Really enjoyed reviewing last year's music and making this episode. Please give it a listen and let me know if I should make more episodes like this one.
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Who Gets Divorced? (Quality Under Pressure Podcast)
Really proud of this episode because it captures what I hope The Quality Under Pressure Podcast becomes — it's conversational, funny, engaged, but we also touch on a topic that is considered taboo by some. I hope we help normalize topics with lots of social stigma attached by talking about them. An intentional, engaged, and meaningful conversation is a very powerful tool. It's why I love meeting up with people for 1-on-1 chats over coffee and it's why I formatted the show after that sentiment. Plus, I get to see 2 of my best friends & co-hosts more often because of this project.
A big thanks to Leah for joining us and being an open book. Not everyone would be that open about their divorce and I am grateful for your generosity & courage. I'm glad we got your perspective on divorce and that we all laughed while you shared your insight. Also, thank you for the solid logo! It almost looks like we know what we're doing because of it.
It's crazy to me that one could judge another for being divorced. Marriage is an antiquated practice and if divorce brings happiness to the people involved we should be supporting them. At the same time, if marriage brings you joy then you should be allowed to practice it, but that doesn't mean it's right for everyone. The issue is that society tells you to get married and to stay married even if it means sacrificing happiness and health. Hopefully our conversation helps shine a little light to bring a little more balance to the topic.
I get stoked every time we record episodes. I really hope future episodes end up like this one and our episode on religion with McKenna & Leo — they're funny & light, but we dig into some important topics. If you're going to check the podcast out, I would start with 1 of those episodes. You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, YouTube, and many other platforms.
A big thanks to Leah for joining us and being an open book. Not everyone would be that open about their divorce and I am grateful for your generosity & courage. I'm glad we got your perspective on divorce and that we all laughed while you shared your insight. Also, thank you for the solid logo! It almost looks like we know what we're doing because of it.
It's crazy to me that one could judge another for being divorced. Marriage is an antiquated practice and if divorce brings happiness to the people involved we should be supporting them. At the same time, if marriage brings you joy then you should be allowed to practice it, but that doesn't mean it's right for everyone. The issue is that society tells you to get married and to stay married even if it means sacrificing happiness and health. Hopefully our conversation helps shine a little light to bring a little more balance to the topic.
I get stoked every time we record episodes. I really hope future episodes end up like this one and our episode on religion with McKenna & Leo — they're funny & light, but we dig into some important topics. If you're going to check the podcast out, I would start with 1 of those episodes. You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, YouTube, and many other platforms.
Friday, November 23, 2018
The Quality Under Pressure Podcast
I started a new podcast and it's been great fun.
Please check it out if you have time.
Please check it out if you have time.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Story of the Year - "The Black Swan"
In my opinion, Story of the Year's 2008 release, "The Black Swan," is the best album they put out. "Page Avenue" might have had more commercial success, but I do not think it stacks up against "The Black Swan." It's an album that looks at human existence while touching political and social topics. The album also has an interlude that includes an excerpt from Carl Sagan so that already scores many points in my book.
The album was released towards the end of the W. Bush era and it captures the tumultuous times in 13 beautiful tracks. The album begins with Bush speaking and the first word we get from frontman Dan Marsala is "liar." The album continues by urging listeners to wake up, think, organize, unite, and take action.
I still come back to this album 10 years later and it's still great. In fact, the album seems to have taken on new meaning considering the actions our current president is taking.
The album was released towards the end of the W. Bush era and it captures the tumultuous times in 13 beautiful tracks. The album begins with Bush speaking and the first word we get from frontman Dan Marsala is "liar." The album continues by urging listeners to wake up, think, organize, unite, and take action.
I still come back to this album 10 years later and it's still great. In fact, the album seems to have taken on new meaning considering the actions our current president is taking.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Underoath Re-Birth Tour Review
On April 6th, 2016 I got to watch UNDEROATH perform live at the Skyway Theater in Minneapolis. It was the first time I've seen them perform live since 2011 (HERE IS MY REVIEW OF THAT SHOW). I don't have an accurate number, but I once backtracked and realized I have seen Underoath perform at least 13 times. One would think this "fourteenth" time wouldn't be so exciting as I've seen the band so many times, but that couldn't be further from the truth. The band called it quits 2013 and I thought I would never see the band ever again.
