The Taxpayers Celebrate New Album And Life In General With Packed Underground Music Venue Show

I need to stop going into shows, thinking they will just be "just another show." I underestimate the power of some shows, like the one on Thursday night at The Underground Music Venue & Cafe. I knew it was going to be a good show, but I didn't know I would be hit with wave after wave of emotions and feelings. Although I was hopeful for a chill night where I didn't have time to get lost in my own head, I am thankful for everything that I got from all four bands on Thursday night.

Local newcomers Free Candy started the night, and I was instantly in love. Although cover songs overshadowed their quick set, I understood why and will not get on my soapbox about why bands should not do a bunch of covers. Why am I giving this trio a break? The drummer of this group is 15. The guitarist is at the ripe age of 17, and the bassist is at the perfect age of 16. I know that this is no excuse and, judging from the few originals they did slip into their set, this young group of rockers will have no problem wowing an audience with their original material, but this was their first time playing any originals in front of a live audience so I understood the need for the Blink 182, Green Day, and Hole covers scattered through their set. Whether it was a cover or one of their heart-filled originals, Free Candy has "it." Their set felt understated in a way that they almost seemed to underestimate their own power, but by the end of the quick set, I'd like to think they felt the power that they held and were blinded by the bright lights that shined on them and the roar of applause that they got (and were more deserving of). Something about seeing such a young band really melted my heart and set it on fire at the same time. I truly can't wait to see this group of kids grow into the rockstars that we all saw on stage on Thursday night.

Following Free Candy was supposed to be Constant Insult. Unfortunately, one of the members of Constant Insult had something come up and couldn't make it to the show. Thankfully, Constant Insult is essentially just local band Miracle Debt with an added member, so we were treated to an impromptu set from Miracle Debt. Miracle Debt's sound, like their set, was fast and furious. The amount of energy that oozed from the stage as this local trio powered through their set could not be ignored. Stylistically, Miracle Debt could best be described as garage punk but I don't know that that classification does this band's depth justice. Although there was energy all around regarding their short time on stage, there was also a gritty heart behind it. Whether you wanted to thrash around a wee bit while they played or just get lost in their power as you stood there, frozen in time and stuck in the palm of their hands, it's safe to assume that you were enjoying everything about them.

Up next was Rent Strike from Lansing, Michigan, and this group's name says a lot about them. As you may have gathered, Rent Strike is a super political band which added a supercharged feeling of electricity to the air of the packed venue. Their songs touched on many topics ranging from prison reform to, well, going on, "Rent Strike." I used to get involved in politics, protesting when I could and being super vocal about the causes I believed in, but for some reason, I got away from that. Rent Strike (along with all of the amazing organizations that were tabling this event and the speakers that took the stage between sets to talk about some of these organizations) reminded me that now is not the time to be complacent. Now is a time to be angry, get involved, and speak your truth and the truth for others who are too scared to speak right now. Although this wasn't the only takeaway from Rent Strike's flawless and passion-fueled folk-punk set, it was the biggest takeaway for me and truly the most important thing that I was reminded of and thought about throughout the night.

That passion and fire only grew brighter as the headlining act, The Taxpayers, took the stage. I've been listening to this band for years, maybe even decades, but Thursday night was my first time seeing them live. It was also the first time I realized that one of the members, vocalist Rob Taxpayer, actually lives here in Minneapolis. My mind had been blown by the knowledge that I've been living in the same town as this iconic musician without knowing it but it absolutely exploded when I realized that The Taxpayers would be playing through their new album 'Circle Breaker.' Honestly, it made sense. This show was a kick-off for a small tour to promote this new album, which just came out the other day. Although I would have loved to hear some of the older classics from this tried and true band, hearing 'Circle Breaker' hit me, and it hit me hard.

'Circle Breaker' is an album full of depth. Sure, it still showcases The Taxpayers' quirky folk-punk style, but there's something a bit more tender and almost mature about it. That makes sense, given everything happening in the world right now. It makes even more sense if you live in the Twin Cities and have been following the aftermath of the Nudieland shooting that happened in 2023. I won't get super into it, but long story short, Nudieland was a DIY punk house in Minneapolis. There was a show happening, and, unfortunately, a shooting happened (not by one of the audience members), leaving local musician August Golden dead. Although I had met August a few times, I was far from close to them and have always felt a few degrees removed from the house show scene. That being said, the tragic news hit me, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. It hit Rob Taxpayer as well, as the only reason Rob wasn't at the show that tragic night was because of a newborn being in the house. Dark and heavy, I know yet The Taxpayers have taken this event, and everything else happening in this chaotic and mostly dark world, and turned it into a touching album that translates so beautifully into a live performance.

Although it was a bit of a heavy performance, it was also brilliant. I could hear and witness this band's quirkiness and the carefree feeling of love that has always radiated from their sound in person. Although my mind was on those we have lost over the years (as 'Circle Breaker' is about), my mind was also fuelled with creativity and passion. I realize that I said very little about any of the actual music that took place at The Underground Music Venue on Thursday night but, really, that's not what the show was about. It was about creativity, community, and love, and that is one hell of a way to spend a Thursday night if you ask me.