Knuckle Puck performs at sold-out Frankies Inner City

3/12/2018
BY GEOFF BURNS
BLADE STAFF WRITER
  • Knuckle-Puck

    Knuckle Puck performs at Frankies Inner City in Toledo Sunday night.

    THE BLADE/GEOFF BURNS
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  • If there was one place where pop punk fans could briefly unite it was at Frankies Inner City in Toledo on Sunday night.

    More than 300 people squeezed in from wall to wall to make the night a sold-out show featuring a pop punk bill such as Jetty Bones, Hot Mulligan, Free Throw, Boston Manor, and headliners Knuckle Puck.

    Standing inside the dimly lit venue almost made the 30-degree temperature outside forgettable due to the building’s humidity. Yet, that didn’t seem to stop people from stage diving and crowd surfing while fiercely pumping their fists and screaming lyrics while hoisted by the hands from those beneath.

    VIDEO: Knuckle Puck at Frankies Inner City

    Pop rock band Jetty Bones started the night around 6:30 p.m. Fronted by Ohio native Kelc Galluzzo, Jetty Bones was seen performing songs such as “Lumos” and “Second Death in the Rabbit Hole” from its 2016 EP Crucial States. Galluzzo was seen shedding a tear after performing the band’s song “Innocent Party” from Jetty Bones’ 2017 EP Old Women. But it was a tear of happiness. Here she was belting out a song about a personal struggle and now literally dancing on stage knowing she won the battle.

    Perhaps the funniest moment came from Lansing, Mich., five-piece Hot Mulligan when the guitarist jokingly introduced the band’s song “All You Wanted By Michelle Branch” as “here’s a cover.”

    Branch tweeted at the band in January saying she was confused at the song’s title since the track was not actually a cover of “All You Wanted.”

    Hot Mulligan’s 25-minute set included songs such as “Something About A Bunch Of Dead Dogs,” “I Replied To Tyler With Three Blue Cars,” and “The Sound Track To Missing A Slam Dunk.”

    Nashville, Tenn., band Free Throw performed third with a 30-minute set of about eight songs such as “Randy, I Am The Liquor,” “Hope Spot,” and “Tongue Tied.” The band’s set was when the night’s energy really started warming up, as people started to jump and push each other.

    England band Boston Manor followed with a 30-minute set before headliner Chicago pop punk act Knuckle Puck took the stage at 9:45 p.m.

    Opening with its song “Double Helix” from the band’s 2017 full-length album Shapeshifter, the crowd immediately pushed each other toward the front of the stage and every minute others were seen somersaulting over the hands of the crowd beneath them and climbing on and jumping off the small stage.

    Other highlights included songs such as “Disdain,” “Poison Pen Letter,” and “Evergreen” from its 2015 album Copacetic. The band played more songs from Shapeshifter including “Gone” and “Want Me Around,” as well as oldies such as “No Good” from the band’s 2013 EP The Weight That You Buried and “Bedford Falls” from its 2014 EP While I Stay Secluded. Keep in mind this was in between the band passing out bottles of water to the crowd because of the heat.

    While standing in the back of the room, one could only think of what a win the night was for Toledo while watching people screaming and jumping off the stage. It was absolute chaos, but beautifully celebrated.

    Contact Geoff Burns at gburns@theblade.com or 419-724-6054.