Review
Pity Party
Concrete

Independent (2020) Loren

Pity Party – Concrete cover artwork
Pity Party – Concrete — Independent, 2020

Hello 1990s. Pity Party, from Oakland, play fuzzed out drudgy punk. While most press I read about calls the band pop-punk and even emo, I’d put them a less crisp category. DIY indie-punk, maybe? But with some harsher sounds that parlay a little more anger and anguish. Grunge doesn’t feel quite right, but close. I hate to drop the Riot Grrl reference because I normally think it’s lazy, but Pity Party really does show a lot of ‘90s influence. Take the vocal playfulness of the Kill Rock Stars bands of the era, plus the anger (though less overt), and merge it with the chill vibes of 2000’s indie rock.

That’s a long way of saying Pity Party doesn’t fit neatly into any genre confines, which is a pretty good compliment. Some songs are heavy head-nodders, some are angry fists-up rawk, and at times it’s quirky and almost jovial. There are nine songs on Concrete and it never settles into a form-fitting predictable tone. Thematically the record follows the journey after one experiences personal trauma.

“Empathy” is one of the standouts. This song has pop energy but with some playful shouted vocals, including tradeoffs that boost that energy level. While it has a bouncy rhythm, the vocals are downer and serious. “Push” builds to a potent and touching refrain. “Apathy” slows it down to a two-step pace, with shifting tones and dynamics to convey powerful emotion within a pop structure. They add some bells in “Fester” and a strong crescendo in “Temperance.”

Overall, Concrete is diverse and dynamic. Sometimes it’s self-aware and at others it points the finger outward at the world. It’s political, it’s forceful, it’s aggressive and sometimes fun. It displays the complex emotions of real life and embraces them without feeling obligated to stick to a single formula.

7.3 / 10Loren • September 28, 2020

Pity Party – Concrete cover artwork
Pity Party – Concrete — Independent, 2020

Related features

Fest 12

Music / Fest 12 • November 11, 2013

Related news

Pity Party recaps their 20s on a new EP

Posted in Records on August 18, 2023

Pity Party comes on May 29

Posted in Records on April 22, 2020

Pity Party Across North America

Posted in Tours on September 14, 2018

Advertisement

DCxPC 2025

Recently-posted album reviews

Detention

Dead Rock ‘N’ Rollers
Left For Dead Records (2024)

Life ain’t so easy in the detention home- Dead Boys. Emerging from the underbelly of Jersey, made up primarily of three brethren. Raised on rock and roll and sipping from the chalice of early punk rock stalwarts like Da Bruddahs from Queens, Hey Ho! and the Pistoleros of Sexual Nature screaming banshees from across from the large pond. Thus forging … Read more

Nightfreak

Nightfreak
Big Neck Records (2024)

Semi-feral punk outfit NightFreak are back with a self-titled LP filled with breakneck riffs and 70s metal bombast. The Chicago group haven’t slowed down since 2022’s Speed Trials but they have filled out. NightFreak the album is lousy with warm back beats and melodic guitars; although, hardcore vocals and tight drums still reign supreme. Album opener “Blackout” is dead serious … Read more

Death By Unga Bunga

Raw Muscle Power
Jansen Records (2025)

I’m pretty sure I became aware of Mike Krol when The Whiffs posted about playing some shows with him. Krol is a bit of an anomaly. Not only is he on Merge and collaborates with Mac Superchunk- a dream scenario imo- but he’s also been elusive of my fan boy attempts at cold dm’ing him about stuff even tho we … Read more