The show was everything I hoped it would be. Underoath was clearly back because they wanted to be, and you could sense that in their performance. They played what is arguably their 2 most popular albums from front to back. I consider their 2006 album, "Define The Great Line" the gold standard for anything "screamo". I hesitate using label "screamo" because I don't want people to think the album is full of angsty screaming. An honest listening of "Define The Great Line" will show any listener that it is a beautifully conflicted album. It is gracefully melodic, while being brutally heavy. It was painfully dark, while being pleasantly uplifting.
I can't say it was my favorite Underoath show, but that's only because my favorite Underoath show is in a league of its own. I'm not very spiritual, but I had an out-of-body experience at one of their shows without any mind altering substances at play. I think I was just overwhelmed by the power of their music. I doubt I will ever have an experience like that again, so although their latest show doesn't compare to that one very special performance, it was still very good an memorable. I also met a couple of other long time Underoath fans, and people who recognized me from my radio job. Super fan, Brandon Doll, also wanted to share a few words about Underoath.
Here is Brandon's review:
Which brings us to Wednesday night. After a somewhat lengthy stage setup following opening act Caspian, the lights went dark and it was show time. The band members took the stage and immediately ripped into “Young and Aspiring” which sent the crowd into a chaotic frenzy. During the “They’re Only Chasing Safety” portion of the show the crowd was at its most energetic during the singles off of the album, “A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White”, “Reinventing Your Exit”, and “It’s Dangerous Business Walking out Your Front Door”. My personal favorite moment from this segment of the show was when Underoath played “Down, Set, Go”, which also happens to be my favorite song off of the album. During the set lead vocalist Spencer Chamberlain stated that it was a song they had never played live before they kicked off the Rebirth Tour. I find that to be incredible because it is the best song off of a phenomenal album in my humble opinion. The only criticism that I can come up with from the entire night occurred during the albums closing track, “Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape”. The song was played to perfection but for some reason the track was cut short right before the epic breakdown that closes out the album. However, I was able to overlook this small miscue knowing that the best was yet to come: “Define the Great Line”.
The show was everything I hoped it would be. Underoath was clearly back because they wanted to be, and you could sense that in their performance. They played what is arguably their 2 most popular albums from front to back. I consider their 2006 album, "Define The Great Line" the gold standard for anything "screamo". I hesitate using label "screamo" because I don't want people to think the album is full of angsty screaming. An honest listening of "Define The Great Line" will show any listener that it is a beautifully conflicted album. It is gracefully melodic, while being brutally heavy. It was painfully dark, while being pleasantly uplifting.
I can't say it was my favorite Underoath show, but that's only because my favorite Underoath show is in a league of its own. I'm not very spiritual, but I had an out-of-body experience at one of their shows without any mind altering substances at play. I think I was just overwhelmed by the power of their music. I doubt I will ever have an experience like that again, so although their latest show doesn't compare to that one very special performance, it was still very good an memorable. I also met a couple of other long time Underoath fans, and people who recognized me from my radio job. Super fan, Brandon Doll, also wanted to share a few words about Underoath.
Here is Brandon's review:
To say that I was excited to see
Underoath at the Skyway Theater is the understatement of the century. I
purchased my ticket last fall the second that the tour was confirmed. Underoath
has not performed in Minnesota since 2011 and obviously the band has gone
through a lot since that time. All this did was create an insurmountable amount
of hype for a show that was unthinkable as little as a year ago. At that point
I don’t think anyone would have ever dreamed that this band would play together
again.
Which brings us to Wednesday night. After a somewhat lengthy stage setup following opening act Caspian, the lights went dark and it was show time. The band members took the stage and immediately ripped into “Young and Aspiring” which sent the crowd into a chaotic frenzy. During the “They’re Only Chasing Safety” portion of the show the crowd was at its most energetic during the singles off of the album, “A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White”, “Reinventing Your Exit”, and “It’s Dangerous Business Walking out Your Front Door”. My personal favorite moment from this segment of the show was when Underoath played “Down, Set, Go”, which also happens to be my favorite song off of the album. During the set lead vocalist Spencer Chamberlain stated that it was a song they had never played live before they kicked off the Rebirth Tour. I find that to be incredible because it is the best song off of a phenomenal album in my humble opinion. The only criticism that I can come up with from the entire night occurred during the albums closing track, “Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape”. The song was played to perfection but for some reason the track was cut short right before the epic breakdown that closes out the album. However, I was able to overlook this small miscue knowing that the best was yet to come: “Define the Great Line”.
