Kicking off with their breakthrough album Bricks Are Heavy played in full and in sequence, L7 delivered a generous career-spanning set, channeling the rebellion and snot-nosed attitude of 80's and 90's American alternative rock. That sound and hasn't aged a bit in the thirty-plus year since that album's release, and tunes like “Pretend We’re Dead” and “Shitlist” sounded like they could have been released last year by a young punk band.
The second set was a testament to L7’s enduring legacy. They tore through highlights of their storied career: three tracks from Hungry for Stink (including this reviewer's personal favorites “Andres” and “Fuel My Fire”), and assorted tunes from Slap-Happy, Smell the Magic as well as their 2019 comeback album Scatter the Rats, and more. They also played their 2017 single “Dispatch from Mar-A-Lago,” a riotous middle finger to a certain twice-impeached convicted felon that we won't dignify by naming here.
While L7’s music may not appear as overtly militant as, say, Bikini Kill, whom we saw earlier in the month, last night's show proved that their music is just as ferocious, abrasive and, most of all, a whole lot of fun.
