Energy has always been an integral part of performance, and with jump kicks and intense vocals, Outcry can’t help but let it all out. 

A last-minute addition to the bill, Outcry, played a mix of spirited covers of heavy hitters like Wet by Dazey and the Scouts and Mannequin Pussy, as well as ferocious new originals like “Nate Jacobs,” “Social Media Justice Warrior,” “I Was Watching The Teletubbies,” and “My Mom Spilled My Froot Loops.”

Lead singer Madison Ranieri created this Glassboro-based group out of a yearning for a venture into the loud, spirited Riot Grrrl style of music after performing vocals for a few other bands. Outcry is made up of members trying new things, such as bassist Madeline Reddy, who was formerly a vocalist, and guitarist Taylor Sniscak, who formerly played bass. Drummer Amanda Senatore is a longtime friend of Madison and has been playing with her for years. 

“We were excited about this [band], because it is a learning experience to pick up a new instrument and play it all the time and practice it all the time to get better. That is the main reason I wanted to play bass in this band as opposed to starting something like this for myself and singing,” said Reddy.

Their music is driven by the emotions of the band members, turning day-to-day grievances into fuel for the fire of performance. Topics of dissatisfaction, disrespect, social commentary, and rage are all defining forces behind the band’s infectious intensity. 

Ranieri opened up about her performance on stage.

“What drives me is all the big emotions that I was told as a woman I should shut down and sit with. The things that drove me crazy in my life. I feel like music is such a great way to spiritually release so much pent-up energy that people hold,” said Ranieri.

The band’s original songs are penned by Ranieri, drawing from things that make her twitch in her day-to-day life. She writes songs like “Social Media Justice Warrior,” criticizing armchair activists and virtue signaling. Heavy-hitting, witty, and exciting lyrics are her specialty.

Even at rehearsal, which they do in a wooded basement under the watchful eye of a poster of Michael Cera eating a burrito, as well as a vintage cuckoo clock shaped like a French horn, the energy is palpable. 

“There are times where I almost didn’t go to a jam,” Reddy said, “Or a rehearsal, but even if up until the first beat hits, I feel like death, the second the music starts, I’m up.”

When Outcry plays, the crowd explodes with energy. Up-tempo, hyper, and unapologetic, the band leaves no room for interpretation. They are here, in your face, and not leaving any time soon.