The
band only took about a 5 minute break and immediately rushed back out to kick
off the Define segment with a raucous rendition of “In Regards to Myself”. This
is when the band hit their stride. Everyone appeared to be in vintage form. The
incredibly talented Aaron Gillespie who has quite possibly the most difficult
task in music of simultaneously drumming and singing, looked like he had never
even left Underoath. The crowd and most of all the pit was noticeably more
active for the Define songs. Define is much heavier, more polished, and has
many more breakdowns, which allows for more “moshable” moments. Underoath kept
up the frenetic pace of heavy fast paced metal until they reached the interlude
track “Salmarnir” which finally allowed the crowd to catch its collective
breath. This is when my favorite moment of the show took place. At the end of
this track Min, Myself, and a few of my other pit mates organized a “wall of
death” in preparation for possibly the heaviest track off of Define, “Returning Empty Handed”. The
track began with a Gillespie drumroll and is kicked off with a ridiculous
Chamberlain guttural growl, at which point the bodies were flying everywhere.
Another high point was reached during Grammy nominated lead single “Writing on
the Walls” which is always a crowd favorite.
I
cannot say enough positive things about this performance. It was one of the
greatest concerts I have ever had the pleasure of attending. Obviously anytime
one of your favorite bands plays two full albums you are going to be in store
for a fantastic night, but I was equally as impressed by the passion displayed
by the crowd of all ages. I was shocked at the number of kids in attendance to
see a band that first hit the scene when many of them were possibly still in
diapers.
As for Underoath, uncertainty still lies ahead. At the
completion of this Rebirth tour the band members still have their separate
careers so a new album appears unlikely, but they did tease the crowd with what
sounded like a new exitlude track tacked onto the conclusion of “To Whom it May
Concern”. Even though it appears unlikely, I think we can all agree that a new
album or song would not be out of the realm of possibility. I hope it happens.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Taylor Swift Review | Minnesota | 2015-9-11
I went to Taylor Swift's show on Friday night (9/11/2015) and I didn't really know what to expect. I knew Vance Joy was opening and it was cool to see him again since I interviewed him when he dropped by Studio C.
I knew I was going to hear Swift's hits I have heard a million times while at work, and I knew it was going to be a big show. It's probably the biggest show I have ever been to. The only thing I can think of that compares is the Vans Warped Tour. All those bands, all those buses, all those stages, all those locations, and all those moving pieces. But comparing the Vans Warped Tour and Taylor Swift's 1989 Tour is not a good comparison. I grew up on punk and metal music, so I haven't ever been to a massive pop show. I'm used to going to intimate club shows where most of the people are there strictly for the music. I did not go into Taylor Swift's show with this mindset, and I'm glad I didn't because it would've been the incorrect approach. I went for the spectacle, the experience, and to witness the production value that I could never get at a 200 person show.
I was pretty much amazed right away. Everyone at the show received a wristband that would light up in sync with the music at the show. These wristbands were taped to the back of every seat at the Xcel Energy Center. That means before we were all admitted, a group of people walked around the arena and taped these wrist bands to all 17,000 seats. My pal and I wore our wristbands proudly the entire weekend.
I knew I was going to hear Swift's hits I have heard a million times while at work, and I knew it was going to be a big show. It's probably the biggest show I have ever been to. The only thing I can think of that compares is the Vans Warped Tour. All those bands, all those buses, all those stages, all those locations, and all those moving pieces. But comparing the Vans Warped Tour and Taylor Swift's 1989 Tour is not a good comparison. I grew up on punk and metal music, so I haven't ever been to a massive pop show. I'm used to going to intimate club shows where most of the people are there strictly for the music. I did not go into Taylor Swift's show with this mindset, and I'm glad I didn't because it would've been the incorrect approach. I went for the spectacle, the experience, and to witness the production value that I could never get at a 200 person show.
I was pretty much amazed right away. Everyone at the show received a wristband that would light up in sync with the music at the show. These wristbands were taped to the back of every seat at the Xcel Energy Center. That means before we were all admitted, a group of people walked around the arena and taped these wrist bands to all 17,000 seats. My pal and I wore our wristbands proudly the entire weekend.
