The weekend started just a little bit early on Thursday in Minneapolis thanks to Bleached and The Dirty Nil. These two stellar bands met up to play the Entry before heading to Canada to kick off a massive tour with legendary punk Against Me! And though it was early in the tour there was no shortage of good energy to go around.
“So we just met up with The Dirty Nil,” Bleached frontwoman Jennifer Clavin said during their set. “And you know it’s always weird because it’s like we don’t know each and it’s like what if everyone hates each other. But I think we’re really gonna like them,” Clavin went on.
The Dirty Nil’s short but sweet set sat perfectly ahead of Bleached. These bands – though hailing from different sides of the continent, The Dirty Nil from Ontario and Bleached from Los Angeles, seem to be cut from the same cloth. Both bands have a definite grunge punk sound with classic punk tendencies. Though The Dirty Nil will tell you they’re not punk – they’re rock and roll according to this interview via Noisy, as well as the dozens of time they mentioned rock and roll during their banter. “Thank you for coming to the rock and roll show Minneapolis. I always knew you were a rock and roll city and that’s proven true once again,” bassist
Ross Miller joked (who by the way is literally Jerry Seinfeld, if he we were in a band).
Call it punk, call it rock and roll, call it whatever the hell you want – this trio puts on a hell of a show. There’s an endearing goofiness and awkwardness, along with a “don’t give a fuck” attitude to The Dirty Nil that’s reminiscent of some of the great bands to come out of the Twin Cities in the 80s and 90s (Hüsker Dü, anyone?). The Dirty Nil is straight-forward, no bullshit, honest-to-god rock.
Set List: No Weakness / Pain and Infinity / Cinnamon / Zombie Eyed / Fuckin’ Up Young / Always High / Smoking Is Magic / Friends In The Sky / Know Your Rodent / Bruto Bloody Bruto / Super 8 / Nicotine / Wrestle Yü to Hüsker Dü / Surrender
Keeping the no bullshit, straight-forward rock energy going was Bleached. This four-piece has been making music for years now, but their name has been buzzing more and more in recent months. And after their set last night, it’s clear why. Honestly, Bleached is one of those bands you kick yourself for not listening to earlier. They packed out the Entry last night for what might have been one of the best shows we’ve seen there yet this year.
Sisters Jennifer and Jessica Clavin make up half of Bleached – both on vocals and guitar. They are rounded out by Micayla Grace and Nick Pillot, bass and drums respectively. Together this four-piece rocks harder than just about any other band out there. Each member plays with such skill and precision, it’s clear they’ve perfected their craft, or are on their way to damn near perfection. But that perfection doesn’t take away from the no fucks given, feel good, punk vibe. There’s still a grittiness and grunginess to their live show that leaves you with a feeling of never wanting it to end. Frontwoman Jennifer Clavin’s energy is absolutely contagious – she worked the Entry stage like a young Mick Jagger. There was an off the wall borderline bombastic energy to Bleached set that seriously left the Entry wanting more. From their flawless cover of Nirvana’s Territorial Pissings to the ear wormy Can You Deal and Think of You, there wasn’t a dull moment in their set.
Towards the end of the show, Jennifer Clavin switched places with drummer Nick Pillow, and played her heart on drums for Search Through The Past before coming back on stage for an encore. There’s really no other to describe it other than just that – played their heart out. Bleached set had the energy as if this was their last show ever, not one of the first on a nine week tour. They left it all on the stage and Minneapolis loved every minute of it.
Thanks to Bleached and The Dirty Nil for starting the weekend a little early, and starting it right. We look forward to having them both back in the cities very soon!
Set List: Keep On Keepin’ On / Can You Deal / Think of You / Wednesday Night Melody / Territorial Pissings (Nirvana cover) / Sleepwalking / Turn to Rage / Wasted on You / Sour Candy / Search Through The Past / Dead in Your Heart
