Strike Anywhere, 1/31/10
San Fransisco, California

It was a sold out show at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, California, and that meant one thing to guitarist Mark Miller from Strike Anywhere- familiar faces and places, since he once lived in the Mission District of the city. The guys of Strike Anywhere have been around for almost a decade, screaming at the masses with lyrics that never fail to make you stop and think. Their presence in the punk genre is more than just being part of the scene. Thomas Barnett, the lead singer, has stated that punk saved his life. This is something you can surely tell by the emotion that he brings with every performance, no matter how big or small his stage is.

One of the main things that make this band who they are is that they aren't afraid to speak their mind. Before they performed their song, "Infrared," Thomas started off by saying, "Imagine a world where 5 billionaires didn't control most of the world's knowledge..." This transition into their song not only made heads turn, but also inspired kids that mosh to feel the power that gets them pumped up to start doing wind mills and two steps. There were responses like, "Dude, these guys are f*cking serious!" And "They must be old timers." This all adds to the idea that their lyrics clearly grasp their listener’s attentions.

These guys make their jobs look like they were born to do it. They have matching tattoos that show not only their dedication, but also their passion for their band, that has become more like a family than anything. And when Thomas jumps on that stage and projects that huge voice out of his 5 foot-something stature, you can't help but pay attention and want to rise to the occasion.



Reviewed By: Samantha