On The Scene: Mao Livehouse 09-30-2013

On the way to Jingweir’s faux CD launch at the Other Place I decided to stop by the King-Size China show at Mao Livehouse and say hi to some friends. And as typical in these situations, I just couldn’t keep the camera in the bag. Yeah, kinda went all out for Tookoo, the emo punk outfit who have interestingly slid more and more into Christian rock these past couple years. Just look at those get-ups.

Religious themes aside, Tookoo remains a visceral powerhouse of a band – one that clearly knows how to enrapture an audience. Check out more below.

While emo rock certainly doesn’t get the credit it deserves in certain music circles, there’s no denying the love it gets from audiences. Direct, cathartic, honest without a bit of shame, very much like hardcore, what the music lacks in subtlety is made up by brash and energetic melodies.

When you add in the in the religious elements, in a country where such religious fronting is rejected on a regular basis, you got yourself an intriguing backstory at the very least. It’s a fascinating angle that gives their songs a bit more oomph than you’re usual Christian band down out of Alabama – an unexpected emotional resonance if you will.

At the end of the day though, it’s comes back around to whether Tookoo rock and after tonights’ rousing set, I have no doubt that Tookoo are the lead defenders in the world of emo rock.