Moshing in The Back Room to Epoxy’s New Single “Superexploder”
Photo credit: Isabella Rykoff
On Saturday, May 10th, Epoxy played their single-release show at Union Pool, a roomy Brooklyn bar in a former swimming pool supply store. The screamo group from NYC headlined the evening, supported by Moonbby DJ, Blood Estate, and Clovis. Their third single, “Superexploder,” came out Friday, May 9th, coupled with an animated music video by Ivy Vodka.
Epoxy is a three-piece band, featuring Alec Publicover (vocals and guitar), Cashel O’Malley (bass), and Ben Leach (drums). Epoxy blends characteristics of 90s post-hardcore with noise rock and contemporary screamo, calling out to some of the group’s inspirations like Unwound, Bloc Party, and I Hate Myself. This was my first time seeing Epoxy. The anxiety I felt to find them amongst a large, crowded bar was soon calmed, as the group always performs in their staple suave suits. Alec and I made eye contact and pointed at each other from across the smoking patio. I took a few pictures of Epoxy before the show, followed by some friendly teasing and whistling from their friends sitting nearby.
My friend who accompanied me inquired, “You know what epoxy means, right?” She works in Tom Sach’s studio, an artist known for his contemporary large-scale sculptures and installations. She correctly predicted that someone in the band must have had experience in the field.
Alec later told us he welds, but considers himself retired.
I entered the venue through a small front room with shiny leather sofas where merch was later sold. The room filled rapidly once the bands began to play. Epoxy played their first show in 2023, and an unwavering base of fans formed around them. Once the audience surged to the stage, wanting to be as close as possible and didn’t get tired of dancing, it was clear the group had cemented their online presence. Two songs in, a mosh pit formed for the hardcore kids to conquer.
Epoxy’s set consisted of their demos and singles, including their fresh release “Superexploder.” I was impressed by Alec’s resonant and commanding vocals, both essential to a successful screamo band. Ben and Cashel are remarkably skilled musicians. Ben played with an all-out intensity, wrapping up the show sweaty and ditching the suit for a white tank. Cashel had an aura of unwavering focus, seamlessly in sync with his band and the energy of the crowd. Without a doubt, the trio gave a performance that was far more impressive than a band that had only been together for two years.
Union Pool’s full-service live music venue is fittingly called “The Back Room.” Its dim lighting, worn-wood paneling, and vintage decor bring to mind a speakeasy or a burlesque theater. Dangling above the bar were dusty, decadent chandeliers adorned with lingering Halloween decorations. The stage was framed with bronze and a strip of string lights. But what ties the whole room together is the velvety, deep red curtain that serves as the performer’s backdrop.
I was trying not to make an overused comparison to the aesthetics of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, but when Epoxy took the stage in their suits and ties under the changing color spotlights, it was impossible not to recall the iconic Red Room. “The Back Room” further calls to mind ‘the backrooms,’ an internet-driven horror construct, which describes a liminal space that exists outside of reality. This imagery perfectly fits together, as the Red Room is a transdimensional room that doesn’t subscribe to conventional timing. I also recalled Epoxy’s Spotify cover photo, which portrays the boys in a grungy, unidentifiable room, with their arms and mouths duct-taped. Without realizing it, Epoxy created an unforgettable, transcendental concert experience.
My imagination ran wild, followed by the jarring experience of leaving the Back Room and re-entering the brightly lit main bar. The crowd sweaty, exhausted but elated, buzzing about Epoxy, stood out amongst the gaggle of men in Knicks jerseys and the rest of the bar patrons who were completely unaware of the fantastic show we had just been a part of.