Looking back, I still prefer going to intimate shows, but I don't see how anyone could be disappointed attending a stop on the 1989 Tour. Taylor clearly has mastered working the crowd. She can get you to leave your feet when she wants, and she can slow it down and tell a story and connect when she wants. She had pre-recorded transitions that featured other celebrities, there is a moving stage, there are lasers, and so many other production pieces you can see moving around in sync if you are able to calm your inner teenager and watch the show with an objective eye. But the 1 thing we cannot replicate at an intimate club show that I wish we could is the energy. I don't even mean the energy Taylor pours out, although she does exert a lot of energy into her well choreographed 1.5 hour show. I just mean the energy in the building in general. My ears literally rang from the screaming girls, the arena was lit from the flash of cameras, and minus a few disgruntled parents, everyone was into it. I don't think I could sit through all pop shows, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Taylor Swift's 1989 Tour.
CHVRCHES Review | Minnesota Show | 2015-10-10
I had a very adventurous and fun weekend, but I will spare you the details as the weekend was much more “adventurous” in person than it is on paper. Let’s just say we utilized Craig’s List in the best way possible and met some cool people. The reason I bring up my weekend is because I attended the CHVRCHES show and I wanted to share my experiences with people who weren’t able to attend the show. I am a fan of the band, and I have enjoyed both their debut album (The Bones Of What You Believe) and their recent release (Every Open Eye).
However, I’ve seen videos of their live performance and I very much thought they are a better studio band. They didn’t seem to dominate the stage like bands I have enjoyed seeing live in the past. They are also at a disadvantage since they are locked behind their computers and other devices. This was a case of YouTube videos not being able to capture the actual “energy” of a live show.
They are a much better live band than I had given them credit for. They obviously have a very cool synth sound and their stage matches what they are trying to accomplish. They have a bunch of big lights and even their gear is set up behind a neat little package. Frontlady, Lauren Mayberry, does a good job moving from song to song while breaking the show up with a few cool stories in between.
Even when listening to their albums, you understand that Mayberry isn’t trying to challenge Mariah Carey on range. She gets what works and she does it very well. She brings that exact same sound to her live performance. With a band like CHVRCHES, you have to appreciate the entire package when seeing them in concert. You aren’t going to be blown away by their stage presence, you aren’t going to leave feeling like your life has changed, but between the songs, the lights, and a solid performance, you’ll leave very happy.
My biggest disappointment of the night has nothing to do with the band. Myth was completely packed, but the crowd was dead. I went with a few people and we wanted to cut-a-rug, but our energy was drained by how dead the people around us were. It wasn’t until the show was about 75% over that people started really getting into it. This could be a case of their new album being too new since “Every Open Eye” came out at the end of September. Either way, if you’re a fan of the band and you missed this show, make sure you go next time they’re in town.
However, I’ve seen videos of their live performance and I very much thought they are a better studio band. They didn’t seem to dominate the stage like bands I have enjoyed seeing live in the past. They are also at a disadvantage since they are locked behind their computers and other devices. This was a case of YouTube videos not being able to capture the actual “energy” of a live show.
They are a much better live band than I had given them credit for. They obviously have a very cool synth sound and their stage matches what they are trying to accomplish. They have a bunch of big lights and even their gear is set up behind a neat little package. Frontlady, Lauren Mayberry, does a good job moving from song to song while breaking the show up with a few cool stories in between.
Even when listening to their albums, you understand that Mayberry isn’t trying to challenge Mariah Carey on range. She gets what works and she does it very well. She brings that exact same sound to her live performance. With a band like CHVRCHES, you have to appreciate the entire package when seeing them in concert. You aren’t going to be blown away by their stage presence, you aren’t going to leave feeling like your life has changed, but between the songs, the lights, and a solid performance, you’ll leave very happy.
My biggest disappointment of the night has nothing to do with the band. Myth was completely packed, but the crowd was dead. I went with a few people and we wanted to cut-a-rug, but our energy was drained by how dead the people around us were. It wasn’t until the show was about 75% over that people started really getting into it. This could be a case of their new album being too new since “Every Open Eye” came out at the end of September. Either way, if you’re a fan of the band and you missed this show, make sure you go next time they’re in town.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Alex Of Venice Review
Gave this movie a 4 out of 5 on Netflix, but I was this close to giving it a 5. I'm just a bitch with my stars, so I hardly ever give out 5s.
I complain about movies the same way I complain about music. There is a lot of good music in this world, but somehow the worst stuff always seems to rise to the top. Why the hell would anyone want to watch San Andreas when they could watch something that is worthwhile and meaningful? To be fair, I've never seen San Andreas, but pick any CGI infused summer blockbuster and odds are it's not very good. I would rather watch a movie like Boyhood, Little Miss Sunshine, and Alex of Venice where I get snapshots of life.
