Uncool Halloween 2018
SWMRS throws a Halloween themed show, Uncool Halloween, at the UC Theatre in Berkeley every year. This year, they transformed the venue into Hogwarts.
I wish I would’ve known about the theme beforehand, because I would’ve put a little more effort into my (nonexistent) costume had I known all I needed was to throw on a Hufflepuff t-shirt. I love Harry Potter.
Apparently all of SWMRS’ parents made the decorations, just like last year. Jakob (frontman of Mt. Eddy) and Joey (drummer of SWMRS) Armstrong are the sons of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, who at one point came onstage dressed as Dumbledore. I had no idea it was him until I saw he had posted on instagram as Dumbledore. Oh I just love him.
On the lineup this year was Small Crush, Destroy Boys, Beach Goons, Mt. Eddy, Bleached, and obviously SWMRS.
I was a little late, so I missed Small Crush. Never heard of ’em.
Destroy Boys
I’ve seen Destroy Boys open for either Mt. Eddy or SWMRS before, I can’t remember which, but I know I’ve seen them play Gilman. Honestly, they blew me away.
They fit in with the theme of the night, dressed like Harry Potter characters.
They killed it live. I just started listening to their latest album Make Room since this show, and I am OBSESSED.
Beach Goons
I wasn’t familiar with these guys (although I love the fact that the word “goon” is in their name) so I didn’t mind missing part of their set to hit the bathroom.
But I did catch them play a cover of “La Bamba.”
Mt. Eddy
They’re so good. I really love them. But apparently this is their last show??? They didn’t seem to make a big deal out of it, which was super weird, but whatever. I guess that’s it.
They played a bunch of newer songs I didn’t recognize.
Bleached
I headed up to the bar area to see the Oakland Coffee crew since I’m not familiar with Bleached. Apparently they’re the only band on the bill that Kate (who basically runs Oakland Coffee) knew of before becoming #greendayrelated.
Michael: “You can go back to the pit. I know you want to.”
Me: “I’ll go back for SWMRS. I don’t know this band.”
Michael: “You’re who bands want at shows, not us.”
Me: “Oh I know this song!”
Kaiti: “It’s a Ramones cover.”
Me: “Oh… That’s how I know it.”
I don’t remember what song it was they covered. I tried to get a video of it but was too slow getting my phone out, so I ended up recording part of their next song instead.
SWMRS
I went back down to the pit for SWMRS like I said I would, and was hit with a ton of deja vu of last year’s show. I stayed away from the moshing, mostly on the sides of the pit, but I had to at least be near the action.
Cole Becker was doing most of the singing tonight, and he definitely lost his shirt at one point toward the end of the set because he was going so hard.
They have so much energy. They definitely kill it onstage.
They finally brought back “Tito Don’t Give Me the Stink Eye”! They used to play this song live every time I saw them, but they didn’t include it on Drive North, so it kinda fell off the setlist for a while. But I think the Drive North era is coming to an end, so it’s time to start playing other songs again. Not sure when a new album is due out, but I’d guess within the next year probably? Hopefully.
I think I might actually like Mt. Eddy a bit more than SWMRS honestly, but they’re both really fun. It was a good night overall.
