Refused Rock Elektra-fying Pair of Brooklyn Shows

Swedish hardcore punk band Refused graced Brooklyn for their second night (June 4) in New York City. Their first night took place at the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan. New Yorkers love Refused, and two packed shows in one night in Brooklyn are evidence of that.

At Music Hall of Williamsburg, things got sweaty fast as the band cranked out the new track “Elektra,” as well as notable favorites “The Shape of Punk to Come” and “The Refused Party Program.” The crowd completely unleashed and with no barricade crowd-surfers hopped on and offstage throughout the night.

Frontman Dennis Lyxzen stated onstage that he was once a metal head and with the band's snippet of Slayer’s “Raining Blood” before going into their own “The Deadly Rhythm,” who could argue? Their new album, fittingly titled Freedom, drops on June 30, and they busted out a live debut of the track “Dawkins Christ,” and played other fresh tunes “Francafrique” and “366.”

Whether it’s their music, the reaction from fans, their charisma or the sincere smiles from ear to ear that they have when onstage - there is something organic and liberating about experiencing Refused live. Fans will be waiting as they come back with Faith No More for a huge show at Madison Square Garden in August.

Opening acts at Music Hall of Williamsburg earlier in the night included Pennsylvania rock act Creepoid and energetic Los Angeles band aptly called Obliterations.

If this night wasn’t awesome enough, Refused played ANOTHER concert afterwards (also in Brooklyn.) Their secret show at the tiny Saint Vitus bar included covers of Judas Priest’s “Freewheel Burning,” Black Sabbath’s “Fairies Wear Boots” and Black Flag's “My War,” just to name a few. Many bands might say that they live to play music but time and time again Refused are a group of musicians that continually prove it and their fans are right there with them.

Check out our exclusive photo gallery of the Music Hall of Williamsburg show above, and watch the full set of the second show below.

Watch Refused’s Secret Show at Saint Vitus: