Welcome to another addition of LIVE RECAP. This time I caught two legendary returning acts Glassjaw and Quicksand at the Roseland Theater in Portland, OR. Having followed these groups for some time, it was exciting to finally catch them in person, and together no less. Hear about the show, listen to tracks, and see photos from their sets below.

SPOTLIGHTS

The opening act was Spotlights, a group we have shared here on the site before. Spotlights is a Brooklyn-based trio made up of married couple Mario and Sarah Quintero alongside drummer Chris Enriquez. The band released Seismic last fall via Ipecac Recordings. While this crew's shoegaze aesthetic wasn't exactly the major draw of the show, I was pleasantly surprised with how good they were. I'd rank them among the better openers I have come across thanks to their dreamy, intoxicating atmosphere. Plus I'm a sucker for badass women bassists. As I watched, I couldn't help but feel like this is an act you would catch on stage at Twin Peak's Roadhouse. Solid Stuff.

GLASSJAW

Glassjaw is also a band from New York, but one that has achieved classic status being around since 1993. They play an eclectic mixture of alternative, post-hardcore, metal, and electronic music that fit in nicely in an era dominated by similar groups like Deftones. Most recently, the band dropped their first album in 6 years with the excellent Material Control. They opened the set with a few rippers like fan favorite "Tip Your Bartender" and the more recent "Shira," but the lengthy performance sported many ups and downs. Jazzy, soulful crooners broke up the more menacing moments of groove-ridden hardcore.

QUICKSAND

Our headliner was the legendary Quicksand, which while not as popular as groups like Helmet and Fugazi, helped to elevate the alternative and post-hardcore scene in the 90's beginning at the top of the decade. Much like the previous band, they had dropped off the map for many years, resurfacing recently with the more chill Interiors in 2017. I have to say, I was a bit peeved with the audience. These guys don't have the same following as Glassjaw, and many of those fans dipped out before Quicksand took the stage. By the end of the set it was a pretty sparse group, which is unfortunate because their show was just as good.

Much to my pleasure, they played a number of their old school hits like "Dine Alone," "Omission," and "Freezing Process." It's this more aggro material that got me into them so long ago, and it really brought something out inside of me. You better believe I was singing along and bobbing back and forth with the rest of the audience. The set was a pretty even mix of this with their newer stuff. I'm not as big a fan of the more carefree, beach music vibe of the latter, but I was glad to hear "Illuminant," which is among the best songs they have written to date.

But regardless of which material the band was playing, they were all smiles. Frontman/guitarist Walter Schreifels and bass player (also currently of Deftones fame and looking a bit like Slash with his long curly hair) Sergio Vega seemed to be having an absolute blast on stage. Ultimately that is what made all the difference. They may not be as young and angry as they used to be (seriously, the bands in these videos look like completely different people), but seeing them having such a good time was truly infectious. It was a great show, and if you get a chance to see it I highly recommend buying a ticket for the remaining dates. And PLEASE stick around for the full thing. You won't be disappointed.

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