by Kris Handel (@khandel84)
No Fun at All is the full length debut from Philadelphia four piece Mesh, a band who play a mix of propulsive and jumpy new wave-inflected punk and jangle forward power-pop, adding a sense of tenderness and reflection in the process. Allison Durham and Sims Hardin handle the guitar and vocal duties, the latter’s snark filled tone a welcome attitude contrast to the former’s chirpier approach. They’re unafraid to handle tough subjects but they especially shine when they embrace their goofiness and wit, be it tackling living conditions/costs or how easy it is to get sucked down an insular and paranoid wormhole. Mesh’s energy is unrelenting and their appreciation for their inspirations is clear and apparent as they often throw in a little allusion or rip a melody out of the blue that will bring a smile to the listener’s face.
“Violent Peasant” introduces itself with 12-string guitar, provided by Durham, that rings out behind the rolling drum fills of Steve Darling and Hardin’s knifing chords before kicking into nervous and jaunty psych-touched punk. Hardin spits out his lyrics as Tom Riese’s bass slides and bombs as the band alternate between chunky chords, nimble riffs, and fills that push the tempo. “5G” has Mesh tackling paranoia and the ability to manipulate people through social media and other technological advancements that can easily be exploited through group-think and false information. The track careens along furiously strummed guitars and vocals that grow with intensity as the song hurriedly progresses, accentuating the psychic noise and panic that comes from an overload of information at the tip of your fingers.
“Boots on the Pavement” rides a groove with Durham’s guitar hypnotically circling amid sneering vocals and a bit of a Buzzcocks meets Parquet Courts type of discordance. Mesh sort of celebrate the energy and excitement of DIY spaces and community as a form of expression and joy here as the groove expands and repetition becomes mesmerizing. “Potatohead” amps the tension up a notch as Hardin and Durham take aim at the absurdity of the beloved childhood toy of dismemberment that gives this frantic and brittle track its title. The band veer off into musical abstraction as guitars scrape and skronk in the manner of Devo’s more abrasive side while the rhythm section pounds away with force.
With their first EP released in ‘21, there was a five year wait for Mesh to release their full length, but the results were well worth it. The album bounces along propulsively with guitars pulling at each other and songs that constantly flirt with crossing the lines into sheer mayhem yet somehow pull themselves back from the edge time and time again. They are unafraid to throw themselves full force into their music and have no problem prodding at themselves and society as a whole with a knowing wink which always proves bewitching. Mesh are a band that manage to bring tightly coiled post-punk and garage rock into a harmonious clutter and hopefully it isn’t another five years for a follow-up to the invigorating energy of No Fun at All.