Pissing off Scenesters Since 1995
American Steel/Sundowner
Knitting Factory
October 18, 2007
It took me more than an hour to realize that the American Steel that was playing at CMJ was the same American Steel I grew up adoring, and occasionally confusing with then label mates Ann Baretta. Good thing I did, because this was hands down the best set of CMJ.
Way too many kids crammed into the tiny Tap Bar in New York’s Knitting Factory, which basically turned into a sauna. The first band I caught was Sundowner, a folksy acoustic rock band that played traditional alt country style music, but without the lame tight jeans and perfectly unmanicured facial hair. They even had a keyboardist/cellist, which brought up their scenester point quota by four. I actually really liked these guys, they were fun and jangly like early Rilo Kiley, but without the overwrought lyrics and “woah is me, I’m so sensitive” whining.
American Steel quickly set up their instruments and began to rock the place apart. From the little sleuthing I did (I talked to their merch guy), this is indeed the same American Steel that was set to capture the punk throne back in the late ’90s. They broke up or something, and recently reunited with a new record on Fat Wreck. I could be completely wrong about all of this, but that’s what he said. The front of the stage was a thousand degrees and haze bounced off the hot lights as dozens of fans bopped together in some sort of dance/nuzzle type movement, singing along to anything the band cranked out. American Steel gratified the diehard fans with a handful of songs off their earlier Lookout! releases, and seemed quite happy to be playing their newer work.
For those not in the know, American Steel play Clash style rockers way better than Rancid, and produced some of the catchiest work on the now sorta defunct Lookout. Their early work was raw, but tight, and kicked ass at a time when most punk bands were just Green Day clones. Their new songs are much more melodic and not as aggressive. Not a bad departure, but not as over the top as some of their older crazier tunes. The fans didn’t seem to mind, crushing against the tiny stage to sing along. The begging for songs got so intense that the band actually seemed upset that they could only play for half an hour. However, they pointed out that they still have another show on a boat (10/19) and another in Brooklyn (10/20) to appease everyone.