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Hold Ups EP release

The Dirty Looks

Emily Toomey
Connector Contributor

Milford, N.H.-based band Hold Ups hosted an EP release show on Friday, Sept. 16 at the 119 Gallery in Lowell. Hold Ups pride themselves on being a sloppy melodic hardcore pop-punk band and they certainly live up to the title. For fans of sad songs about your hometown or just pop-punk in general, this was the show for you. The other acts included Coven, Settler, Dead Ocean, Landing Feet First and The Dirty Looks. Every band put on a great show and The Dirty Looks even covered Fall Out Boy’s infamous “Sugar We’re Goin’ Down.”

Coven, from Lowell, was the first act to perform and they put on a great show. Bands such as Paramore and We Are The In Crowd are known for having a fe- male lead singer, and Coven is similar in that regard. To get a taste of the band, check out the video they recently released for their song “Nothing Sticks.”

Next up was Settler, who has a more hardcore vibe, resembling bands such as A Day To Remember and Beartooth. Their set attracted the most moshing – someone even got a bloody nose while crowd surfing.

Landing Feet First was definitely my favorite act of the night. Their lyrics are deep, much like Real Friends. They consider themselves to be “melodramatic ambient radness.” I feel their lyrics are the most relatable and, to be honest, somewhat sappy.

The Dirty Looks also have a similar aesthetic to Landing Feet First, with stan- dard pop-punk lyrics such as, “I’ll stay where you want me to stay if you’ll say you’re not fading away.” That song, “Skin/Bones,” was clearly a crowd favor- ite, shown by the crowd chanting along.

Headliners Hold Ups were the last to perform and definitely closed the show with a bang. Naturally, everyone was most excited to watch them. Everyone there was able to receive a free copy of their EP “Living.” They played songs from their new EP and the crowd was extremely receptive. Hold Ups’ drum- mer, Al, was also seen during previous sets crowd surfing and moshing, as he usually is.

To anyone that couldn’t attend: you missed a great night. It was certainly a show to remember.

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