This movie came into my life at the perfect time. I'm really trying to find some traction to expand, explore, and improve everything I do, but I've been slipping and facing a lot of rejection lately. This movie reminds you that even when facing a few bumps and changes that you can still smile, have fun, and that life is not all that bad when you have loved ones surrounding you. Like the title character, I, too, feel frustrated and depressed when things are out of my control. But sometimes you just have to let things play out. Hug the people you love, spend time with the people you love, and don't worry.
I don't know what it is about scenes where people cry in the car, but they always work on me. The car is such a liberating, inviting, and insulated mechanism. There is just something about letting out a good cry in the car that just works. The color grading of the film has a warmness to it throughout the movie and it just glows. Despite the movie being about struggle and change, it remains positive until the end. I wanted to give someone the biggest hug when I finished the film. It also reminded me that I really should try this romance thing again. It has been about 5 years since my last romantic endeavor although it does not feel that long. Anyone want to go on a date?
I complain about movies the same way I complain about music. There is a lot of good music in this world, but somehow the worst stuff always seems to rise to the top. Why the hell would anyone want to watch San Andreas when they could watch something that is worthwhile and meaningful? To be fair, I've never seen San Andreas, but pick any CGI infused summer blockbuster and odds are it's not very good. I would rather watch a movie like Boyhood, Little Miss Sunshine, and Alex of Venice where I get snapshots of life.
This movie came into my life at the perfect time. I'm really trying to find some traction to expand, explore, and improve everything I do, but I've been slipping and facing a lot of rejection lately. This movie reminds you that even when facing a few bumps and changes that you can still smile, have fun, and that life is not all that bad when you have loved ones surrounding you. Like the title character, I, too, feel frustrated and depressed when things are out of my control. But sometimes you just have to let things play out. Hug the people you love, spend time with the people you love, and don't worry.
I don't know what it is about scenes where people cry in the car, but they always work on me. The car is such a liberating, inviting, and insulated mechanism. There is just something about letting out a good cry in the car that just works. The color grading of the film has a warmness to it throughout the movie and it just glows. Despite the movie being about struggle and change, it remains positive until the end. I wanted to give someone the biggest hug when I finished the film. It also reminded me that I really should try this romance thing again. It has been about 5 years since my last romantic endeavor although it does not feel that long. Anyone want to go on a date?
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
My Interview With Nico & Vinz
I didn't know a whole lot about NICO & VINZ before this interview, but the more I listened to their music and looked into them, the more fascinated I was. I love cultures and talking about things I don't know much about, and seeing that Nico & Vinz are from Norway caught my curiosity. I knew I had to ask them a bit about that, but we also talk about their music and how diverse their sound is, and we talked about what is coming up for Nico & Vinz. This is my full interview with Vinz.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Anberlin's Final Minnesota Show
I am beyond stoked and a little sad to attend ANBERLIN's final show in Minnesota at the Varsity Theater. I have been listening to Anberlin for about a decade now, and they announced at the beginning of the year that this would be their last as a band. It's heartbreaking, but I'm glad they didn't fizzle out and they were able to give us a final album and a final tour. They have a sold out show at the Varsity Theater today! I hope to see some of you there!
The first Anberlin song I ever heard was "Ready Fuels". I think I came across it on Purevolume or MySpace. I used to spend hours exploring new music in junior high, and Anberlin was one of the bands I fell in love with.
Unless Anberlin drops one last music video on us before they ride into the sunset, "Stranger Ways" will be the last music video they ever release. It comes off of their final album "Lowborn".
The first Anberlin song I ever heard was "Ready Fuels". I think I came across it on Purevolume or MySpace. I used to spend hours exploring new music in junior high, and Anberlin was one of the bands I fell in love with.
Unless Anberlin drops one last music video on us before they ride into the sunset, "Stranger Ways" will be the last music video they ever release. It comes off of their final album "Lowborn".
Secret Album Released By I Can Make A Mess
Another secret album has been dropped, and this time by someone I actually listen to. Ace Enders is the frontman for a number of bands. He started in The Early November, he also has a project that simply goes by Ace Enders, and he has I Can Make A Mess. He recently dropped a secret album called "Growing In" and you can stream it below.
