ALBANY — On March 9, Albany hardcore icons Straight Jacket reunited for a one-off show, playing together for the first time since 2007. Accompanied by a diverse lineup of bands and a packed house at Empire Live, the group delivered a fiery set of their classic songs, which reminded everyone of why they were one of the most popular local bands to see in the region’s heavy music scene of the ’90s.
The night kicked off with NYHC-influenced locals Grand Street, who tore through a set of material from their demo. Bouncing between blistering verses, groovy choruses and brutal breakdowns, the band set the heavy tone for the remainder of the evening.
Albany deathcore unit Assault On The Living took the stage next as the crowd began to fill in. With their mix of ultra slow, ultra low breakdowns and classic death metal blasts, the band whipped the audience into a whirlwind of windmills and spinkicks. The group played a handful of tracks off their newest album, the recently released Dead World Divide, and brought out Todd Farrell of Troycore staples .357 Justice to accompany them on a crushing cover of 518 death metal heroes Traumaside.
Capital Region-based Spiritkiller came on third, bringing their ’90s hardcore style to an active audience. Channeling their off-balance riffs and slick rhythm changes, the band played a set of songs from their recently released EP and single, as well as a few new tunes. Between songs, vocalist Charles Cure reminisced on his first time seeing Straight Jacket, at Bogies in the ’90s.
“It blew my mind,” he said, before adding, “I might mosh tonight.”
Next came NYHC metallic hardcore/crossover veterans Sworn Enemy, who played Albany frequently throughout the 2000s, and recently appeared at Empire Live for the 2024 Extreme Music Awards. The reaction, as one might expect, was all positive.
“You guys are always one of the best crowds,” Sworn Enemy vocalist Sal LoCoco told the audience.
The NYC band played a brutal set of their heavy hardcore, inciting an intense pit and plenty of sing-alongs. With inflatable balls bouncing around the room, Sworn Enemy pulled out some classics, including the title track to their debut album, Negative Outlook.
New York hardcore legends Underdog then finished the lineup of openers, playing a vibrant set chock-full of their unique old-school style. “It’s oldies but goodies,” vocalist Richie Birkenhead mused, after mentioning the band was going on four decades. The dancers in the audience two-stepped their way through songs like “Frontside Grind,” “The Vanishing Point,” and the reggae infused “Mass Movement.”
Finally, the crowd moved to the front of the room as the headliners assembled stage-side to the smooth sounds of the R&B classic “Reunited” over the P.A. The pit began to open up as the sample of bells and strings that opened Straight Jacket’s 1995 I See Nothing demo filled the air. And from the opening moments of “Final Cry,” band and audience alike were transported back to Straight Jacket’s intense late ’90s live sets.
“My brain is scrambled,” vocalist Greg “Tiny” Kennedy said between songs. “I’ve been nervous for six months.”
If the nerves were still affecting him, though, it wasn’t noticeable to the audience. The band ripped through 12 songs spanning their entire output, including several tracks from their original demo, like set opener and closer, “Final Cry” and “I See Nothing,” respectively.
In the quiet moments between, Kennedy thanked the audience, his family, everyone involved with the show, and his “beautiful band,” as well as giving history lessons on Straight Jacket’s time together. The feeling of gratitude and enjoyment shined through, as smiles could be seen on the faces of bassist Sean Green and guitarists Thom Lytle and Mike Comtois (of Dissent and Anacortez, filling in for Jim Brassard) throughout.
For a band that hadn’t played together in over 15 years, Straight Jacket certainly did not disappoint their rabid fan base. Each band member was incredibly locked in and on point, and drummer Joe Clark’s double kick blasts sent the audience into a frenzy.
As the crowd sang along to every word of songs like “Nightmares” and “Ashamed,” it was clear that the love for Straight Jacket in Albany hadn’t fizzled, even after all this time away.
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Straight Jacket – 3/9/24 at Empire Live, Albany, NY (Photos by Benjamin Hunt)
Underdog – 3/9/24 at Empire Live, Albany, NY (Photos by Benjamin Hunt)
Sworn Enemy – 3/9/24 at Empire Live, Albany, NY (Photos by Benjamin Hunt)
Spiritkiller – 3/9/24 at Empire Live, Albany, NY (Photos by Benjamin Hunt)
Assault on the Living – 3/9/24 at Empire Live, Albany, NY (Photos by Benjamin Hunt)
