Story by Dom Vigil
Photos by Austin Voldseth
If you’ve been part of the pop-punk scene at any point in your life, then you’ve likely noticed that it comes in waves. With bands like State Champs, Neck Deep and The Wonder Years currently dominating the forefront of the scene and veterans like New Found Glory and Sum 41 still going strong, one can’t help but wonder what’s next for the future of pop-punk. If you’ve been paying attention though, you already know – it’s in bands like Young Culture, Belmont and their up-and-coming peers.
On Wednesday night, the perfect pop-punk double-hitter came through Denver when New York’s Young Culture and Chicago’s Belmont played the Moon Room at Summit Music Hall. Despite the intimate setting, the turnout was strong and the energy in the room was even better.
When Young Culture hit the stage following Denver locals, Under The Floorboards, it was to an excited crowd of fans who saw them when they headlined The Marquis Theater earlier this year and an unsuspecting group of other concert-goers who would be bobbing their heads in no time. With their unique sound (and vocalist Alex Magnan’s near perfect runs), Young Culture quickly won over the growing crowd. The best thing about their set? Their diversity. One second, they were playing a high-energy typical pop-punk track (see “Bloom”) and the next, they were channeling their inner 90’s band with the catchy as hell “Pure Gold.” Young Culture’s ability to adapt and mold their sound is definitely something that will continue to set them apart from the pack.
On the other end of the spectrum was Belmont. The shift in energy was obvious from the moment that they hit the stage, and within one song, they already had their first few crowd-surfers and stage-divers in the tiny room. Belmont and Young Culture’s sounds couldn’t be more different, with Belmont taking on a more gritty, hard hitting brand of pop-punk, but that certainly didn’t matter to those in the crowd – and it shouldn’t matter to you either. That was the great thing about the lineup. Both bands were strong in their own way, neither outshining the other and making for a perfectly balanced night.
Both Belmont and Young Culture have been gaining quite a bit of momentum, and with their current tour just barely underway (they’re out on the road for another two weeks) they only have room to continue growing. My advice: check these guys out now before they both inevitably blow up.
Check out the full photo gallery from the show HERE.