Chicago – The beauty in the punk scene is the camaraderie, and on Monday night at Bottom Lounge, there was plenty of it. Philly four-piece Beach Slang was performing for a packed house. Frontman James Alex couldn’t believe so many people showed up and filled the room. Upon first getting a glimpse during load-in, he worried not enough people would show. He wholeheartedly admitted to still feeling as though he’s playing small shows, hoping all his friends show up, but really it felt like you were at a friend’s show, with it being incredibly intimate and fun… but above all, you felt safe. You were with people who love music. People who aren’t there to be cool or to judge or anything other than to be themselves in the moment, spending an evening with a band they connect with and truly love.

The beauty and magic of Beach Slang’s music is the shared experiences. The band’s songs speak of human emotions, frailty, and hope. In an interview with Best New Bands, James Alex discussed the catharsis surrounding his songwriting:

The sort of overlying thing I say to people is like, that sort of healing is a two-way street. I can write these [songs] and put them out there, and there is a catharsis in that to me, for sure – just the process of writing and digging into feelings – but to me, the real sort of healing happens when I put those out and they connect with somebody, who gives that back to me. I never feel like I’m fixing people; I feel like we’re fixing each other. There’s this really beautiful, reciprocal thing that happens. I always found that odd about rock and roll, where these people became these mythological creatures, that were larger than life. All that stuff is meaningless, if there isn’t somebody feeding it or giving it life or making it matter. The only reason these songs matter is because people have chosen to make them matter, and that’s not lost on me.

Beach Slang definitely matters to those who have discovered the band’s music. The Pennsylvania band began building a strong fan base following the release of the 2014 EP Who Would Ever Want Anything So Broken? (Dead Broke Records). The band released another 2014 EP Cheap Thrills on a Dead End Street (Tiny Engines), and then in early 2015, Beach Slang released a split with five other bands, titled Strength in Weakness (via Lame-O Records). Later that year, the foursome put out the critically acclaimed debut full-length The Things We Do To Find People Like Us on Polyvinyl Records. Every Beach Slang album is honest and raw, with Alex unapologetically wearing his heart on his sleeve.

At the Chicago show, Alex joked that for him writing Beach Slang songs is like a baptism, but on stage, it’s an exorcism of sorts. It really is. Through the music, the love, and camaraderie, the band and fans cast out their fears and worries. Negativity is washed away. The music cleanses everyone. The jokes and stage banter spread laughter and smiles. A Beach Slang show is like nothing experienced before. While you may have been to a punk show, a Beach Slang show is unique in that the band – but especially James Alex – lets personality fly free. You do feel as though James Alex (vocals,guitar,) Ed McNulty (bass), JP Flexner (drums), and Ruben Gallego (guitar) are your friends because the four are so incredibly genuine.

Throughout the night, Alex leapt around the stage, at times flying high, above the drum kit, while Flexner hit hard and passionately, never missing a beat. Gallego thrashed around, dripping sweat. McNulty strummed his bass, flashing a sly grin. Each member’s personality shown through, as they chatted with each other and with fans, who watched on adoringly and sang their hearts out to songs like “Hard Luck Kid,” “All Fuzzed Out,” and “Dirty Cigarettes.” A series of short covers – which included some Smashing Pumpkins and The Cure – had fans whistling and hollering. The band did play two complete covers, with Tommy Keene’s “Nothing Can Change You” and The Replacements’ “Bastards of Young.” In my opinion, the biggest winner of the night was “Bad Art & Weirdo Ideas,” simply because it made the five year-old next to me – who had been watching on in such awe – smile in delight. The night ended with the fan favorite “Punk or Lust.” Arms raised in approval. Heads banged. Everyone seemed happy… and at home.

Beach Slang is currently touring the East Coast of the U.S. This summer Beach Slang will also be touring Europe. A full list of tour dates can be found on Beach Slang’s Facebook page.

Photography by Sarah Hess for Best New Bands. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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Sarah Hess

At the age of six, Sarah Hess discovered True Blue by Madonna. This resulted in her spending hours in front of the bathroom mirror with a hairbrush microphone, belting out "La Isla Bonita" off key. Her love for music only intensified over the years thanks to her parents; her mother exposed Sarah to The Jackson Five and had her hustling to the Bee Gees, while her father would play her albums like 'Pet Sounds' and 'Some Girls' from start to finish, during which he'd lecture on and on about the history of rock & roll. Sarah would eventually stumble upon rap and hip-hop, then punk and alternative, and fall madly in love with Jeff Buckley and film photography.

After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.


You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.

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