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The Koffin Kats, Oi!l Change, and Jokers Republic...Skelletones, July 22, 2022

Skelletone's is a venue that was iconic for a certain demographic of West Michigan music fans.  As an all-ages venue, they played host to much of the straightedge hardcore scene back in the day.  Located on Division Avenue in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, they played host to bands like August Burns Red, UnderOath, and A Day To Remember.  My first experience at Skelletone's was seeing Mental Infestation back in 2006.  The venue closed in 2009, then reopened again during 2021.  I'm very glad I got the opportunity to view the rebirth of an iconic venue with some great bands!

The opening acts were Joker's Republic out of New Jersey, and Oi!L Change out of Grand Rapids.  Joker's Republic wonderfully blends Gen Z nihilism with a 90s ska-punk sound.  I seriously dig it!  Keep an eye on these guys!  Oi!L Change also has a 90s punk sound, though theirs is more reminiscent of Pennywise and that sort of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 soundtrack.  I made sure to purchase some merch from Joker's Republic because I didn't know when I was going to see them again - this was their first trip to Grand Rapids, and I certainly hope it was a memorable one (I know it was memorable on this end!).  I've seen Oi!L Change on a few playbills around town, so I plan on seeing them again if at all feasible.  Their anarchism is...well, I wanted to throw a few bucks their way to support them and their message, but they refused any payment for any of their merch or anything.  Oh well, I'll support them by buying venue tickets or something.

The main event were The Koffin Kats, out of Detroit.  Rockabilly punk on a standup bass; iconic Misfits-esque imagery punctuated by operatic vocals - seriously, was Vic classically trained as a singer?  Echoes of The Nekromantix were heard in some of their stuff, and I heard a little Social Distortion as well, though I'm a huge Social Distortion homer, so take that with a grain of salt.

It was great seeing Skelletones opened again.  As I've grown older and more mature (ha, right?) I've learned to appreciate the vast swaths of music that I didn't appreciate growing up.  Until I got into college and discovered music piracy, my lil' narrow band of music was unrelentingly restrictive.  I literally only listened to country - this was the 90s, so that's got its own sort of cult following in reaction to the Bro Country movement of the 2010s.  So, I truly did not appreciate the hardcore scene that Skelletones had cultivated when I first went there in 2006.  It's taken me a while, but I'm learning.

Anyway, crank up the speakers, here's a little auditory sampling of the show!









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