Pull Your Card played a show at Supply and Demand bar in Long Beach on Friday, March 18 that ended with a fan taking off and passing his prosthetic leg to a friend, who ran into the mosh pit to attack the crowd.
The concert included acts from Pull Your Card, Vamachara, Dead Heat, Twist of Cain, Desmadre, and Wrath of God. Fans packed into all corners of this small venue to enjoy the spectacle. The anticipation for Pull Your Card caused people to stay inside during the break, hoping to maintain a good vantage point.
Pull Your Card started with their song “Los Angeles” off of their latest record. Energy grew and grew, suggesting that the end of their set would set the bar for future performances at this small venue.
The chaos that ensued while Pull Your Card finished “Your God,” and surpassed expectations. As the red lights above poured onto the crowd, the entire mosh pit exploded with activity. The hard riffs and dynamic drumming seemed endless, and the band played with such intensity that it seemed as if the tiny stage was going to collapse.
Vamachara started with their song “Reign of Hate” and was instantly met with an explosion from the crowd. About two minutes into the set, the isolated China cymbal signaled the incoming chaos. With the words “bullet to the head,” dozens of people jumped into the mosh pit, all I could see was flailing arms as the band finished their song.
Vamachara ended their set with “Deliverance,” a song known by a majority of fans, which was reflected by the tote bags in the crowd with the lyrics emboldened across the front.
The band took advantage of the common knowledge within the crowd and handed the microphone down to fans close to the stage.
The congregated mob of fans screamed the lyrics, “I won’t see heaven when I die”, into the microphone while the people who couldn’t fit danced behind them until the music died out.
Wrath of God performed in a way that made the audience forget that it was the opening act. Typically opening performers get a crowd of people unimpressed, waiting for the headliner to come up on stage so that they can expend the energy they have waited all night to unleash. Wrath of God received a response unknown to most small bands who have been chosen to play first.
Twist of Cain started performing just this year in Los Angeles but has nonetheless already made a name for themselves. The long slow rifts encouraged attendees to get moving, and by the end of their set the band had fallen in line within my list of best opening acts.
Desmadre was up third and I found it a bit underwhelming compared to the other starting bands. Perhaps it was the exhaustion of the crowd from the first two bands, but nonetheless, each breakdown was met with little action in the mosh pit. The drums and vocals were well done, but the rhythm and backup guitarists didn’t seem to meet the mark.
Dead Heat’s thrashy sound was just what the show needed. After seeing them five or six times in my life, this hard hitting performance was objectively good, but a bit worn down from years of attendance.
Overall, while some acts may have seemed tame, the composition of this bill was immaculate and the overall energy for the event seemed to get absorbed by the people in the back, who were just as engaged as the attendees in the front. Overall I would rate this concert 8/10.
