Chicago slam band Torture and Sacramento hardcore act Hoods deliver a punishing beatdown at Howdy

June 26, 2024

Miguel Gonzales,

Torture playing at Howdy on June 21st, 2024. // Photo by Miguel Gonzales

Across the block from the industrial setting where Howdy is located, a line of semi trucks buzz by Stadium Drive with multiple trucks strapped tight onto their bodies. An old man drives by with a pile of ripped tire rubber in the back of a gray truck, swerving off in the distance in the direction of train tracks. It is humid, the sun looming in and out through the gray clouds.

Meanwhile, camper vans are parked outside near the brick-and-mortar, do-it-yourself, all age venue where band members pop in and out of the building to bring in their instruments and equipment. Fans are standing outside in the blistering heat around 6:40 PM, patiently waiting for the anticipated six-band bill with headliners Torture and Hoods taking the throne on Friday, June 21.

I’ve heard plenty of discourse about the two headliners from metalheads and punk connoisseurs. On one side, you have the legendary Sacramento outfit Hoods who have been kicking it for nearly three decades. On the other, you have Chicago’s emerging avante-slam anti-war four-piece Torture. All of it sounds wicked – a stacked bill you know is going to grab the attention of the hardcore crowd.

All I can say is if you missed the show, you missed out on an action-packed and brutally enthralling night.

Illinois cult-favorites Torture are becoming a recognizable name in the landscape of hardcore for their nasty, beefy slam-metal. Surprisingly, the band started playing shows this year with their first show taking place on April 24 in Cudahy, Wisconsin. With four ambitious, free improvisation albums under their belt and a co-sign from Knocked Loose’s Bryan Garris, the band is making a name for themselves that sets them afar from their contemporaries.

The band went on around 10:40pm to create a minute drone of heavy basslines, distorted guitars and ear-piercing feedback. The multi-instrumentalist and ringleader of the band, who goes by K.K., immediately comes in with the sound of shattering cymbals. K.K. has a very thin, wired headset strapped on the side of his head while simultaneously playing drums – which marks the first time I have seen a metal vocalist grunting into a headset live.

Torture’s very technical, gnarly 26-minute set was fantastic. K.K.’s precise, tight drumming accompanied with his unintelligible gargles and guttural snarls is uncompromisingly nasty and impressive. The heavy chugs, low-end basslines and slow sections compliment K.K.’s playing and vocals, adding to the already heavy experience. Their set consisted of four songs that were six-minutes in length each, every minute demanding your attention.

An important factor in what Torture expresses is their anti-war sentiments. It’s apparent through their performances, their music, and the band as a whole K.K. reciting the number of deaths from the Iraq war and shouting to free Palestine. In the middle of their first song, K.K. swiftly stands up from his stool to point at the audience dead straight in their eyes. “Get the fuck up, bitch! Side to fucking side! I don’t give a shit! 30,000 dead, and you’re just standing there–move!” K.K. demands.

The band’s first few shows have garnered a reputation for being intensely violent–but this show was no different. Crutches were thrown in the middle of the mosh pit, hands were swung frivolously in the air (and at some dude’s face who fell straight to the floor), tatted-up dudes were constantly crowd killing during the entire set–it is truly the slam way.

After their set ended, hot air was trapped in the tight-packed space coming from the bodies that exited the building. The white ceiling was covered in dripping water and began to create a miniature puddle, sitting on the textured wooden floors. To me, it was an indicator that the show was a full-fledged success.

Hoods playing at Howdy on June 21st, 2024. // Photo by Miguel Gonzales

Before Torture took the stage, Sacramento’s own Hoods started their set with an energetic start, frontman Mikey Hood introducing the band to the packed crowd. “What the fuck is up, your city is wonderful! All you people are cool as fuck . . . We’re Hoods from Sacramento, California–if somebody falls, pick ‘em the fuck up! As is life,” Hood said.

