Titus Andronicus played Shea Stadium

"We put together the longest setlist of the band's career, so everyone get comfortable. We have about twelve more songs to go." That's not something a band typically announces shortly into their set. For the release of their third record, Local Business, New Jersey punks Titus Andronicus annihilated Shea Stadium with an almost two hour long set comprised of material from all three of their excellent records. Before heading out in support of the new album, the band played a final local sendoff to many friends and family in the intimate loft space and ripped through a stunning display of power-pop riffs, swelling choruses, and Replacement style break downs. Phenomenal transitions between songs are part of what makes Titus' albums so great and the live renditions only amplify the band's talent. "Ecce Homo" into "Still Life with Hot Deuce On Silver Platter" kicked off the evening and "Food Fight" into "My Eating Disorder" really riled things up. Patrick announced at one point that the band had to relearn a bunch of their older songs and they even debuted a brand new song that doesn't appear on their new album. "I Gotta Date Tonight" blended into "In A Big City" which was probably the best received new track and "(I am The) Electric Man" transitioned into a stomping cover of "Do You Love Me?". The expanded line-up allows for a triple guitar attack and gives their new material a richer sound and heightens any of their previous material. Naming their record Local Business exemplifies the communal nature of the band which is a vital aspect of how they operate. The band brought out drummer Eric Harm's father Steven to join in on harmonica for "Tried to Quit Smoking" as he does on the record and former guitarist Amy Klein got down in the pit. While the new tracks sounded great, part of what makes their live show so special is the involvement from the crowd so it might take some time for these songs to see their full potential. The chanting of the lyrics back to the men onstage instills a connection rarely seen by bands and their crowd. Titus Andronicus is band by the people for the people. Their charged anthems are composed of definite political context beyond the Civil War analogies of The Monitor and perhaps the best part of Local Business is the directness of the lyrics. The grandiose song writing doesn't seem as abstract as it has in the past (Patrick Stickles actually has an eating disorder and wrote "(I Am The) Electric Man" after being jolted during band practice) and this could be some of their most accessible material to date. Since the beginning of their career, there have been countless claims that they've been inspired by Springsteen (a plague to anyone from the Garden State), however on this record it seems truer than ever. They are working class men from the other side of the river. Their themes are embedded in blue collar hometown roots. They themselves are their own Local Business.

Cursive and Titus Andronicus played the House of Vans

The Vans House Parties don't exactly provide the most intimate or acoustic friendly setting, but that didn't stop people from showing up to another free concert (complete with an open bar!) along the Williamsburg / Greenpoint border. After sets from Joyce Manor and Love as Laughter, an onslaught of people flooded the venue for New Jersey punks Titus Andronicus. Their adrenaline fueled set consisted of excellent new material from their recently announced third album Local Business as well as highlights from their great debut and killer sophomore record, The Monitor. Raspy shouts from front man Pat Stickles pumped up the crowd for some intense outbursts complete with flying fists and grand sing-a-longs. However, it was their epic finale that really took things to the next level. The medley of "A More Perfect Union" and "Titus Andronicus Forever" was the peak of their performance and extended solos were more than welcome from screaming fans and proved that the night really was theirs for the taking. Despite occupying the headlining slot, the crowd was significantly smaller before Saddle Creek veterans Cursive took to the stage. While Titus Andronicus proved that they are an important band in 'the now', the remainder of the evening was much of a nostalgia trip that accented the golden days of Emo long before it acquired the derogatory connotation. As the 90s came to a close, Cursive were a part of the final frontier along with the Get-Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World, and Saves the Day (among many others). Long before the days of Fall Out Boy and Good Charlotte, Cursive blended slicing guitar riffs, obnoxious yells (Pitchfork described Tim Kasher's voice as "the worst great voice in indie rock"), and hardcore rhythms and produced overlooked records that meant a lot to a certain group of people. While their recent work has fallen short in comparison, the men still stick to their guns. After playing deep cuts from their classics Domestica and The Ugly Organ, Tim kicked off the encore saying "Thank you for letting us be old rockers" and then directly plunging into "Sierra". The crowd may have dwindled as the night came to a close, but those who stuck around didn't waste an ounce of energy and the intensity never let up. They may be met with rolled eyes, but for those who grew up with them, they will always be a band that lost their genre to the malls.

Fucked Up and Titus Andronicus played Warsaw

Less than twenty-four hours after the eviction of Zuccotti Park, rising punk acts Fucked Up and Titus Andronicus stormed Warsaw in Greenpoint, bringing their triple guitar fury to the people of Brooklyn. Before launching into the opening of their excellent debut, Patrick Stickles had a few words for last nights events and set a theme for the evening full of angst, power, and hope. The (almost) beardless leader of the New Jersey powerhouse preached his thoughts to an audience full of eager listeners who seemed to share similar sentiment regarding the recent incidents in Manhattan, as songs from the band's third album were explained before exploding live onstage. While the new tunes certainly were intriguing and leave much promise for what the band does next, cuts from The Monitor really struck with the heart of the crowd as the passion overpowered Sickles and at times even replaced his vocals. While the band's politically charged anthems seemed more than appropriate for the evening, the night truly belonged to Fucked Up. Despite recent rumors of the band's end, Pink Eye took to the stage with his child on his shoulders before ripping through the recent opus David Comes to Life in its entirety. The energy comprised by this band is nearly unmatched by most other acts today. Aggressive vocals, lightning drumming, and shredding guitar blasts make up the concept masterpiece that unfolded live before the crowd tonight and just like sitting down to listen to this record (although I doubt many people remain sitting while this thing plays), the idea can be daunting. However, Fucked Up play with such precision and comradory that the monumental album seemed to go by in the blink of an eye. Aside from telling the audience to "give a thumbs up to anyone partaking in the protests", the onstage banter was kept to a minimal, allowing the brilliance of the band to shine through and through.

Titus Andronicus played Webster Hall

The Springsteen inspired punk rockers wasted little time getting down to business Saturday night as they kicked off their set with "A More Perfect Union," the first track off their excellent new album The Monitor, and did not let up for the entire night with the lone exception of when front man Pat Stickles took a moment to replace a broken string so he could keep using his 'good' guitar. The brash noise rock was received with positive raves from the relentless crowd who equally matched the endurance displayed by the band. Titus Andronicus did a nice job of evenly matching tracks from both full length releases and seemed to be thrilled to be playing in front of a hometown crowd. When the band wasn't rocking out with their harsh and heavy hitting tunes they changed the pace with some elegant ballads that still left the crowd screaming along with almost every word. The repetitive nature of many of the bands songs really came forward throughout the night, yet it did not deter the highly under 21 crowd from raging in the pit. The ever enthusiastic fans reacted with great response for almost every song played throughout the set and reached a shocking standstill as tour mates Free Energy took the stage to form the super group Temporary Tattoos as the combined ensemble blasted their way through the ACDC classic "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)".