It seems crazy to say this, but it’s been 21 years since No Use For a Name debuted as a band. In other words, the band as an entity can legally drink; a substantial number of its fans cannot. Pop-punk intrinsically seems like a genre made both for and by the young, and history has shown that legacy bands are few and far between, so a 21-year-old band is something special indeed.
However, it’s not only impressive that NUFAN has survived this long, but also that they’ve not coasted on reputation in order to do it. While most other groups with two decades under their belt would be content to simply hit the road every year or so as a cash grab meant to reel in the kids who should be awed simply to be in their presence, NUFAN keeps up their game with actual new albums (like their forthcoming disc, The Feel Good Record of the Year) that are filled with actual new songs that – occasionally – attempt to actually sound different from the ones that came before. Granted, there’s little room in the formula for much variation, but NUFAN should be applauded for at least trying to keep it interesting for themselves and for their old (and new) fans.
-- Jason Ferguson
No Use For a Name performs on Wednesday, February 20 at Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale. The Flatliners open up the show. Tickets are $15 and doors open at 7:30 p.m. For more info, call 954 564-1074 or visit www.cultureroom.net.