Review Summary: "That whole summer changed you"
I first learned about Tri-State Era less than 24 hours before seeing them live at Manners final show in New Britain, CT. Coaxed by a friend to accompany him on the night of his birthday I had more than an idea of what I was getting into. Local "talent" accompanied by the final show of what had been an up and coming hardcore act in Manners. It wasn't until I poked around the supporting acts various Bandcamp's the morning of that I was captured by the refreshingly creative "Between Us and What Could Have Been Saved". By the end of the night, I was compelled enough to duck out of work early, and quite literally run through the dark streets of New Britain, while being berated by more than a few drunks, just to see Tri-State Era play live. Singing every word I could learn during those last few hours from the front row of your average local venue.
That was more than two months ago now, and yet here I am giving the EP two more complete listens on my evening commute from work. With the exception of "Fake It", there's an inviting lack of repetition across the Connecticut products sophomore effort. Each song contorts and morphs itself into something new from start to finish. Every transition bringing with it a new and unique set of riffs and a pleasant change to the flow of the vocals. Yet despite the disparity it all feels incredibly cohesive. The balance between complexity and cohesiveness is a complicated one and is very rarely seen from such a young band. It's this coexistence that holds the listener throughout the complete 18-minutes. There's never a moment where a song winds down predictably enough that you could skip it without really missing anything, and the one song that relies heavily on a single riff, "Fake it", is fun enough to keep you regardless.
The lyricism holds its own as well and similarly possesses a maturity beyond what you would expect from a group without a full-length album. Co-written by dueling vocalists Shane Williams and Mike Rak there's never a dull moment. The storytelling is specific, yet subtle enough to be incredibly relatable, and the lines are each delivered with power and emotion. Lyricism is equal parts writing and delivery, and here both are done to perfection. Pulling you into every track with crisp, clean highs and harsh rumbly lows that guide you through a landscape of genuine emotion.
Overall, Tri-State Era has managed to defy every expectation I had upon first listen. Crushing the idea that local bands lack that creativity and talent of the seasoned veterans the pop-punk quintet put together an effort that is surprising and simply a delightful listen. In short, I believe I've had the pleasure of witnessing the flowering of pop-punks next big thing. Let's just hope their inevitable meteoric rise doesn't come to the same abrupt end as fellow Nutmeggers Manners.
