the punk scene. Her role as a second guitarist and vocalist added complexity and depth to their live show, setting the stage for their rise. Before their debut full-length album, they made waves with EPs “Grow Up / Stay Young” (2012) and “Start Running” (2015). Their self-titled album released in 2019 under Stomp Records was a significant milestone for The Anti-Queens, a moment enriched by the addition of bassist Michael Crusty. This album not only solidified their standing in the punk rock world but also showcased their evolution as a band, resonating deeply with fans and critics alike. The Anti-Queens embody resilience, creativity, and a deep connection with their audience. Their ongoing passion for creating and performing stands as a testament to their adaptability, inspiring audiences through their electrifying shows and unwavering dedication to the spirit of punk rock. The Anti-Queens are: Emily Bones (lead vocals/guitar), Valerie Knox (lead guitar/vocals) and Michael Crusty (bass).
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For most bands, making music is therapy. It’s a cliché, but clichés are clichés for a reason—because they’re usually true. It’s fair to say that that was the same for MakeWar, too. Formed out of the ashes of frontman Jose Prieto’s solo endeavor, Sad And French, the Brooklyn trio—completed by bassist Edwin Santacruz, and new drummer Alejandro Serritiello—have always worn their hearts on their sleeves. Heartbreak, despair, and alcohol have long been at the center of those struggles, and the songs themselves are a way to push through all of that. Whether it was 2015’s eponymous record—full band reinventions and re-recordings of Sad And French songs—2016’s first album proper, Developing A Theory Of Integrity, or 2019’s Get It Together, MakeWar’s albums have all been intensely cathartic affairs that bristle with the promise and the terror of the human experience. In other words: they’re therapy. It still sounds like that’s the case on A Paradoxical Theory Of Change. Perhaps more than ever, in fact. But it’s not. Because for the last three years or so, Prieto has been undergoing actual therapy—which is where a lot of the ideas on the record stem from. “Developing A Theory Of Integrity was very party-involved,” he explains. “We made it when we were very young and it’s all about drinking your problems away. But A Paradoxical Theory Of Change talks about how if you really want or need change in your life, instead of fighting or pushing against whatever it is that you’re feeling, you should absorb it, accept it and let it be. It’s there for a reason, and once you acknowledge that you’re living with this problem, you can actually mold it. You have to let it be and not fuck with it so you can finally find change.” In many ways, that’s the total opposite of MakeWar’s initial purpose. As the name suggests, the band was started as a way for Prieto to, as he puts it, “literally fight all these problems that I had in my head, all this depression and anxiety.” MakeWar was, he says, a way for him to push all that out. Now, though, he’s going about it in a very different way. “It’s still a war and a fight,” he clarifies, “but I’m being more intelligent in terms of how to do it. I’m still struggling, as you can hear on the record, but I’ve found the key to battling it.” In stark comparison to Get It Together—which was very much about a (pre-pandemic) world and society in decline and was commenting outwards on that—these 12 songs look inwards. And although Prieto might not need these songs to wrestle his demons in the same way, they’re as uncompromising and emotionally intense as ever.
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The Iron Roses are a passionate, unique, and beautiful group of people making music that we hope will change the world. Fueled by the injustices of our current times - their songs are the kind of protest anthems that only a group of seasoned musicians could make. Still angry, still driven, and still screaming – this is a band that will never give up the fight. It takes serious talent to write and sing songs that sound angry while the music lifts your spirits. So much of political punk is abrasive and unpleasant. No hooks. No melodies. But other times the words sound incongruent with emotionless and insipid music. The Iron Roses manage something rare and commanding with music that lifts the heart coupled powerfully with lyrics that express fury and resentment of the current world. Punk as a genre has been so commodified and diluted over the last decades that it seems to be ever increasingly hard to find bands that resonate this way. That sing and play with such intensity that their authenticity cannot be questioned. That prove that true punk is alive and well and can have you dancing around your kitchen singing along at the top of your voice. Yes, we can discuss their pedigree, most notably their frontperson Nathan Gray (of Boysetsfire), and their relentless touring and political activism. But none of those things matter if the songs don’t connect with the listener. And this collection of songs are going to do just that. From the opening notes of the first song the cards are on the table. The objective is clear – The Iron Roses are putting to words and music all the thoughts you’ve had these last few dark years. With the worldwide political climate leaning further and further from the left. With rights for many being limited and destroyed. With no end in sight. We need bands like The Iron Roses giving us a soundtrack to fight. Songs to pour our anger and frustration into when we sing along - just as they did when they wrote and recorded them. The beauty of seeing these six individuals singing their truth is astounding. Watching them grow from strength to strength in the last few years it is unsurprising that this record is the outcome. They, and their songs, represent such power, love, and passion – something that we need more than ever in this world today.
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$19 + FEES in ADVANCE
ALL AGES | LICENSED | DOORS at 7PM
TICKETS: https://www.tixr.com/e/171813
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11 Geneva Street, Saint Catharines, ON, Canada, Ontario L2R4M2, 11 Geneva St, St Catharines, ON L2R 4M2, Canada, St. Catharines
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