The greatest live shows are put on by bands that love performing more than they love anything else, and The Everymen is a prime example. This New Jersey outfit’s live energy is so strong that it’s palpable on their recordings, which actually suffer for their boisterousness—the ragged vocals and heavy distortion that feels distracting on their studio albums is custom built for live shows. They’ve always made a point of having fun on their albums, and in person, the band emanates the vibe of a punk rock, boozy, fun-loving soul party.
At Glasslands last Tuesday, The Everymen brought a grab-bag of musical styles on stage with them: using a smattering of instruments in pursuit of their rollicking cause, the band put on the rowdiest show of the evening. The week-night crowd was sparse but engaged, an odd mix of attendees to match the odd mix of acts. Later in the evening, bass-drum duo Nømads played a set that was the near-opposite of The Everymen’s. With only a crackling noisiness in common, the pair played a series of isolated, stripped-down songs that further impressed on me their predecessor’s all-inclusiveness. The set’s glorious messiness, its singalong hooks and unceremonious mashing together of styles came together in a way that felt particular to the spontaneity of live performance. In the style of other bands best seen live despite impressive studio releases, The Everymen create a special energy onstage.
