Occasionally a band reminds me of a time when music was simpler. A time when MTV played music videos, the world only needed three chords to tell the truth, and punk was more about getting drunk and having fun than it was a record-label genre. Keaton reminds me of those happy days.

Sure, Keaton follows in the territory well plowed by the likes of other pop-punk bands like Blink-182, Green Day, Simple Plan - you get the drift. Keaton isn't reinventing the wheel, but it's having one hell of a time taking a ride on it. This band may be one of the hidden gems of the Rochester music scene.

On Saturday I made it down to catch the Rochester-based pop-punk outfit at Montage Music Hall. Keaton seemed the odd ducks out on the metal-leaning bill, but that didn't stop the band from having a blast and tearing up the place.

I knew it was going to be an interesting show when the bass player, Spencer Herrington, came out donned in a Pikachu hat. The hat, and the rest of his clothes, didn't stay on much longer. Normally I'm wary of style over substance, but if you can back up the stage antics with your music, have at it. Keaton did just that, providing a fire-charged onslaught on the auditory senses, blasting loud and powerful tunes like it was the band's job (which I guess it is).

The energy didn't stop with Herrington, either. Like party animals trapped in the snow globe that was the stage, every member of the band was running, jumping, and having a blast. It's always refreshing to see a group having that much fun.

That said, I had some issues with the sound, since the vocals had a hard time cutting through the rest of the raucous din. And I was hoping for a longer set to hear a bit more of the band's material (at one point Keaton was set to headline the show, but Trianotaur ended up taking the lead spot). Keaton's closing song was by far the best of the bunch, and showed a band that has talent on both the writing and performing sides of things. Keaton plays again on February 16, this time at Water Street Musical Hall. If you want to get your mosh on, these guys know how to party.