These days, I can appreciate when a band makes a concerted effort to give fans the best bang for their buck on tour. Much like Show Me the Body’s multifaceted show at the Fonda Theatre earlier this month, Militarie Gun pulled out all the stops, bringing a loaded lineup to the Regent Theater in downtown Los Angeles for their 20 Songs for 20 Dollars Tour. Tonight marked the final stop and a homecoming of sorts for the LA-based band, the last hurrah of a whirlwind 30-date trek across the country that kicked off in early September.
Joining them for the entire run were power-pop solo artist Dazy, Australian post-punks Shady Nasty, and shoegaze/grunge (shoegrunge? grungegaze?) rockers Softcult. Militarie Gun are certainly no strangers to relentless touring schedules, having spent the past few years crisscrossing the country and venturing overseas. Do these guys ever rest?
Unfortunately, a previous engagement and LA traffic meant I missed Dazy and Shady Nasty's sets, but even catching the second half of the concert gave me plenty to write about.
In the spirit of full transparency, my main motivation for the evening was to see Softcult. Long story short, after a particularly bad breakup and an extended period of wallowing in self-pity, I decided to re-enter the outside world and start seeking out live music again. One of the first shows I attended was Softcult at the Echoplex. I had never been a huge fan of grunge or shoegaze, but something about their particular sound intrigued me. Seeing them again felt like a spiritual full-circle moment.
But tonight felt different from that first show, and not just because the venue had changed. Where that earlier performance was dark, moody, and cathartic, tonight's atmosphere felt warmer and more lighthearted.
Although the crowd wore plenty of Militarie Gun merch, Softcult's fans made themselves heard the moment the band opened with “Perfect Blue.” You can hear the dream-pop influence in the shimmering guitars and delicate vocals, but listen closer and the lyrics carry much more weight, amplified by a wall of distortion. On the surface, their music can feel dreamy and jewel-like, but their songs frequently explore misogyny, isolation, and abusive relationships. That contrast feels both ethereal and haunting, especially live.
At the center of Softcult are twins Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn, with Mercedes on guitar and vocals and Phoenix on drums and vocals. I'm always mystified by drummers who can sing and play at the same time. I have trouble walking and drinking coffee at the same time.
That contrast between beauty and heaviness carried through the rest of their set, but compared with the first time I saw them, the performance had an unexpected looseness. Maybe it was the bigger room, the energy of the tour's final night, or perhaps I was simply experiencing their music from a different place in my own life. Whatever the reason, it felt less like revisiting an old memory and more like discovering the band all over again.
I'd never seen Militarie Gun live, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. While waiting for their set in the photo pit, a security guard warned me, “If it gets crazy up in here, I'm gonna have to kick you out.”
Was I in over my head? Was shit about to go down? I knew their music, but maybe Mr. Security Guard knew something I didn't.
Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about. Despite the lack of violence, the band came out swinging, taking the stage to “God Save the Gun.” Their performance had an old-school street-punk feel, loud and fast, with the kind of upbeat energy that makes it easy to sing along, even if you don't know the words. Frontman Ian Shelton's vocals had a particularly gruff edge tonight, at times reminding me of Mike McColgan of Street Dogs.
It almost didn't matter that I'd missed the first half of the show, because members of each opening act eventually returned onstage to lend their vocal talents. Dazy, a frequent Militarie Gun collaborator, joined them for “Pressure Cooker” (God, what a catchy song), while Kevin Stathis of Shady Nasty jumped in for a cover of MSPAINT's “Delete Me.” Heck, even Missy Dabice of Mannequin Pussy came out to play. I felt absolutely spoiled.
Like Softcult, Militarie Gun don't shy away from serious subject matter, with Shelton describing their music as “for people who grew up around addicts and addiction.” I find it encouraging to see artists openly discussing sobriety and recovery with their fans. After chatting with random people throughout the night, I got the sense the band makes a conscious effort to foster a community, not only among the musicians they collaborate with, but also among the people who show up to see them. After all, nothing beats creating something with your friends.
Militarie Gun made good on their promise, and then some, blasting through 23 songs before ending on a high note with fan favorites “B A D I D E A” and “Kick.” Filing out of the Regent Theater into the warm downtown air, I couldn't help but smile as I heard groups of friends singing, “If I kicked you in the face, I'm sorry, but I'd do it again…”
Maybe that's what stuck with me most about the night. With all the loud guitars, flailing bodies, and warnings from security guards, the evening ultimately felt less like four bands sharing a bill and more like friends throwing one last party before everyone went home.
Twenty dollars may get you 20 songs, but Militarie Gun made damn sure we got our money's worth.
