Show Review: Paint It Black and Dillinger Four at Sinclair in Cambridge, MA

In mid-September Philadelphia’s Paint It Black announced on their instagram, “Don’t start believing in god or anything, but all the same, here’s a miracle for you: we are playing THREE SHOWS in the NORTH EAST with DILLINGER FOUR.” It is indeed an extreme rarity for either of these bands to perform a live show. And for them to play together? Did lightning strike the North East? Add openers Public Acid and Boston’s Cigarette Camp, and you’ve got a pristine Sunday evening. The uncommon occurrence prompted for Cambridge, MA’s Sinclair to sell out rapidly after the show announcement.

Dillinger Four bassist Patrick Costello established the tone as the band took stage. With his battered, duct-taped Fender precision bass around his shoulder, he stood at the mic holding a cup of coffee. Guitarist Bill Morrisette laughed and asked him what was going on. Reflecting on the show about to begin, Costello’s eyebrows raised with sage words, “Look, this is punk in your 50s.” Upon proper jeers and cheers from the audience, Dillinger Four dove into, “Let Them Eat Thomas Paine.”

Immediately at the conclusion of this track, Costello began tuning his instrument. While this is common for any band, he proclaimed his bass might be broken—and he would be tuning throughout the set. He declared, “fuck punk,” noting that he was at a stage in his life that it was time to play in tune. Looking to the audience for feedback on accurate tone, he pointed out a fan in a Minutemen shirt for trustworthy response.

For a Minneapolis band that hadn’t played Boston since 2002 at Massachusetts College of Art, it was a glorious reunion. Does it seem that they’ll be back in another 18 years? Perhaps so, guitarist Erik Funk didn’t rule it out. See you in 2042!

While Paint It Black are closer in proximity, the Philly-based band hadn’t played Boston either since 2009. With Famine on Revelation Records released just last year, it is a good time to be back. Vocalist Dan Yemin spoke to the sold-out room with love in his voice during a tough time of human existence. He said they picked spaces to perform that had no barricade. Their show wasn’t to be a performance, but rather a shared experience. He prompted everyone to move as close to the stage as they wanted. The gesture to come forward continued throughout their set.

Fans were rabid for a shared moment of release. Pressing against the stage, Yemen reached over the speakers to sing along with them. Hot breath clouds of enthusiastic shouting pressed through the crowd as Yemin declared that no kids deserved to die anywhere. He rhetorically asked why anyone’s kids should feel safe when others cannot. Paint It Black are a band long voicing the injustices of humanity, not just nationally, but the impact we all have on one another as a species.

Public Acid were the second band to play. The North Carolina band released their album Deadly Struggle earlier this year. Eric Chubb’s hyper fast drumming fueled the gritty set to many a raised fist and cheer.

Boston locals Cigarette Camp were the first to play this evening. With a brief, snotty, pop-punk set I was glad to catch them (even if briefly). They even dedicated a song to local NPR hosts, Jim and Margery—though it is unclear if that was positive or not. Liner notes, anyone?

Paint It Black

Dillinger Four

Public Acid

Cigarette Camp