The perks of living above a bar/live music venue is that, more times than not, the shows are free. It also serves as an antidote to the days when you don’t want to be alone but you also don’t want to venture too far from the safety of home.

A few nights ago the bar was hosting the record release party of a local band. It was a four band bill. I didn’t really care about the record release, and I didn’t know any of the bands playing. But I wanted to be out, and I wanted to listen to something, anything, live. I didn’t stay for the headliner. That’s because New Berlin, a punk band out of Austin, by way of McAllen, Texas, got all my attention and my money as I grabbed their LP. Before the third band took the stage, I was back upstairs headphones on, and the hi-fi turned way, way up.

When Greil Marcus first saw Gang of Four, he called them “the most interesting band [he’d] seen since the Sex Pistols—and the most exciting.” I’m not saying New Berlin is Gang of Four, but I am saying this: New Berlin is a band you should pay attention to.

Three unassuming young men: Michael Flanagan, Gustavo Martinez, and Andrew Richardson. Guitar, bass, and drums—straight forward, energetic, and full of attitude. New Berlin aren’t trying to melt anyone’s face with noise. Their album, Basic Function, is stripped down to the skeleton; it’s 24 minutes of perfect punk. Deceptive in its simplicity, it’s a record filled with wry, catchy lyrics, forceful guitars, chunky bass lines, and hyperactive drumming.

This is like late ‘70s UK punk. New Berlin would be right at home sharing a bill with the Desperate Bicycles, the Buzzcocks, and Honey Bane. That would be a show. I think what I’m trying to say is that New Berlin bring a number of punk sub-genres together under the umbrella of Basic Function. And it works.

‘Hardcore Punk’ lays out the band’s intentions—a kind of ethos— “I am a hardcore punk // dance with my arms outstretched / fist clenched bang chest / I am better than all the rest.” Which pairs well with ‘Service Bell,’ when Michael Flanagan sings “too cool for mom / too cool for dad / too cool for school / too cool too bad.” 

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But it’s not just manifestos and sneering disaffected cool. They show their laid back side with a down-tempo cover of Daniel Johnston’s ‘Mountain Top.’ And at their live show, they played a surf-punk version of The Rivieras’ ‘California Sun’—they did this with a kind of straight faced irony—showing their versatility and willingness to interpret classics of different genres.

I’m aware that I didn’t catch the boys at their best—technical difficulties plagued their set. But even at less than optimal, their set had me sat upright focused on the stage. What a surprise on a night when all I wanted was some sound to block out the silence. We all find out about our new favorite band in different ways, but, damn, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of being wowed for the first time during a live performance.

9 / 10

Pick up Basic Function here.