One hundred twenty-eight days of tour can’t stop these motherfuckers. There are no signs of fatigue, road wear or the sound of their own wheels driving them mad. Every night they bring their A game, which includes enough leg kicks, back bends, guitar rolls and stage presence to stir a convincing debate that punk rock is not only around, but alive and well in Ames, fucking-Iowa of all places. 
Watching Poison Control Center jerk around the stage frantically it is clear they spare no expense of energy when they play. Their hands flutter as fast as possible, fluently forming rich and driven (duct taped) guitar solos placed effortlessly over punctuating drums. However, while the music speaks loudly enough for itself (seriously), the unthinkable way that they manage to create these sounds while flying around the stage in 72 directions is damn near historic. Combining the finest features of mohawks and doc martins while managing to create dance parties this band is not to be fucked with. If you can sit through their set and manage to walk away feeling like you haven’t gotten your money’s worth, you have bad taste in music. Period.
Left with the tough task of following such an energetic band is Lawrence’s (and Popwreckoning favorite) Cowboy Indian Bear.
Having not seen Cowboy Indian Bear since March of 2010 (at Sxsw), tonight would mark the first chance I’d had to see them since both the release of their flawless full length album Each Other All The Time and the addition of the amazing Katlyn Conroy of Another Holiday (and solo work). The growth of the band in my 8 months of reclusive coma is nearly indescribable. Regardless of a number of technical difficulties (for which the band can’t be held accountable for) the obviousness of how tight the band had become stood out. I found myself rather floored by the effectiveness of the wall of sound style noise created by a band who also manages to create alt. country goodness like “Madeline” and indie-pop greatness like “Mathematicians/Colour.”
The bottom line and only way to summarize the evening is simple: Back to back sets by two of the midwest’s catchiest bands. If you’ve yet to experience one or both of these gems, do yourself a favor and google their myspaces. If there is any justice in the world of music (which I’m convinced there isn’t) you won’t be able to catch either of these bands in the Record Bar very much longer. Both should be playing rooms of the likes of the Uptown. Their talent and energy could fill the room ten fold.
