Rough Trade is the perfect venue to arrive early. Will call opened at 8 but I got there at 7:45 and flipped through their consistently spot-on collection. I was pretty low energy after being at work all day but merely surrounded by artifacts of music excited me. After all, I was about to see Thick, a three-piece punk band I've been obsessed with since I found them. I've seen Instagram posts of their DIY shows rife with glorious head-banging and crowd surfing. By pictures alone you can tell these women are just having a damn good time. 

But before all that, I had to get my ticket. And, of course, a beer. I feel like it wouldn't be a Thick show without some beer. After I pick up both I head inside to scope out the other concert-goers before the first act, Dropper. Though sparse, the crowd was well-dressed with varying lengths of hair and height of heels. By the bar I spot Kate donning a spiked leather coat reminiscent of the one described in "So Sick," a leopard print dress, and Docs. Her shaggy haircut is the same one you see in magazines and wish you could rock as effortlessly as she does. And then Dropper comes on and steals my attention immediately. 

Thick's opening acts are artists who, in their own right, deserve to headline. Andrea continues the theme of a killer outfit and a kick-ass haircut, dressed in a jean set with her roommate's red crop top underneath, which perfectly matches the lining on the jeans. Her gaze into the crowd is hypnotic. When she announces that the next song will be about the service industry job she hates, the crowd erupts into cheers. The perfect prelude to the blues-y tune "Memoirs of Working in a Bowling Alley." The great use of tremolo blends elements of psychedelic rock with the band's unique Southern twang. It's obvious they're recording their upcoming album in Nashville. 

Next up: Gymshorts. This band is a delight to watch. Frontwoman Sarah also has an unwavering stare, though hers feels a bit more unhinged than Andrea's. I'm not surprised when she later screams "open the mother-fucking mosh pit," and slams some random dude to the floor. Like the rest of the artists who performed that night, Gymshorts is fucking cool. They know how to perfectly blend surf-rock riffs with primitive punk elements designed to create a fun show. Rhythm switching and howling are just two of the tactics they use to hype up the crowd, though you can tell they're just doing it for the fun of it. 

Before announcing the next song, Sarah picks up a new guitar, this one blue with orange flames, the number 24 in the upper right corner, and the Nascar logo below the fretboard. Anyone who's been following this band for the past few months already knows what's coming up before Sarah informs us all that she’s the Jeff Gordon of our generation. (I didn’t know who this was either. After some quick Googling in-between sets I discovered he was a seriously decorated former NASCAR driver). And it seems like the whole place is filled with die-hard fans as everyone erupts into cheers and starts singing along. After bringing her brother on stage to fill in on guitar, Sarah jumps off stage to open the pit. The crowd goes wild and starts moshing, playing their part as passionately as the band, whose chaotic energy is infectious and charisma tangible, proving them to be the perfect last act before the headliner. By the time they're finished, the now-crowded venue is ready for the final act. 

It’s obvious right away that this is Thick’s home turf. Born out of the Brooklyn DIY scene, Thick draws in a huge crowd to the relatively intimate Rough Trade back room, as seen from above by the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd vying to be present at the trio’s return to the stage. They start off with a classic, “Puke’s Diner” during which the crowd sings along to an all-too-familiar story about getting fucked up and subsequently fucking up whatever kind of relationship you’re in. At one point mid-song, Nikki kneels down center stage and Kate instinctively follows suit. Shari closes her eyes, focusing on the through-line of it all.

After perfectly encapsulating the madness that is getting your period, the pressure of accomplishing anything noteworthy at a young age, and the societal pressures that are placed upon young women, the band pulls on stage all of their closest friends and fellow musicians for one last banger -- “Wasting My Time.” Kate and Nikki enlist Sarah and Andrea to take over guitar and bass responsibilities while they descended to the moshpit, mics in hand. The two came back on stage to finish the night off strong, surrounded by friends, screaming about how even after heartbreak they’re going to be okay.  

Relatable lyrics and a fun time are exactly what makes Thick so awesome. Fans can see themselves in not only the meaning of the songs or the angst of the music but also through how much fun the band is having on stage. Their chemistry is tangible. Kate and Nikki take command of either side of the stage, screaming into the mics and dancing around in unison while Shari shows the drums who’s boss, providing breakdowns perfect for moshing. 

Thick depicts the beauty of what happens when women form punk bands. Though raw energy is abundant in the genre, the charisma and style of this trio is unbeatable. If you get the chance to headbang with these awesome women, you absolutely should.