Live Review: Young Widows at Bunk Bar, 6/25

Young Widows at Bunk Bar on June 25.
By SAM CUSUMANO

One thing I knew for sure from catching Young Widows' soundcheck before the band's show at Bunk Bar: It would be loud.

What surprised me was how empty the place was for such a buzzed-about act. Regardless, they delivered on the loud part. The band sounded fantastic tearing through their excellent new album Easy Pain, single “Kerosene Girl” and the head rattling “King Sol” providing my personal highlights. The record sounds massive on headphones, but it was downright colossal standing five feet away from them. By the end of it, both band and audience were shambling around in a sweaty daze, looking physically and emotionally drained—the hallmark of a great show. 

I'd be remiss in not mentioning opener (and fellow Kentuckians) White Reaper. Their poppy garage punk sounded excellent in Bunk, and the band put in a spirited effort to get the sparse crowd involved. Unfortunately, the bassist's praise of Killer Burger elicited the liveliest response, and they were met with a lot of vigorous head nodding. Can't win 'em all, I guess.  

All photos by Colin McLaughlin.

WWeek 2015

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.