Escuela Grind at Remedy 611
We hope you brought your neck brace... you're going to need it
Hey, folks! Gather round and let us tell you a tale of metal mayhem and comedic chaos…
It was a Tuesday night at Remedy 611. Black Heart Booking & Nice Enough Ent. had put together a show that would make even the most hardened headbanger crack a smile.
This brand-new Remedy location is situated to the south of Sioux Falls Canaries baseball field. In its current state, it champions an industrial-punk feel, one that’s reminiscent of the warehouses in Tony Hawk Pro Skater. In due time this venue will expand to include the space behind the current stage, opening up the total capacity to reach new limits. After speaking with one of the owners, it sounds like they could open their doors to approximately 200 people once these renovations are complete, dependent on city approval. The plan for the space is to set a stage in the center of the back warehouse and have multiple point-of-sales along both sides that will feature their craft beer and, “good food,” as Tyler put it.
In addition to this exciting prospect, the east wall in the main bar area is being retrofitted to host a litany of wall mounted TV’s and lighting equipment to give patrons a place to come enjoy their favorite local crafts while watching football on Sunday and should also bring a new ambiance to the space.
Now, the night started off with a bang, or should I say, a rusted-out floor. STEM CELLS, a punk/garage/noise rock band from Sioux Falls, took the stage with a swagger that could only come from years spent touring in a van held together by sheer willpower. Their sound is characterized by driving basslines that you can feel reverberate throughout your body, screaming vocals, and screeching guitar riffs.
Seeing a personal friend of mine, their high energy drummer, Zachary Smalley, who proudly wields his long blonde hair as it dances to the beat, really brought me back to the early 2010’s when I first moved from Connecticut to South Dakota. (He was a good friend of my brother-in-laws and was one of the first people I met when I made the trek across the country.)
They cracked jokes about their trusty van's floor rusting out, but their music was anything but rusty. They brought the noise and got the crowd warmed up for the metal madness that was about to ensue. As a merch guy I often do fun mockups during shows when a band inspires me, and I’ve decided to start sharing some of them in our articles.
After their set, we touched base and discovered they have 3 new songs, one of which they played during their set, all of which currently have no names.
Next up was BONGINATOR, a death metal/hardcore/slam band hailing all the way from Mass. These guys had a fever, and the only prescription was more cowbell. They unleashed a sonic assault that had the crowd headbanging like there was no tomorrow. The lights went down, and within moments, the mosh pit started. And let me tell you, the mosh pit they inspired was a thing of beauty.
The lead singer hilariously wore a high-vis vest as if he hopped out of his work van straight off a construction site just in time to hit the stage. The bassist accented the vocalist’s vest with these killer neon-yellow camo pants that caught the eye from quite a distance. Their crowd-work was on point, calling the seemingly reluctant crowd closer to the stage. As they moved in, closing in on the mosh pit, the energy really started picking up.
It was hard not to feel a connection with them, considering they were from Mass, just like my old man. It's like we were long-lost moshing brothers. The only critique worth noting was the quiet vocals during this set. Even with the deep, guttural screams, they were hard to hear. Chalk it up to a slight imbalance in sound levels at the sound board, nothing the band themselves did.
The night was far from over. TAKE OFFENSE, a metal/punk/thrash band from Chula Vista, CA, took the stage and brought the energy up another notch. They tore through their set with blistering riffs and ferocious vocals, leaving the crowd begging for more. It was a musical assault on the senses that left everyone in awe.
The sound imbalance was finally addressed after the lead singer called on the sound guy to turn the vocals up. By this point, I was even headbanging which I usually reserve for EDM shows. (Note-to-self: bring ear plugs next time… what did you say?!) I have to compliment them on their stage presence. The lead singer really knows how to fill the space and command the crowd. It was a fantastically high energy set that you’d have to put in effort to ignore your body’s natural proclivity to get-up and get-down.
Then came the headliner for the tour, ESCUELA GRIND, a grindcore/powerviolence band also hailing from Mass. These guys brought the noise and then some. But what really caught my attention was their merch table. They had vinyl records for sale, and I couldn't resist. I ended up grabbing four of them, adding some serious weight to my already overflowing record collection. Who needs money when you can have vinyl, am I right?
Anyhow, another notable feature was the 2 female members of the band, one being the lead singer, the other being one of the guitarists. It may be cliché to say but it was truly amazing to witness such sounds coming from such a small person. How she manages to produce such screams is a mystery, one worth trying to uncover yourself if you ever have the opportunity to see them live.
They also announced the release of their new EP which is titled ‘DDEEAATTHHMMEETTAALL’ and features 4 brand new tracks.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "Where the hell is Murf?" Well, let me tell you, Murf from Minneapolis was scheduled to play that night. But unfortunately, good old Covid had other plans. So, while we didn't get to see Murf in the flesh, I did some digging and found out their Facebook page may be stagnant, but their music is anything but. They're a punk/hardcore/metal band who mainly operates on Instagram.
I also found this gem of a cancellation announcement on their instagram. I don’t know who that lady they added into the flier is, but she looks a lot like my great aunt carol so it gave me a good chuckle.
All-in-all, it was a night of metal, mosh pits, and comedic chaos. The venue, Remedy 611, provided the perfect backdrop for the madness, and the affordable ticket prices made it accessible to all. And let's not forget, the show ended at a decent time, around 11 pm, which was perfect for us responsible metalheads with kids and school nights to contend with. We may be headbangers, but we're also members of the parent club.
So, if you're ever in Sioux Falls and looking for a metal show that's equal parts heavy and hilarious, keep an eye out for Remedy Tuesday nights. You never know what kind of comedic chaos awaits you. Just make sure to bring your earplugs and a sense of humor. Stay metal, my friends!