Review: Shame at The Grey Eagle

Rock ‘n roll is all about the energy and passion of youth, and there's nothing quite like experiencing it live with unbridled conviction. Such was the case at The Grey Eagle on May 9, where Shame and Been Stellar delivered electrifying performances that could have rekindled a pulse in a lifeless corpse. 

Kicking off the night, up-and-coming NYC band Been Stellar captured the crowd with its unique blend of ’90s alternative rock and contemporary post-punk. As the five-piece played, the sound of swirling guitars and disaffected vocals only grew more impressive, culminating with the catchy "Manhattan Youth," which brought to mind comparisons to the legendary Gang of Four.

Next up, British punks Shame took the stage, returning to Asheville for the first time since a memorable performance at The Mothlight in 2018. From the start, they were determined to make it one to remember, beginning with the exhilarating "Fingers of Steel" from their 2023 album, Food For Worms.  Performing with intense passion, it was clear the quintet band had not lost any of its youthful energy over the subsequent five years.

Throughout the set, bassist Josh Finerty wildly propelled himself back and forth across the stage, while guitarists Eddie Green and Sean Coyle-Smith, along with drummer Charlie Forbes, played with contagious enthusiasm. Meanwhile, vocalist Charlie Steen, who performed shirtless for the bulk of the set, positioned himself at the very front of the stage, engaging with a lively crowd.

Complemented by the band’s lively stage presence, the high-octane guitars, thunderous basslines, relentless driving beats, and Steen’s emotive shouting struck with the force of a dozen tornadoes. Recalling a modernized take on the hardcore punk of the Reagan era, “Alibis,” “Alphabet,” and “6/1” were particularly thrilling.

For all of the excitement of the blistering punk that filled the five-piece’s set, the highlight of the night came midway through the set when the group slowed things down for “Adderall (End of the Line).” A perfect anthem for a generation who was overmedicated on pills as children — containing the chorus “(Adderall) It gets you through the day / (Adderall) You pop and slip away / (Adderall) Your parents really miss you / (You've got nothing at all)” — the hazy new ode to amphetamines provided a perfect moment for fans to collect themselves before returning to the more fiery tunes that followed.

With bands like Shame and Been Stellar carrying the torch of rock, the future is in good hands.

(Photos by Justin Bowman)

Been Stellar