Big Ups Reunion Show Thoughts – 10/26/2024

Note: this was transferred from another blog I never truly launched

January 18, 2019 was the final Big Ups show. A band that meant a lot to me, one of the first bands I ever saw at Shea, a big part of what made me realize how special that place truly was. Their final show, at the Bowery Ballroom is among my all-time favorite shows, a packed house full of love for a weird New York band, it was an explosive celebration as much as it was a goodbye.

Then rumblings – a remix tape of Eighteen Hour Of Static was coming out, and I joked “I wonder if they’re gonna get back together” in the group chat, and next thing I know, it’s Saturday night and Joe’s screaming in my face as usual. I’ve talked about turning the clock back when it comes to other bands – but this Big Ups show at Market Hotel felt like the scene I fell in love with over a decade ago. Four interesting, bad ass, creative bands filling up a show. It was the first time in a while I truly felt that in New York. Not enough to move back, haha, but enough to remember why I truly miss spaces like Shea, DBA, 285, etc. 

But enough nostalgic bullshit. Big Ups ripped so hard on Saturday night. Their set was exactly what it needed to be. At first, it felt like maybe this was going to be a fairly tame show, until Joe jumped from the stage and started a pit himself. That was the catalyst for it all – from then on being in the crowd was as intense as the music coming from the stage. The band almost did the whole encore song and dance, but said fuck it and kicked into the final two songs. The show closed with an immense version of “Imaginary Dog Walker” complete with Joe crowdsurfing just one more time. Big Ups kicked ass, as expected.

As did the openers, Muscle, MULVA, and Washer. Washer is always a treat live, great tunes and energy. 

MULVA is a band of familiar faces, members of Kal Marks, Bethlehem Steel, etc, and their set was just fantastic. Huge huge sound. Muscle also had a massive sound, despite being just a drummer, bassist, and singer. 

You really couldn’t pick three more fitting bands to open this show. 

And seeing all the familiar faces, many I haven’t seen in years. Joe joked about it being like a high school reunion, but just like their “last show” at the Bowery, this strange, loud band continues to bring people together in a way they probably never expected. Big Ups Forever.