Driving nearly three hours to the post-industrial Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania to witness two bands lifting up the punk rock scene is the only way to spend a Saturday night. The linchpin of Stroudsburg’s Main Street, Sherman Theatre, is a rebuilt cinema from the 1920s and even sports a concessions stand filled with popcorn at the entrance.
Up the Interstate in Scranton, The Menzingers fill the working-class streets with life. While I had been an onlooker for Menzingers’ anthemic ballads before, I would be damned to pass up the chance to experience the high octane performance of Prince Daddy and the Hyena, led by Kory Gregory.
Fifth wave emo emerged in the early 2010’s and brought with it acts like Origami Angel, Glass Beach, and Prince Daddy and the Hyena. Prince Daddy cites their main influence as West Virginia’s own Rozwell Kid, which are themselves akin to Blue Album-esque 90’s Weezer. They are now in a position to fan the flames of the next emo wave.
As I leaned over the metal barricade sleepy from the drive, I was jolted awake by Prince Daddy’s opening song “***HIDDEN TRACK***.” Taking notes from sparklepunk and twinkle emo with the instrumental backing, Kory’s vocals cut through with lyrics like, “You had a long damn day at work and you still got paid less than dirt.” A line which may resonate well with listeners leaving their shitty job to come to this concert.
“I Forgot to Take My Meds Today” continues with Kory ripping his vocal chords to shreds for your pleasure. This track takes no breaks as he laments about withdrawal from his antidepressants, abruptly ending with a cacophony of barking dogs. The lone guitar riff slowly builds into an ebullient expression of the struggles with anxiety that is “Really?” One of their most popular pieces that garnered the greatest screams from the audience members.
The slowed moments during the set pulled back into the dark lullaby ‘Curly Q’, written for Kory’s nephew. He laments about how his baby nephew will continue to grow and experience pain even when Kory isn’t there.
Prince Daddy and the Hyena provided enough steam to make the audience jump right into The Menzingers’ new single “Hope Is A Dangerous Little Thing.” The night drive home through the Poconos was filled with vim and vigor, trying to relive the experience we just had.