Murder City Devils @ Nokia Theater, February 13th

Murder City Devils are no longer the kind of band that sets their drums on fire, or plays dive bars. For quite some time they were technically no longer even a band. But for now, having reunited for a series of shows instead of just one, they were a band. The kind of band who packed Nokia Theater Times Square, a venue normally reserved for acts like Sugarland, Dashboard Confessional & Alkaline Trio. Something about rockabilly, punk, hardcore, and reformed hardcore types descending on the turf of emo kids and soccer moms made their manic takeover all the more sweet.

Front-man Spencer Moody, who used to sport glasses and short hair, and bore an odd resemblance to Harvey Danger front-man Sean Nelson, now looks even more the part of morbid garage punk vocalist, having traded in the glasses and acquired a full beard. Otherwise, glancing at the stage, it was the same old Murder City Devils of Pacific Northwest lore.

It took all of five seconds into the opener, “Press Gang,” for the crowd to throw themselves around the floor in a frenzy, with multiple mosh circles opening, and everyone being swayed back and forth, side to side. Hands in the air, everyone screamed along to classics like “I Want A Lot Now (So Come On)” and “It’s In My Heart” to the newest material, like “Bear Away” and “Midnight Service At The Mutter Museum.” Having waited some nine years since the Murder City Devils’ last East Coast jaunt, no one was anything short of ecstatic. As guitarist Dann Galucci flung himself around & Moody wriggled on the stage, it seemed the Devils had found, once more, whatever it was that compelled them to be in the group in the first place.

The only downside was, between their songs’ short length, and the show’s full-throttle energy, 18-songs went by all too fast. Later that evening, the band’s twitter read, “Thank you New York. See you again soon.” Here’s hoping that’s true.

To see all of the T-Sides pictures, click here. For more info, including the (almost complete) Setlist, click the jump.

SETLIST
Press Gang
I Want A Lot Now (So Come On)
Dancin’ Shoes
Bear Away
?
Fields Of Fire
It’s In My Heart
Idle Hands
?
Midnight Service At The Mutter Museum
Johnny Thunders
Rum To Whiskey
I Drink The Wine
Dance Hall Music
Iggy
Encore: Murder City Riot
18 Wheels
?

If you know any of the missing songs, please e-mail and let us know! taylor @ t-sides . com

Murder City Devils Official Site
Murder City Devils on MySpace
Murder City Devils on Twitter