The Carry-Ons

Friday night, The End was the crime scene for Punk Rock Party No. 11, a rollicking all-ages we-don’t-give-a-fuck fest. It was a wasteland of dudes in black band T-shirts and punky pin-up types. In addition to four decent bands, we were lucky enough to witness four very impressive mohawks, three of which could be found on just one guy’s head. My Red Hot Nightmare—featuring a rehashed lineup from The OC Supertones—kicked off the night with music to be filed under ska-punk for Christ. To the rescue, Sacramento street punks Final Summation carried the torch with a more beer-spitting version of a good time. When the frontman from Rock ’n’ Roll Hooligans came out in a plaid button-down, the angry-dancing diehards had room to pace. But The Carry-Ons, who are split between Nashville and Atlanta, had the whole room pushing, bouncing and singing along. “I Remember,” an infectious don’t-wanna-grow-up song, brought a horde of fans onstage who knew all the words. Shouting over riffy punk and black-metal inspired guitar solos, lead singer Abraham Mesaris proved he knows how to hot-wire an audience. Still, it doesn’t hurt that most songs were punctuated by anthemic “Whoa-oh-oh’s.” After the show, Punk Rock Party organizers threw together a “Harlem, 1958” jazz greats-inspired group portrait of bands and fans, encompassing an enigmatic mix of rockabilly beauties, balding metal-heads and leather-clad kids who still live with their parents. - Nashville Scene