The Billiken Club exploded with emotion and sound on March 31 as Peter Wolf Crier blew out the stage.

The crowd was small, but the intensity level was anything but, which was perhaps unexpected with Peter Pisano playing the entire set while sitting in a chair. They opened with “Crutch & Cane,” a meaningful and low-key song.

Immediately the transfer from album to live show was evident. Pisano’s yelp was close and affecting as he worked away at his guitar, and Brian Moen’s drums added some punch to the sound.
The show only got better as they moved on to the dark but fast paced “Hard as Nails.” Moen had a chance to really open up on his kit, pounding away as Pisano rocked his body in his chair, his legs bouncing at a fever pitch, letting the song pulse through him.

But “Down Down Down” was the point of no return, as both band members became infused with their music, feeling and playing like it was the last show of their life.

The song started quietly as a finger picked guitar melody, Pisano singing coolly, then building as to an affecting tune, emotional and loving.

Suddenly the break down exploded out, with Moen smashing out the beat with primal force, shattering one stick and sending chips flying about the room from the next, with Pisano ripping across his strings and throwing his body about, exploding from his chair to fall back down, his voice straining to match the fire of his soul.

The fire would continue to rage for the rest of the night, both men pouring themselves into their sound.

“Untitled 101” brightened the room up with a melodic and loving tune, Pisano belting out his words in a near scream while Moen beat his drums to oblivion, sending chips of wood flying across the stage, one nearly catching his band-mate.

After a short and necessary break, they were back into with “For Now,” a near battle tune, and following up with “You’re So High,” in which Pisano utilized his echo pedal well to add depth to his vocals.

The energy did not slow a tick until “Demo 01,” a quiet and intimate song that mostly left Pisano to his voice and guitar.

This relaxed stage was short-lived however, as “Lion” brought the pace back up, especially its frenetic and explosive closer, with both musicians back to their full powered, body slamming, house ripping sound.

“Playwright” followed, a somewhat sad song given some aggression by Moen’s ever-powerful pulse.

“In Response” was the last of their original songs, a touching but forceful track that fittingly closed out their catalog, exemplifying their ability to touch your heart before pumping it full of adrenaline and watching you go.

Their final song was “Place to Be,” a Nick Drake cover and a song that Pisano found to be the most important and meaningful song of his college career.

They made the song their own, increasing the speed and force, as seemed an inescapable and fantastic ability at this point.

They closed the show loudly, somewhat violently, and with all of their hearts flowing through them as was their trademark for the night. Those in attendance would be hard-pressed to forget the soul that filled the room.