Live review: Gatsbys American Dream live at Gramercy Theatre

New York, NY – 27 April 2024

Never going home, Not really, We’ll take this evening everywhere we go

My introduction to Gatsbys American Dream was quite unique. I was used to finding acts thanks to tours where they found themselves opening for acts I already knew, or maybe they’d find themselves in a thank you for an album I was digging at the time. But GAD came to me thanks to a postage stamp sized ad in a 2003 issue of Alternative Press. The ad was for Rocketstar Records and featured an Acceptance EP, a This Providence album and then a coming soon place for Ribbons and Sugar from Gatsbys American Dream. I fell hard for the band name, I mean what kind of self-respecting pretentious jerk-off would I be if I didn’t think I’d look immediately clever with this unknown band from the other side of the country with its esoteric band name. I didn’t care if I was going to enjoy the music, I needed it to feed into my pomposity, so I ordered the only available release Why We Fight off of Interpunk and waited to be the coolest kid in my Kia Rio. 

Turns out the record was great and each subsequent release was better and Gatsbys became one of my favorite bands at the time. I was obsessed, nary an evening at the Blockbuster Video in Oak Ridge, NJ ended without one or both of these albums replacing the trailer disc we were supposed to play. Matter of fact, last week about 20ish years after it was put up, i learned there is still a GAD sticker on the stop sign at the exit from the strip mall there from my days on the street team. 

I never missed a show when they came through the greater NYC-area, never missed a chance to rave about these dudes and then it just stopped. The band disbanded and I was left chasing down torrents and Smartpunk copies of the seemingly endless supply of side projects and side side projects.

Last year the band returned with an LA show, then a hometown Seattle performance, then a bit of radio silence until finally they returned to NYC and you can bet your ass my old, aching bones were going to all the fucking way sold onto that one. So I here I am, at Gramercy Theater, with Something Bitter and MakeWar opening for Gatsbys rather than at my daughter’s softball game (I watched the livestream, they lost, she played a hell of a game, thanks for asking!). It was more than I could’ve hoped for. 

Something Bitter is a fast and fun pop-punk quartet from New York with the boundless energy of a toddler at bedtime and the sound of your next favorite band.  Opening acts are supposed to ramp up the energy in the room, but Something Bitter needed no ramp as they started the night off with passion in every note and the crowd in their hands.

Fat Wreck’s Brooklyn bi-lingual legends MakeWar followed up with their aggressive and impassioned ass-kicking. Lyrically and musically, things can get intense, but as the long-haired trio were super chill on the stage and seemed to be happy just to have a chance to spend 35 minutes with all of us. It was a delightful expression of humility to see these dudes be dudes at a hometown show kicking all the ass

MakeWar was out there reminding me of the fast, fun, non-hyphenated punk I loved so much before I got too fat (not wreck), too old and too jaded to believe I could make a difference. For a band that’s been kicking around as long as they have, as well as they have I’m ashamed to admit this was my first time checking MakeWar out but holy fuck what a set! Time to click the follow option on Bandsintown so I never miss another chance on these dudes.

And then it happened. For the first time in 13 years, Gatsbys American Dream was back to slap NYC silly. Rudy, Ryan and Kirk took the stage before Nic began vocalizing “The Loosing of the Shadow” offstage, slowly centering himself on stage. It was subdued, chill and a complete departure from the manic motions I’d expected based on prior performances… but it was a short-lived calm prior to the perfect storm we stood witness to. 

The time away didn’t allow atrophy from the Seattle rockers. Behind the kit, Rudy remains one of the tightest, strongest drummers in the scene, Kirk remains a steady rhythm-keeping, acid-trip rendering of an Ashton Kutcher doppelganger, Ryan carries the musicality in a relaxed fury and Nic still perfectly plays the role of charismatic frontman pop-lock-and-rocking himself through the 26 track setlist. The band hinted at new music and hopes for a return… meaning each of us in the crowd are either excited to receive our American Dream… or face the “build me up false hope that’s hard to swallow.” (paraphrased, of course)

Beyond the charisma, beyond the amazing performance and beyond the nostalgic joy of the reunion, tonight, Gatsbys’ performance was centered on humility and gratitude. Gratitude of the opening acts, who seemed genuinely elated to be there with us tonight. Gratitude of the crowd, stoked beyond words to catch GAD return after 13 years away from the northeastern US. Gratitude from the band as Nic and Kirk, at different times, spoke about how grateful they were for people to buy tickets tonight in spite of current economic downturns. The gratitude was humbling considering the tickets were only $40 but as the band pointed out that was still 4 times the price last trek through the area.

It was a scene of community that reminded me of why I fell in love with the music.  Its a night that will never escape our minds and hearts. And, most importantly, it was an experience I will go out of my way to experience any time I see an opportunity. We’d waited 13 years for this and now that we got it, we all want more.