Critic's Choice: Red Vs. Black to erupt on March 8 at Rhinoceropolis

Like a lot of young punkers, Red Vs. Black drummer Sam Tallent and bassist Clay Dehaan were infected with the bug when they connected with early hardcore bands. But unlike many of their peers, Tallent and Dehaan don't treat their music like a cultural accessory to cast off in early...

By Tom Murphy

March 1, 2011

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Like a lot of young punkers, Red Vs. Black drummer Sam Tallent and bassist Clay Dehaan were infected with the bug when they connected with early hardcore bands. But unlike many of their peers, Tallent and Dehaan don't treat their music like a cultural accessory to cast off in early adulthood. The guys also didn't bother to recruit a guitarist who would probably demand all the glory anyway. But with drums, bass and vocals alone, the two make quite a stirring clatter. Much more like the Minutemen than Minor Threat in sound and dynamics, Red Vs. Black (due at Rhinoceropolis on Tuesday, March 8) also seems to provoke a reaction in the audience -- not one of hostility from hardcore purists, but rather a pure sense of release at the band's eruptive sound and boundless energy.

Tom Murphy is a writer, visual artist and musician from Aurora, Colorado. He was a prolific music writer for Westword and a documenter of the Denver music scene.

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