McHenry, IL – 27 Mar 2025
The triumphant return of Screeching Weasel!
The late 2024 announcement of the return of Screeching Weasel to the live stage set the punk rock world ablaze. These would be the first shows for the band since their 2019 show in Chicago. Since then, Ben Weasel and company have released two stellar albums in both Some Freaks of Atavism and The Awful Disclosures Of Screeching Weasel. In addition, the band has been consistently offering reissues and remasters of classic albums. Needless to say, Weasel Mania has been running wild. Screeching Weasel first announced a homecoming weekend at Reggie’s Rock Club in Chicago. After an immediate sell-out, the band added shows to bookend this weekend in McHenry, IL and Hobart, IN. Shortly after, additional performances out West as well as festival appearances at Punk In The Park were confirmed. 2025 definitely has become the “Year of the Weez” so to speak. I had the chance to attend the band’s return to the stage on Thursday, 27 Mar 2025 at The Vixen in McHenry.
The band walked onto the stage as the opening drum beat of “I’m Gonna Strangle You” hit which set the floor of The Vixen into a mad frenzy. Bodies immediately flew in every direction as the crowd screamed the lyrics back to the band. My Brain Hurts was then covered through fan favorites “Veronica Hates Me” and “I Wanna Be With You Tonight” which were meet with equal excitement. Next was the live debut of “Settle In” from Some Freaks Of Atavism.
This would be a good moment to point out the live band for Screeching Weasel. Along for the ride with Ben are long time recording and touring members Zack Brandner on bass, Pierre Marche on drums and Mike Hunchback on guitar. In addition, the band has enlisted Ginger from The Queers who added some youthful energy to the performance.
The hits kept on coming in the form of “Guest List” followed by “Slogans.” My personal favorite from Some Freaks Of Atavism, “Back Of Your Head,” was next and was met with as much energy and excitement as classic Weasel material. The band turned to the often overlooked How To Make Enemies And Irritate People for “I Wrote Holden Caulfield” and “99.” Sandwiched in between these two were “Totally” and “The Science Of Myth” which possibly had the most intense crowd reaction of the evening. The recently reissued and remastered Boogada Boogada Boogada received attention in the form of both “Supermarket Fantasy” and “This Ain’t Hawaii.” Don’t blink too fast or else you might miss them!
Both “Totem Pole” and “Baby Talk” from First World Manifesto resulted in somewhat of a break in the action for the rabid crowd. In between these two tracks though were fan favorites “Hey Suburbia” and “I Can See Clearly Now.” My personal favorite and most memorable track of the evening was “The First Day Of Summer” from the immensely underrated Bark Like A Dog. Wiggle was finally covered in the epic “It’s All In My Head” which was extremely well received. It was proven that My Brain Hurts is easily the most recognizable album in the catalog due to the explosive crowd reaction to “Cindy’s On Methadone” which followed.
Though the Emo album after all these years still has never fully clicked, “Acknowledge” is always a banger of a live track. Unfortunately, few in the packed crowd seemed to know the tune. An oddly placed “Dingbat” followed which sent bodies flying in every direction. “My Favorite Nightmare” from the most recent The Awful Disclosures Of Screeching Weasel made its live debut during the set as well. I fully admit to not having yet given this album the proper attention it deserves. It will be hitting my turntable again soon. The crowd pleasing “Joanie Loves Johnny” followed. After all these years, Ben’s comedic rambling during the bridge still makes me chuckle! The band ended with a true 1-2-3 punch in the form of “What We Hate,” “My Right,” and “Cool Kids.” I know that “Cool Kids” has always been somewhat of the “hit” track from Bark Like A Dog, but I have always wished they pulled more from that album live. My personal take aside, the set ended with a bombastic applause.
Coming up in the Chicago punk scene, I have been lucky to have seen countless incarnations of the Screeching Weasel lineup dating back to “The Revenge Of Screeching Weasel” show in 1990. Comparisons of these lineups simply would not be fair. I truly believe that every band has the right to go out and perform their material. Of course there will always be members past and present who were the catalyst in the formation and creation of a band’s most iconic work. Credit needs to also be given to those members who are currently keeping the train rolling along and entertaining fans both new and old. I strongly encourage anyone who might be skeptical in seeing the iconic Screeching Weasel to go to the show! The performance was both well-paced and energetic. Ben Weasel also seems to be having the time of his life up on stage. Based on the band’s current itinerary, it seems there are no current signs of slowing down.
I am mostly known in cyberspace as a vinyl junkie and punk rock bassist! Fair assessment. I am the bassist of the Chicago area power pop / pop punk band SPACE AGE ZEROS.
