Three-for-One Punk Magic at the Arcada: Hayley and the Crushers, The Queers, and Screeching Weasel
By Colette Custin Bevard
Friday night at the Arcada Theatre felt like a reunion of punk’s most beloved lifers, and opener Hayley and the Crushers wasted no time making their case for headlining in the future. Led by guitarist Hayley Cain and bassist Dr. Cain Esq., the band brings the true embodiment of power pop punk. Touring in support of their latest, Unsubscribe From The Underground, and fresh off a stop at the Turner Ballroom in Milwaukee the night before- the Crushers hit Arcada’s classic stage like a glitter bomb. Their recent single “Jewel Case” was a particular standout as a punchy, self-aware anthem that had even the uninitiated nodding by the repeat of the chorus. Originally from San Luis Obispo, California, now based in Detroit, the band’s sound and vibe carries a bit of each coast and a melodic punk freshness that felt genuinely exciting in a room full of veterans.
New Hampshire’s The Queers followed with a tight, relentless 40-minute non-stop run of sound. It’s no surprise to this author that they are often compared to the Ramones with a little Black Flag thrown in. Tracks from Love Songs for the Retarded brought a curious roar from the crowd. The Queers’ longtime partnership with Screeching Weasel has truly made them honorary fixtures of the Midwest punk circuit and the vibrant chorus of happy punks that ensued proved that.
The headliner of the bill, Screeching Weasel, needed no formal introduction. Formed in 1986 in Prospect Heights, Illinois, under a small Chicago bedroom label- Ben Weasel created a sound that arguably became the backbone of the Chicago punk scene. The set included a well-rounded mix of numbers from BoogadaBoogadaBoogada, My Brain Hurts, Anthem for a New Tomorrow, and others. Weasel’s sharp and irreverent stage banter was in fine form as the set moved with purpose- short songs, quick transitions, and non-stop call backs from the punk stalwarts in the crowd.
What made this triple bill so satisfying was how well the three outfits complemented each other without feeling redundant. Hayley and the Crushers brought the hunger and polish of a band on the rise, the Queers brought decades of road-tested simplicity, and Screeching Weasel brought the weight of legacy. For anyone who missed this celebration of melodic punk done right, the tour continues in St. Louis, Louisville, and Indianapolis next.
