The Sleeveens at The Spirit Room on Monday February 19, 2024 in Rochester, New York
Nashville and Dublin-based punk quartet The Sleeveens played an album release show on President’s Day at a decked out Spirit Room to a receptive crowd. Given the logistics of this far-flung group, it was actually the band’s second concert in a few months in the city. Front man Stefan Murphy has made Rochester a regular tour stop and many of those in attendance had the event circled on their calendars.
Murphy kicked off the night with a solo acoustic set. He performed tunes from his back catalog plus a few numbers from his current solo album “Hospital Verses.” Occasionally there was a dark streak to the lyrics that fit in nicely with the venue’s spooked out vibe. His new “Hospital Verses” material presented well in an acoustic setting. “The Story of Agnes” had Murphy singing like a troubadour on the opioid frontier with a sad song about the perils of addiction. The song “Crystal Chandeliers” was made better in a room full of chandeliers. Murphy checked off all the boxes with a tremendous classic baritone, fantastic song writing and a musical pedigree rooted in all the right places.
The audience was waiting for The Sleeveens to take the stage. The band released its self -titled album on Dirtnap Records earlier this month. A couple sitting next to me traveled an hour and a half in winter to catch the band. It was loud, fast and completely worth it. The band started and ended the night with “Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls.” In between was an outstanding rock show. Guitarist Eli Steele channelled the ghost of Johnny Ramone. Jamie Mechan swung it like Dee Dee Ramone on bass. Ryan Sweeney pounded the snot out of his drum kit. And Murphy added his talents. The result was like a do-over of the first wave of punk rock full on and stripped of any nonsense. Among the highlights were songs such as “Metallica Font” and the super high energy “Full Dollar.” One thing about The Sleeveens is that they know how to finish a song. Sometimes a band might be half way with its material, but The Sleeveens kept things where they needed to be. The band threw in a couple of covers including The Jim Carroll Band’s “People Who Died” dedicated to those who could be here. The band’s other cover “Get Over You” by The Undertones was recently placed on a Creem Magazine playlist. Sadly, the set went by way too quickly but the band was happy to hang around afterwards. The quality of the musicianship added to a unique venue made this show a hidden jem.