Hoods started their set with “Pit Beast,” the song riling up the crowd. Hood’s vocal inflections are superbly mighty, in-your-face aggression that are savagely delivered. The crunchy, chug-filled guitars and heavy breakdowns added a ton to their gritty performance. However, their bassist was experiencing technical difficulties during the song, the bass not coming through the amplifier. Though they had to stop mid-song, this didn’t stop them and the audience from rocking on.

The problem was fixed around five minutes later, and they were immediately set for full throttle. “Sometimes you have to be patient with punk rock,” Hood said.

Mikey Hood makes for a ferocious performer for the 19-minute set, the band adding on to the exhilarating heat that Hood delivers. The drum sections had me stoked – the drummer’s transitions from fast-paced beats to the slower, mean breakdowns were sick to hear. Hearing pummeled, hard-hitting songs back-to-back for the entire set were simply refreshing, affirming my belief that Hoods knows how to excite a crowd. So much so, even members from other bands came to the front to scream Hood’s lyrics into the microphone and joined in the mosh pit. Case-in-point, they brought over the Sacramento heat Kansas City needed.

Yeah Right playing at Howdy on June 21st, 2024. // Photo by Miguel Gonzales

Yeah Right, an up-and-coming Kansas City hardcore band started off the show at 7:30 with a quick 14-minute set. The heavy and melodic guitar riffs, fast-paced tempos and tight drumming were killer, along with Ben Henley’s high-pitched vocal fry and cheeky presence making for a fun time. My favorite song from their set was the slacker-inspired anthem “BRAIN ROT!,” a song about smoking pot, drinking soda pop vicariously living in brain rot mode.

Pact of Violence playing at Howdy on June 21st, 2024. // Photo by Miguel Gonzales

Pact of Violence came next and is a band that I am looking forward to hearing more from. Pat Ard’s rough and low-pitched boisterous vocals are undeniably grappling, stomping around the venue and two-stepping during the set with plenty of energy to give. Ben Henley is also the bassist of Pact of Violence, joining beside their drummer and guitarist who all equally added to the grueling, exciting tension. With epic sludge-filled breakdowns and smooth tempo change-ups, this is tough guy shit you need to see for yourself.

MUTT IA playing at Howdy on June 21st, 2024. // Photo by Miguel Gonzales

MUTT IA, the Des Moines hardcore four-piece, is in support of Hoods as well. Their infusion of slam, metalcore and hardcore punk is cathartic–the vocalist delivering throat-wrenching yelps and high-pitched screeches over heavy, buzzing instrumentation. Starting around 8:30, their 22-minute set ruptured with tense, brooding breakdown segments and cool vocal performances from the vocalist and menacing vocal fry from their bassist.

Crowd Control playing at Howdy on June 21st, 2024. // Photo by Miguel Gonzales

In support of Hoods, Crowd Control kickstarted the Sacramento takeover at around 9:05. They are also from Sacramento and one of the newer faces in the California hardcore scene—and they want you to know they take pride in it. Their vocalist shouts at the audience to do full-on circle pits, fuck someone up, move up—and easily got what they want. I’m glad I got to see them play: the dissonant guitars, crunchy bass tones reverberating from the walls, killer drum-playing and the vocalist’s fierce range had me intrigued.

They brought a major beatdown with their last song, “Sactown Smackdown,” hyping up the crowd further with an explosive finish. They’re a promising, energetic hardcore act you should keep your eye on.

After Torture’s set, I walked out of the building to find a full moon gleaming over band members and fans, standing outside blasting cigarettes and chatting it up. Everyone’s adrenaline is coming down, fans beginning to line up outside of Howdy to buy merchandise from the touring and local bands.

If this isn’t a tight-knit community that solidifies how united the Kansas City hardcore scene is in attending a fantastic show (and making it reach its maximum capacity), then I’m unable to express it any better. You’d have to go to Howdy and attend a show to see it for yourself.

All photos by Miguel Gonzales

Torture