“Come on down and get in the mix / We get our kicks with bottles and bricks / When we walk together it feels alright,” sounds a lot like the chant of a unified, outcast rebellion. 70s rock and roll led to the punk scene, which brought together all of those who were hungry for a change in societal hierarchy. Sheer Mag has breathed new life into 70s pop rock, giving fans a glimpse into what it may have felt like to live in the era of “hair metal” and revolutions.
On Tuesday night, fans piled into the Hi Hat clad in leather jackets and ripped denim to catch Sheer Mag; a band that just simply gets them. Sheer Mag is an unapologetic, unabashed rock band, with nothing to hide and sure as hell no sugarcoating. What you see is what you get. Though the music itself is more reminiscent with obvious 70s heavy metal influences, evoking bands like Quiet Riot and in line with contemporaries like White Reaper, Tina Halladay’s voice instantly brings Janis Joplin to mind. Maybe if Janis Joplin decided to start wearing punk clothes and writing really “woke” lyrics. Sheer Mag has brought power back to the punks. With critical acclaim and a sold out show weighing down on their shoulders, one might think that the five-piece band would be slightly intimidated. Of course, they showed no such sign as they seemed to play every set with a bigger bite, barely taking a breath between songs.
Seeing Sheer Mag felt right at a time like this. While it may seem like the world is falling apart around us, bands like Sheer Mag are here to act as a beacon of light, to be a voice for those who’ve yet to find theirs, and to bring like-minded people together.
“You’ve got to fan the flames / You’ve got to stand up and break the chains.”