The Murder City Devils

Photo by Shelley Hiam

The Murder City Devils

"This is really nice," Spencer Moody reported while stroking his beard after a particularly ferocious "Rum to Whiskey." Six years after the split, the Murder City Devils cemented their history-book status. When Leslie Hardy wound up the organ for opener "Dance Hall Music," from 1997's eponymous debut, the black-clad fanatics raised their fists in salute to the hardcore anthems. The sixpiece whipped through In Name and Blood's "Idle Hands," Thelema's "Bear Away," and Empty Bottles, Broken Hearts' "Dancin' Shoes" before pausing to survey the surroundings. It was old-school: thirtysomethings stage-diving, steel toes and Converse soaring, bodies jerking involuntarily. And as Moody's beer-consumption increased, so did his urgency as he belted out "Dear Hearts." "Press Gang" started the chant, and "18 Wheels" found Moody in hardhat, but with the twofer of "Broken Glass" (take two) and "I Want a Lot Now," the shit hit the fan. With seventh member Gabe "the Roadie" Kerbrat at Moody's feet, he hit stage in an embrace, screaming through hair and fuss. "We didn't practice a lot of songs," Hardy admitted as she returned to a darkened stage. Moody introduced "the first genuine encore in the history of music," and the band winged "One Vision of May" and "Fields of Fire." "Thank you!" guitarist Nate Manny cheered. "That's all the songs we know."