Pardoner – In Studio Performance

Built around the core trio of Max Freeland, Trey Flanigan, and River van den Berghe, Pardoner quickly became a force to be reckoned with, melding a slacker rock attitude with pummeling hardcore for a visceral sound not unlike a trip to the dentist’s office and a novocaine high. The band even has its own visual language, with record sleeves and t-shirts adorned in Flanigan’s distinct, psychedelic drawings. Every release since their 2015 inception has seen the group dial up their songcraft, culminating in a pair of exceptional LPs – 2017’s Uncontrollable Salvation, and last year’s Playin’ On A Cloud. That same year, Freeland skipped town for Canada (who can blame him), and for a brief moment, it looked like the band’s prolific run would be cut short, no longer fueled by proximity and spontaneity.Pardoner just released Peace Loving People on Bar None Records and will perform at X-Ray Arcade later tonight. Photo by Jessica Hurst