Lately, I've been growing tired of the typical "indie rock" live show experience. While everything usually sounds great, and I'm seeing a band I really love, shows are typically low-key and involve head-nodding, artsy-ness, and a crowd that takes everything way too seriously (and often times, I'm a member of that crowd). So when I heard about a punk/pop-punk show at The Red Herring, taking place on a Sunday night, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to inject some much-needed, blatant fun into a show-going history filled with art pop and whatever else I tend to get myself mixed in with.Featuring locals Midstress and Horrible Things, out-of-town acts Sleepyhead, Strong City, and Boilerman, this punk rawk show delivered exactly what I needed to pull myself out of this tired, cynical state I find myself entering as 2012 approaches its last months. For me, pop punk encapsulates two concepts:1. A chance to reminisce and go crazy doing so2. Songs that are, essentially, all the same song. But, since that song is really great and a whole mess of fun, you can listen to it over and over again and never grow tired of it.Pop punk seems to be a state of mind, and so even if I'm out until 1:30 a.m. on a Monday morning, with a class to get to by 9, I'm still in a good place to boogie hard and get through the rest of the day.Here are some photos from another great show, hosted by The Red Herring:
