Though they claim to have met in jail, Masked Intruder actually formed right here in Madison. The members of the pop punk quartet go to great lengths to hide their actual identities — always appearing in colored ski masks with nemesis/mascot Officer Bradford in tow. Masked Intruder is at the forefront of their genre, playing shows around the globe and releasing their most recent album, last year’s M.I., on seminal punk label Fat Wreck Chords. Not bad for four (alleged) convicted felons.
In advance of their Nov. 7 “Punk Rock Maskerade” at the Majestic Theatre, Isthmus offers a primer on the band’s songs and all the crimes, misdemeanors and cheap beer that come along with them.
“ADT Security”
Masked Intruder has always had a great handle on pop melodies, but “ADT Security” (from their First Offense EP) shows their punk backbone. It’s got the same buzzsaw guitars, pulsating drums and DIY production values that helped propel many of their Fat Wreck bandmates to stardom in the mid-’90s. Plus, it’s about the road where love and crime intersect — the most recurring theme in the band’s lyrics.
“Heart Shaped Guitar”
Speaking of, here’s a song about unrequited love and a little breaking and entering. A duet with Maura Weaver of the Ohio punks Mixtapes, “Heart Shaped Guitar” is easily Masked Intruder’s most recognizable song. Built around Weaver and Intruder Blue’s call-and-response vocals, it marks a step forward for the band, as they began embracing their masterful handle on pop structure rather than settling for just being another punk band, albeit one that performs in ski masks.
“Why Don’t You Love Me in Real Life”
Virtually every punk band has a distinctive singer, but few have a singer that can really and truly sing. Here, Intruder Blue gets to show off his impressive vocal range in a song about (what else?) unrequited love. If you want poignant lyrics, go buy a Springsteen album. Masked Intruder is all about reckless abandon, whether it’s in their go-for-broke performances or consistently goofy lyrics.
“Crime Spree”
M.I. was a step forward for the band, as they began embracing more technical instrumentation, evident here in ready-for-Guitar Hero shredding by Intruders Green and Blue. Plus, the video features appearances by several Mad City stand-bys, from the dearly departed underground skate park the Dust Bowl to the robbing of a Pizza Pit driver. (Why is the Pizza Pit driver carrying a Glass Nickel box? Someone get Officer Bradford to investigate that one.)
“Saturday Night Alone”
“Saturday Night Alone” is one of the few Masked Intruder songs that have almost nothing to do with crime. Sure, it makes reference to “Saturday nights in the slammer,” but other than that, it’s just an astonishingly tight pop song about making the most of your weekends. It’s a breakneck punk gem that couples harmonized vocals with chugging power chords, and it calls to mind bands like Bad Religion and Strung Out — the latter of which is another of Masked Intruder’s labelmates.
Masked Intruder won’t spend this Saturday night alone. At their “Punk Rock Maskerade,” the band will be joined by Boston’s Smoke or Fire, the Copyrights from Carbondale, Ill., the French quartet Not Scientists and Madison’s own Help Desk.
