In 2023, the north shore Massachusetts power-emo band Cape Crush released their first EP titled San Souci. Just a little over a year later, they suddenly announced via Instagram that their drummer Cody Rico would be leaving the band for health reasons. His final show providing his signature thoughtful and propulsive percussion for Cape Crush would be at Bit Bar, the greater Boston area’s first classic barcade. The band would be backed by emo savants Hyber and alt-pop-rockers Cherubhead.
Kicking things off with a mix of modern hardcore-influenced pop punk and late ‘90s hard rock was Boston’s own Cherubhead, mostly playing songs off their latest EP aptly titled Modern Dread. Shelling out traditional pop-rock structures and hooky vocal melodies on songs such as “Jail” and “Freaking Me Out” didn’t stop them from embracing their heavier side in front of the packed audience. With vocals evoking alt-rock bands of yesteryear and guitars that seamlessly mix the shimmer and crunch of bands like Drug Church, Militarie Gun, and Prince Daddy & the Hyena, Cherubhead delivered their dirty brand of rock with choruses drenched in grungy and often poppy influences. They even surprised the crowd of gamers with a welcome singalong cover of Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So.”
Proudly wearing their hearts on their collective sleeve, next up was Salem’s Hyber. Delivering a handful of songs mostly off their latest EP All the Things It Hurt to Know, including the cathartic “Grow,” Hyber got the crowd up and off their feet with choruses touting lyrics such as “I said goodbye to all the things it hurt to know/ Am I better for the pain and sorrow? / Take what’s left of me and wrap it in a bow/ It hurts to grow.” The immediacy of their connection to the crowd was palpable. Hyber’s crisp blend of emo and power pop, their lyrical heartache, the pinch harmonics of their Flying V guitar, and their vulnerable exploration of mental health issues were equally embraced as local fans belted out the choruses of their songs.
As Cape Crush took the stage, singer/songwriter and guitarist Ali Lipman dedicated an acoustic song to drummer Cody Rico. He was visibly moved, surrounded as he was by bandmates, supporters, and friends alike. After memorable performances of “I Don’t Care” and the blistering staple “Avec Souci,” the band were joined on stage by the talented violinist Paul Simeon for songs such as the uplifting, and now downright folky, title track from the debut EP “San Souci” and the melancholic “Mother’s Day.”
Guitarist James Christopher then surprised his fellow Choke Up bandmate and now audience member Harley Cox with a riveting cover of Choke Up’s “Crosses.” After playing two new songs from an upcoming split released January 3 with Good June and Impossible Dog titled Good Dogs Wear Capes, Cape Crush closed things out in dramatic fashion with the familiar emotive closer “Del Water Gap.”
Finally, photographer and Good June band member Alex Ilyadis joined his friends on stage for guest vocals on the new Cape Crush song “Apple At The Aggy.” “We love Cody” chants suddenly broke out from the crowd. As the chants continued to get louder and more visceral, Cape Crush came together for one last embrace on stage, the final image of what is now known as the band’s “Cody Era.” All with a little help from some friends.
Words by Paul Rowe / Photos by Alex Ilyadis (Instagram: @alexmediaguy)
Cape Crush
Hyber
Cherubhead
