This Little Underground is Orlando Weekly’s music column providing perspective, live reviews and news on the city’s music scene. Read the latest column here.
Independence Slay: American Party Machine at Will’s Pub (photo by James Dechert)
Considering their all-warts portrayal of American patriotism, it might be sacrilegious to spend Independence Day celebrating a band like American Party Machine. But, really, what says “first-world fat cat” more than using your endowed freedom for grandly empty pursuit? Nothing, that’s what, pinko. And APM has more of my kind of fireworks than that baby-ass light show at Lake Eola, so I honored my goddamn country at their album release party (Will’s Pub). As promised and anticipated, it was a shit show par excellence – wild, spectacular and just beyond control. My feelings about this band are pretty well-documented by now, but they are unequivocally the best show band in the greater metro right now.
Flying D: American Party Machine at Will’s Pub (photo by James Dechert)
The rest of the bill was loaded with notables including Orlando’s the Glorious Rebellion, St. Pete force of nature Set and Setting and a couple other local bands you should know about.
The first is relatively new group Panther Camp, whose roster packs pretty deep local pedigree and is fronted by former Country Slashers singer Jason Smith. Their anthem punk is straightforward but flies true with throttle wide open.
Panther Camp at Will’s Pub (photo by James Dechert)
The other is Warm Like Winter, a punk band that keeps it close to the roots and employs the word “fuck” almost as much as my early columns did. With a strict ‘80s hardcore revival sound and a weirdo edge, they’re one of the area’s best traditional punk acts.
This show gave us one of our best photo galleries yet. Seriously. Gander here:
Photo gallery: American Party Machine at Will’s Pub
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This article appears in Jul 2-8, 2014.
