Posted: by The Alt Editing Staff
Wow, it’s hard to believe that 10 years have already flown by since Counter Intuitive Records have hit the scene. The label, started by Jake Sulzer, has become a staple in the emo/pop-punk community. Jake has always had his finger on the pulse of the scene, signing bands such as Oso Oso, Mom Jeans, and Just Friends pretty early in their careers. Now, the label has grown to include amazing bands like Origami Angel, Macseal, Charmer, and many more. Since 2015, Jake has had a keen ear for what the emo sound is and what it is developing to be. The acts that he signs to the label bring their own unique take to the genre while still paying homage to its roots. It’s evident that Counter Intuitive is the place to be for up and coming emo/pop-punk, proving over the last decade that the community he’s cultivated through the label, fans, and bands is one to be cherished.
With eight bands on the bill, the show began rather early in Brooklyn’s The Meadows. Starting with Yawners, followed by Japan’s Anorak!, at around 4:00 the venue was already beaming with excitement. Rows and rows of fans began to crowd the stage, staring up at the bands as they played their sets. The conversations between sets and around the merch tables were exchanges of memories; questions like “How’d you get into Counter Intuitive?” or “Which record is your favorite?” flavored the buzzing nature of the venue. Speaking with a few fans at the show, many of them with diverse taste, all came for different bands. As the sets changed over to Sports., the crowd finally opened up to an all-out pit, fans shouting lyrics that they’ve known for years and (respectfully) moshing their way to the melody. After Sports., the tone settled down a bit, inviting Boston’s Bay Faction up on stage. Their overall vibe in comparison to the energetic and bouncy Sports. felt like a nice refresher. Their tone was a bit more subdued, and their fashion, rhythm, and stage presence looked like they could easily find a spot on the original Twilight soundtrack (a banger of a soundtrack). Jake clearly knew what he was doing when creating the bill, piecing together the more high energy, pit-shoving bands, with the more melodic ones scattered in the mix. It was a lovely balance, especially for those catching their breath between moshes.
It was a really exciting surprise to see Nervous Dater up on the stage, a band that came out of the early Prince Daddy & the Hyena and Mom Jeans era that really fit well within that sound in early 2015/2016. They performed an amazing set, really diving deep back into their earlier releases, and still holding their sound from almost 10 years ago. After those great sets came some heavy hitters, Prince Daddy & the Hyena, a band I’ve been following since they played house shows in upstate New York. To see them grow from their early days at Counter Intuitive to now traveling all around the world is amazing to see. Their stage presence has always been at 1000%, giving it their all no matter what. Last was another heavy hitter, Macseal. The Long Island-based band is one of the true definitions of emo music in the last decade. Their catchy riffs, playful lyrics, and incredible rhythm section—a big shout out to their drummer who really carried out the set—are what fans keep coming back to release after release. Fans going wild for a song titled “Harry” and the portrait of Harry Styles cascading the stage is hilarious, but a true testament to the band’s sound.
Personally, seeing all of these bands gather for the 10 year anniversary made me reflect on my own growth in the last 10 years. I was introduced to Counter Intuitive Records in college at their start. Now, 10 years later, I still come to them as a source for what’s new and what’s developing in the scene. It’s incredible to see the label’s growth and stability all throughout these last 10 years. As a major fan, I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years will bring.
Photos by Sarah Knoll
The Alternative is ad-free and 100% supported by our readers. If you’d like to help us produce more content and promote more great new music, please consider donating to our Patreon page, which also allows you to receive sweet perks like free albums and The Alternative merch. And if you want The Alternative delivered straight to your inbox every month, sign up for our free newsletter. Either way, thanks for reading!