We're Getting the Band Back Together
Last night, I drove my aged self 2 hours up to Philadelphia (!) on a weeknight (!!) to see the long-dormant Western Mass screamo legends Orchid play a reunion show at Union Transfer. If you’re not familiar, take a moment and give their album Chaos Is Me a listen. It’s less than 20 minutes, you’ve got this.
Intelligable Audio
The show was fantastic. For a band that hasn’t played since 2002, they were tight and energetic and sounded incredible. Obviously they didn’t play the entire catalog, but in an hour-long set, I can’t think of anything I feel like I was missing. The favorites came out fast and furious: “Le Desordre, C’est Moi,” “The Action Index,” “Amherst Pandemonium” pts. 1 and 2, and of course, “New Jersey Vs. Valhalla.” Songs that I don’t think too much about—”Eye Gouger” comes to mind—hit hard last night in the live context.
I was surprised, happily, by how many young people were in attendance. When we saw Avail reunite (at the same venue) in September 2019, the sold-out crowd was skewed older. Very much not the case here. I’m told it was similar up in Boston a couple days prior. I assume “Halving the Bones” hasn’t gone viral on TikTok (though maybe it should! Someone make that happen) so what’s up? With the internet and so many groups and scene oral histories, it’s easier than ever to digitally walk back through your favorite band’s favorite band and get into the history of even a niche scene like this. And I love that kids are doing it. That this band could do a run of sold out shows, packing venues with excited people of all ages, thrills me.
Speaking of venues. Screamo is weird to see in a thousand-plus person room like Union Transfer. Last summer, when City of Caterpillar played Avail’s Over the James Fest, I wasn’t terribly sad about missing them because something about seeing that style of music at a big outdoor festival seemed… wrong. Not to be that guy, but some genres just feel best experienced in a sweaty, hot, claustrophobic basement. That said, I am not complaining about getting to finally experience these songs live.
A Long Time Coming
I missed Orchid in their original run. I arrived at UMass Amherst in September 2001, and was not clued into the scene. Not that I would have seen them anyway; by the time I heard Chaos Is Me, after their 2002 breakup, I didn’t appreciate their sound. It was too harsh, too chaotic, too dark. I was coming from primarily listening to EpiFat, Lookout!, etc. punk and ska. I hadn’t really delved into the heavier sounds that were lurking in hardcore. It wasn’t until I tapped into what was happening in Boston, stuff like American Nightmare, The Suicide File, Hope Conspiracy, etc., that I was able to go back and explore their catalog with ears attuned to their glorious noise.
I was a little worried how the band would sound after all this time. Would the songs hit? Of course, so much about music like this is the experience. It’s being in a room filled with people, having the force of the music hit your body like a physical object, arms outstretched and screaming along. The raw, communal energy flowing through the crowd. And that was there in spades. The songs the 1,200 people in attendance knew and loved came to beautiful, caustic life swirling around us. No one is asking Orchid to make a new album, and it doesn’t sound like they’re particularly interested in doing so. A good reunion can involve new music, but ideally it respects the legacy without tarnishing it. If you want to see what not to do, check out The Pixies. I’m glad I caught them back in 2004.
As for Orchid, I’d long made my peace with the fact that I would never see them. There are lots of bands that broke up before I got into and fell in love with them, and many of them will never, ever reunite, either due to members passing or an insurmountable amount of bad blood. Though it seems like that’s less and less the case, as the potential paychecks get bigger and bigger. That has a way of soothing egos. I’ve now seen Jawbreaker twice, another band who famously, bitterly fell out ages ago, and who I likewise resigned myself to never getting a chance to see.
I’m still betting I never get a shot at seeing Oasis or The Smiths, though.