AJJ built a following on apocalyptic folk-punk long before the genre felt prescient, and their ninth studio record, Dirty Old Power — dropping September 25 — suggests the Phoenix five-piece have no interest in softening the message. Their lead single, “Phlamethrower,” arrives with the band’s characteristic non-reassurance: “It’s a long way to hell, but I’m sure we’ll make it there in one piece. I think we’re going to keep adapting as things get worse. And hopefully we’ll get better at fighting.” The Dirty Old Power Tour brings them to The Song & Dance in downtown Syracuse on Saturday, October 10, with Greet Death opening.
About the Show
Sean Bonnette and Ben Gallaty founded AJJ — then called Andrew Jackson Jihad — in Phoenix in 2004. The current five-piece lineup adds Preston Bryant, Mark Glick, and Kevin Higuchi, a band that has spent two decades weaving apocalyptic themes and imagery through its catalog without ever making it feel like a gimmick. Dirty Old Power was recorded at Animal Rites studio in Los Angeles with Grammy-winning producer John Congleton, who worked with the band on Christmas Island (2014) and The Bible 2 (2016) — a returning collaborator for a band deep enough into its catalog to know exactly what it needs from a studio. AJJ describes their own sound as “The Beatles on bath salts,” a self-assessment that works precisely because it forecloses easy genre categorization. Their previous record, Disposable Everything (2023), marked their debut on Hopeless Records; Dirty Old Power arrives via AJJ Unlimited LTD and Specialist Subject. The tour runs through North America into late fall, followed by UK and Ireland dates in March 2027.
Greet Death — the Michigan duo of Logan Gaval and Harper Boyhtari — opens. They have been drawing from shoegaze and doomgaze since 2011; their third album, Die In Love, confronts mortality with the kind of directness that doesn’t leave much room for comfort. “Pain and loss,” Logan has said. “Everyone feels it, it’s a very human thing.” Both acts are working the same emotional territory — loss, endurance, what comes after — which makes for a coherent evening if not necessarily an uplifting one.
Venue & Logistics
The Song & Dance sits at 115 E. Jefferson Street in downtown Syracuse, part of the Central New York live music circuit. The show carries a 16+ age restriction with ID; under 16 are admitted with a parent or legal guardian. Doors at 7:00 p.m., show at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets for the October 10 show are listed from $0.00 and are available now. Buy tickets