Rebuilder played O’Brien’s Pub – 11/7

Boston punk rock mainstays Rebuilder hosted the first of three nights at OB’s for their Local Support Fest 2024.

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Look, I don’t wanna talk about the election. Nobody I know with a conscience wants to talk about it. But since last Thursday with Rebuilder and friends was my first show after it happened, the context hung heavy in the air. Most conversations I had with friends that night began with some version of “How are you?” met with “Well, y’know…”

But the important takeaway of the evening wasn’t everyone’s collective despair and disgust – though there was plenty to go around. Rather, it was the catharsis we all helped manifest despite the circumstances. There is truly no place I’d rather be in times of trouble than a sold-out O’Brien’s Pub, surrounded by community, appreciating the power of the gig. Rock and roll won’t save us, but it still means a hell of a lot to me.

Every band on stage that night – hosts Rebuilder and night one guests in emo-power-pop pals Future Teens and indie rockers Shy Husky – said much the same during their sets, and in the moment I felt profoundly grateful to each of them for snapping all 80-ish of us in attendance out of a numb state of shock to remember there’s still bright spots out there.

This concludes the one post of this nature that I apparently write at some point during every election cycle now. Scroll below for the gallery from the night.