FFFF Live Review: Titus Andronicus

Photo by Sandy Carson

Titus Andronicus

The immensity of sound from New Jersey quintet Titus Andronicus was contained under the Yellow stage tent, a bizarre choice for the raucousness of its Civil War-themed punk. Nevertheless, security personnel calmly perched at the sides of the stage and braced for the storm. Within seconds of the first guitar rip, the first crowd surfer was up feet first, and throughout the performance the band remained unaffected by the stream of people hurled on, and subsequently off, stage. "Richard II," which speaks to the madness of crowds, perhaps summed up Titus Andronicus' performance: loud, angry, unifying. After all, it isn't often you see a punk band doing four-part harmonies. Guitar solo-driven cuts from 2010's The Monitor, "No Future, Pt. Three: Escape From No Future" and "A More Perfect Union" rounded off the set, but it was "No Future's" refrained cry, "You will always be a loser," screamed in perfect unison that made me think: Maybe that's not so bad with Titus Andronicus around.