The hardest part of playing punk music is not the playing part — it's making it look difficult. Three bands from very typical ska/emo/punk labels showed that punk isn't dead — just a little older — Sunday during an all-ages show at Mad Planet, 533 E. Center St. (Don't worry, there are still synthesizers).

Days Away, who are on the Fueled By Ramen label, appeared the least eager to give up their power-pop sound as singer Keith Goodwin imitated a less-emotional Ben Gibbard over even-paced songs. It was not certain whether the quintet was simply well rehearsed or tentative about straying far from the sound of their positively received debut album (heck, it's on the shelves at the tiny but chock-full of taste Atomic Records).

Very self-aware about easily falling into punk conventions, lead guitarist Matt Austin avoided power chords and transitioned easily between his guitar and keyboard during songs. While playing "Gravity," the band switched to a noticeable 3/3 time signature that induced swaying from the young crowd.

Hopefully Days Away enjoyed the crowd participation because at the same time, Steel Train succeeded in getting the Days Away bus towed.

Steel Train's antics were no indication of their stage show, as they consciously continued to refine punk. Lead singer Jack Antonoff and keyboardist Scott Irby Ranniar met in New York City and collaborated in covering Bob Marley's "Steel Train." A friend began calling the duo — now a five-piece band — the name and it obviously stuck.

Reggae, which inspired ska, the Clash and eventually punk, also inspires many jam bands. Steel Train, who appear on the Drive-Thru Records label, infuse punk into their sound in that they are a jam band that doesn't go off on musical tangents. However seemingly contradictory that sounds, they truly are a jam band with direction.

Antonoff's twangy acoustic guitar and the drummer softly keeping time with rakes complemented the first half of the set. The bassist plucked the notes as if to resemble an upright, and all that appeared to be missing from the set was a banjo, as Antonoff softly sang about returning home. Many of their lyrics paint a transitory landscape, suggesting they put a lot of themselves into their songs, as they move between cities every night.

After Antonoff switched to the electric, he and Ranniar harmonized on different parts of a chord on separate octaves, almost creating the elusive middle tone that materializes when two people are in perfect harmony. The drummer was faithful to the band the entire set, slowing down to let the harmonies reap their full effect and the driving the tempo to retain interest while melodic chaos ensued around him.

Steel Train closed with the entire band, except the drummer, singing the band's namesake song acapella against the crowd's stunned silence — a much-appreciated sight to see when the majority of a band on a punk label can actually carry a tune.

Limbeck, who appear on the Doghouse label, commanded control of the stage to close out the night, explicitly speaking into the microphone to have the sound technician increase the volume on all of the respective member's amplifiers. The California outfit was anything but a shoe gazing band — the members had their heads up the entire time, looking at each other as they played. They were as controlled as Days Away, no single member made any extreme flourishes, but they appeared more dynamic as they audibly and visually fed off each other, giving the impression that each night was a different show.

They also echoed Steel Train's harmonies and illustrative lyrics, but their songs were more instantly likeable with catchy lyrics about girls named Julia. The band seemed to breathe a collective sugary sigh during all of their songs, keeping tightly with each other through all of the expressive musical flourishes. And even when a band member played something as simply as a harmonica during the set, the crowd showed their appreciation, once again, for these bands breaking out of the punk formula.

More information about upcoming shows at Mad Planet is available by calling (414) 263-4555 or by visiting www.mad-planet.com. More information on Days Away is located at www.fueledbyramen.com, more information on Steel Train is available by visiting www.steeltrainrock.com and more information on Limbeck is available by visiting www.limbeck.net.

This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 1, 2005.