Well, everything good has to die at some point and unfortunately Hostage Calm was no exception.  After playing their final show at Toad’s Place in New Haven, CT, Hostage Calm officially broke up.  The band enjoyed a commendable run lasting seven years.  I only became aware of them in their last two years.  In fact, they were one of the first bands I ever saw live.  Because of that, it was therefore a huge disappointment when I heard they were playing their final shows.  However, their last show was downright amazing and was by far the best gig I’ve been to in my life.

As soon as the band came on stage, the crowd came to life.  A bouncer who had previously attempted to stop crowd surfing and moshing, (and pretty much fun in general) stood absolutely no chance as bodies started to fly left, right, up, and down.  That is what I love the most about punk shows.  There’s nothing I hate more than when a crowd just stands in place like a pack of brain dead zombies, sucked into their smart phones like they were dragged there against their will.  Virtually the entire crowd participated.  To anyone who has not been to a punk show before, I’d highly recommend it.  Everyone looks out for each other.  If someone falls in the pit, there are always at least five hands to help the person back up.  The show was at a great venue as well.  Venues like Toad’s Place are my favorite.  At large venues the band is usually about a mile away, require binoculars to see, and is separated from the crowd by a huge barrier lined with bouncers.  At Toad’s Place however, anyone can get on stage and surf.  It’s no coincidence that when the band posted a link to a playlist of the filmed show on Facebook a they included “Warning: these videos contain graphic images of young people stagediving”.  At smaller venues it’s personal.  After the show ended I was able to walk up to the stage and briefly talk to the band’s lead guitarist.

Songs from all four of their albums were played and they all sounded great.  To anyone who is considering listening to them, I’d recommend the album ‘Please Remain Calm’, which has probably gotten the most attention.  However, you really cannot go wrong with any of their material.

Before the show, I decided to buy one of their final tour t shirts.  Usually I try not to spend my money on clothing, however this was a special case.  On the shirt was a picture of the famous scene in Hamlet when the main character holds up Yorick’s skull.  In British Literature, I had to memorize Hamlet’s lines for that exact portion of scene.  Before, I thought the only point of the assignment was to turn us into intellectual snobs that could recite Shakespeare, but now I know the real purpose.  It is obvious that the teacher considered the possibility that a situation exactly like this would occur.  I will now wear the shirt in public as frequently as possible and whenever someone acknowledges the fact that either Hostage Calm or Hamlet is on it, I will begin reciting my lines and be thoroughly amused.  Most people will probably be confused.  However, the people that matter will get it.

Because I’m in a band, Hostage Calm signified something important.  They were a band that was from Connecticut that actually achieved a degree of success.  They were not from a city like Los Angeles that’s thousands of miles away; The guitarist I talked to is from Durham.  I’ve never been to a better show in my life.  Hostage Calm definitely went out on the right note.

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