Distracted

BY DESIREA CORBETT

“Piss, Piss, Piss, Piss!” The crowd at the historic Wonder Bar in Asbury Park shouted back as Vial tore into their cover of Nirvana’s “Territorial Pissings” during their opening set for Durry Thursday night. It’s not exactly the chant you expect to hear echoing off the walls of a Jersey shore venue, but that’s how the cover begins — and Vial wasted no time leaning into the chaos. One thing became immediately clear: this band knows how to command a room, no matter the size.

The audience hadn’t fully filled in yet thanks to the frigid weather, and aside from a few extremely enthusiastic fans pressed against the stage, the energy in the room felt a little hesitant. But the Minneapolis punk trio never wavered. Guitarist KT Branscom, bassist Taylor Kramer, and drummer Katie Fischer carried themselves with the confidence and charisma of seasoned headliners. They traded off not only vocals but crowd-hyping duties, keeping the room engaged even when the crowd itself didn’t totally know what to do with that energy yet. At one point, Fischer called out, “You guys have seemed a little nervous so far, so I’m gonna need you to not be nervous and scream as loud as you can,” before counting down to an eruption that finally loosened up the room.

Their set was explosive from the start and never dipped. KT’s fire-red–tipped hair whipped through the air all night as the trio raged through a tight, raw, unfiltered performance. They opened with “Ego Death” from Loud Mouth, its carnival-like riff snapping the room to attention before spiraling into a full-blown, fast-paced punk anthem. From there, they tore through a mix of angsty favorites from past records and EPs, along with their new single “Idle Hands,” which landed with real force.

Before launching into “Roadkill,” KT explained that it was a song about vehicular manslaughter, written by their beloved mascot, Beelzebub — a long Furby-like creature attached to the mic stand and treated like a full-blown fourth band member. Their set closed with “Piss Punk,” where Taylor encouraged the audience to “gently shove one another.” This crowd… tried, but didn’t quite get there. Still, Vial didn’t let the lukewarm attempt slow them down. They performed like they were playing to a packed stadium of sweat-soaked fans ready to lose their minds.

At the end of the night, as KT broke down gear, they leaned over the front of the stage to thank one fan who had been dancing nonstop: “Really bringing the energy.” And she very much had been — one of the few matching the band’s intensity from start to finish.

Vial showed that they’re just as powerful in a small club as they would be on a massive stage. Their chemistry is electric, their stage presence relentless, and their ability to work a crowd undeniable. Even on a cold, slow-start Thursday night, they played like nothing could stop them — and by the end of their set, it was impossible not to believe they’re headed for much bigger rooms.