by Donte Kirby
Veruca Salt is reunited. Along with Portland’s BattleMe, longtime fans were given the show they’ve been waiting for since Veruca’s indefinite hiatus back in 2012.
BattleMe opened up the night with an energetic set, playing songs from his latest EP, Weight on the Brain. The four piece delivered a rock set through and through. Their songs were heavy on the instrumentation and the band gave a lot of energy on stage.
Lead singer/rhythm guitarist Matt Drenik told the crowd, “We’re BattleMe. Our job is to entertain you until Veruca Salt goes on.” The crowd cheered the moment the name Veruca Salt was uttered. BattleMe entertained, but it was obvious everyone in the packed TLA was there for one thing.
Veruca Salt was showered with love and adoration from the beginning to end of their set. A fan in the crowed even gave the band a bouquet of flowers which, once it caught Louise Post’s eye, she graciously went over to accept. “Aren’t you glad we got over our shit,” said Post. Everyone in the TLA, packed from the stage to the sound deck, cheered in the affirmative.
Veruca Salt played the hits the fans fell in love with like “Seether” and “Volcano Girls.” The crowd sang along and danced to every song played. Post even pointed out the girl in the middle of the crowd whose dancing she liked the best. As packed as it was the show still felt intimate and Veruca Salt would often banter with themselves and the audience between songs.
Both Veruca Salt and BattleMe put on a show with the audience’s best interest in mind. The energy the bands gave the crowd returned right back at them, both parties enjoying the performance. I’m sure both the bands and the fans ae looking forward to the next time they reunite in Philly.
