Seattle’s Android Hero definitely capped the evening on a high note, handily showing off their arsenal of punishing 2 minute groove heavy punk rock riff racers. Though make no mistake about it, this evening easily belonged to the out-of-towner on the bill. On a night plagued with blown fuses, and fried amp heads that sadly cut Great Falls' set to less than a minute and threatened the other bands chances to rock, Portland’s Prize Country came out smelling like a rose. Too everyone in attendance’s amusement, Prize Country were not only able get through their first song without hiccup, but also finished a killer set consisting primarily of the blistering material from their killer new record “…With Love”. Prize Country guiatrist and singer Aaron Blanchard with some crowd encouragement, even attempted to coheres Great Fall's Demian Johnston back to the stage to give it another go with their working equipement, but on this night it wasn't meant to be.
Upon watching the sonic double ax assault of Blanchard and Jacob Depolitte, pummeling drumwork of Joshua Northcutt and Gibson Grabber punch provided by Jon Hausler for the first time, it was stifling to think about why this band was simply not playing for a larger audience, and further more was not causing more of a ruckus in the underground music world. This is a band that should be gushed over and championed. If they would have existed in 1995, we’d be hoarding vinyl re-issues, and obsessing on the importance of their riff heavy post-hardcore, much like is done with comparable forefather Quicksand or even sure influence Fugazi for that matter. The music that Prize Country is making today, though reminiscent of another time and place, should be blazing a present path for caustic, heavy, yet melodic bands to thrive instead of living in virtual anonymity. For now, at least in these sometimes scary soft times, Prize Country’s visit existed as an extremely intimate event that only a handful of dedicated, like minded, and tasteful folks had the wherewithal to attend. To that end, the privilege and pleasure of basking in their relatively undiscovered amplified greatness was indeed all mine.
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