Iowa Park Punk: Ya Down with IPP?
Basics, It Hurts to Be Dead, and Ladybird, live in Iowa Park, Texas
Wichita Falls punk/emo band Basics has been one of my favorite local bands since I first saw them play, and when they announced the release of their new EP and a launch party with Ladybird and It Hurts to Be Dead, I knew it was a show I had to see.
It was a triple-bill of power punk, and based on the comments that came flooding in on social media, it was the most awesome thing to happen in Iowa Park in a long time.
The venue was on Cash Street, in a space owned by Basics’ drummer Maycen’s dad. It’s normally Basics jam pad, and aside from an open jam, it was the first time they’d ever hosted a show in the spot. I was impressed… the bathroom was clean, the space was organized with a nice merch table and a cozy space to cut loose and enjoy some punk. Garry Walden’s Ladybird kicked off the night.
Ladybird was incredible, as always, with tight punk songs, memorable lyrics, and barely-controlled energy.
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Another of Texoma’s best bands, It Hurts to Be Dead, played second. Sean Snyder and his band continue to carry the torch for punk transcendence, with songs that start electric and raw but evolve into something elegant and refined as you listen. Their set at Iowa Park Punk was no different.
The occasion of the evening was the release of Basics new EP — Welp — but it was also a Halloween party. Although there were a few novel costumes in the crowd, Maycen and his girlfriend might have had the best of the bunch.
Basics played some of their more well-known numbers, the lead single from their new EP, Darles Chickens, plus DNR, and the rest of the 5-track release.
It was an incredible night in the end and aroused a lot of curiosity from some who couldn’t imagine an event like this happening in Iowa Park. The show went off without a hitch and there wasn’t any trouble. Let’s hope it’s the first of many.
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