On Friday, September 23rd, Kill the clock put on a show with their friends in Rescue Dawn and The Otherme in their basement at Fredonia University, properly titled The North Pole Strip Club.
My older brother, younger brothers girlfriend and I left my house around 9 pm and finally arrived at the N.P.S.C. after a little under an hour of a drive. There was no question we arrived at the right place, the front lawn was decorated with a big inflatable, lit up,polar bear and the echo of muffled sound of someone playing was apparent as soon as we opened our car doors.
We made our way through the side door, pushed past people coming up the basement stairs covered in sweat and entered the cramped and packed basement.
My older brothers' head hit the ceiling a few times as we searched for my younger brother in the small but packed basement.
The Otherme (Aidan Licker) had the crowd on the string of his finger, finishing up his set with a massive sing along and walking off stage while the guitar rang out.
We found my brother just as he finished, crowd cheering and patting him on the back as he made his way out (most likely to get some air).
As The Otherme tore down and Rescue Dawn set up, we made our way outside. The basement was hot and sweaty, just like a basement punk show should be.
Just as Rescue Dawn began we journeyed back down to the cramped space. The tore through their first few songs, loud and in your face with covers a plenty. I had quite a cold going on, and the humidity made it hard for me to breathe in the basement, so I dragged my brother back outside where we made friends with a few people.
Just as Rescue Dawn finished up, we came back to the basement to watch Kill the Clock.
They opened up to an original, Fighting the weather.
I must brag a bit here. I watched my brother play guitar enthusiastically for the first time (of his shows I've been to). He jammed and moved with each song, always impressing me with his incredible playing and versatility throughout their set. I was thoroughly impressed and incredibly proud to see him kick ass, knowing full well how much dedication he has to his craft.
After a couple original songs they dug through to their influences and out came the covers. Blink 182's Feeling This was the first, followed by Lit's My Own Worst Enemy.
Dan McCormick made the songs and lyrics his own and complimented my brother Joe's lead playing with his rhythm guitar perfectly, while Mike Tomasulo pounded on the drums expertly, and John Vaughan provided a clear, ripping bass and fantastic background vocals.
After 2 more originals, they played New Found Glory's My friends over you, getting the crowd in involved from the opening line.
Being friends with all the bands on the bill that night, Kill The Clock switched things up, and brought on Aidan Licker (The Otherme) to handle vocals on Brand New's Jude Law and a semester abroad. Dan McCormick moved to drums while Mike Tomasulo handled rhythm guitar and vocals with Aidan.
Tearing through Brand New, Aidan left the stage and Tom and Tanner from Rescue Dawn came on to join the band in covering Good Charlotte's The Anthem.
The crowd sang along and moved to the beat of each song, cheering loudly and smiling as the band joked between songs.
For their next original (and a favorite of mine), they played Arachnophobia and had Jorian Holka of Rescue Dawn help out on guitar before tearing through 2 more originals: Ghost Runner and To all my friends and family.
A few shout-outs and thank you's later, they played their final song: Sum 41's Fat lip, the perfect party song.
I haven't been to a show that fun in a long time.