Monday, October 6, 2014
New Anchor & Braille Songs
Two new ANCHOR & BRAILLE songs have surfaced and despite both tracks sounding like material I wouldn't normally like, I have to admit I enjoy both tracks. I'm a little disappointed the Stephen Christian kind of went this non-organic route because I thought some of his more beautiful songs with Anchor & Braille were his more minimalistic organic songs. But again, these 2 new songs definitely work.
This first track "Fatal Flaw" is a shorty, but a goodie. Again, that fake hip-hop sounding high-hat isn't normally something I like, but it works with everything else in that it sort of sounds like an '80s synth vibe. It sounds like it could've been in the opening credits for "DRIVE".
This next song is called "Detroit Stab".
I should also note that I read that the label Anchor & Braille is working with typically only releases singles for artists. It could mean that there isn't a full-length or EP coming out, and that these could be one-off singles. I certainly hope that this isn't the case, because I am very much looking forward to the progression of Anchor & Braille.
Their first album, "Felt" was good and you could tell that it was Stephen Christian behind the songs, but the songs weren't "full" enough for me. It felt like most of the songs just needed 1 more thing. It's still a beautiful album and something I love to have on in the background from time to time. However, I thought Stephen Christian really flexed his song writing skills when "The Quiet Life" came out. The album is more diverse, it is fuller, and it is just plainly enjoyable.
This first track "Fatal Flaw" is a shorty, but a goodie. Again, that fake hip-hop sounding high-hat isn't normally something I like, but it works with everything else in that it sort of sounds like an '80s synth vibe. It sounds like it could've been in the opening credits for "DRIVE".
This next song is called "Detroit Stab".
I should also note that I read that the label Anchor & Braille is working with typically only releases singles for artists. It could mean that there isn't a full-length or EP coming out, and that these could be one-off singles. I certainly hope that this isn't the case, because I am very much looking forward to the progression of Anchor & Braille.
Their first album, "Felt" was good and you could tell that it was Stephen Christian behind the songs, but the songs weren't "full" enough for me. It felt like most of the songs just needed 1 more thing. It's still a beautiful album and something I love to have on in the background from time to time. However, I thought Stephen Christian really flexed his song writing skills when "The Quiet Life" came out. The album is more diverse, it is fuller, and it is just plainly enjoyable.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Meg Myers Interview
I've been following MEG MYERS for a little while now. I really wanted to watch her perform live, and especially watch her perform "Heart Heart Head". She was also generous enough to give me a few minutes of her time for me to interview her. She's definitely a professional and a gamer as we joked around while we were setting up the equipment for the interview. Her music is serious, but you can tell that she has a really soft spot too. I asked her about her awesome music videos, and I also asked when we might see a full-length debut. Check out the full interview here.
This is probably my favorite song by Meg Myers and I absolutely love the video. It comes off her 2014 EP "Make A Shadow". I got goosebumps watching her perform it live. It's just so emotional and powerful!
This is probably my favorite song by Meg Myers and I absolutely love the video. It comes off her 2014 EP "Make A Shadow". I got goosebumps watching her perform it live. It's just so emotional and powerful!
Monday, August 6, 2012
How To Properly Rock The Fuck Out
I have been attending rock concerts for about a decade now and therefore feel as though I am seasoned enough to have a valid opinion about concerts and the scene. I remember thinking that the rock show was pure anarchy at the first few rock shows I went to. But as I continued to attend live shows, I quickly learned that it isn’t mass chaos and I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere of live shows and what they could provide. I have even found myself doing some crowd control at recent shows. I really thought about the etiquette of concerts and thinking about concerts systematically after I attended the Dead Throne tour a month ago. It was one of the worst crowds I have rocked out with in quite some time and it really made me think about why that crowd was so bad. There is no textbook for concert etiquette and so young concert goers only learn from experience. However, not everyone’s observation skills are created equally, and so some concert goers always manage to make it difficult for other fans. I want to use this blog to take a humorous and light yet systematic approach to concert etiquette.
I have never been to a rap or pop concert, so this blog does not pertain to those types of concerts. I mostly listen to the spectrum of rock music. I have been in friendly ska circle pits, I have been to atmospheric concerts where people stand in place in awe of the music, I have been to general alternative concerts where it’s just about having a good time, and I have been to metal concerts where it seems I never go back home without sharing some blood with the venue. There isn’t too much going on at concerts like Copeland and Lydia where people can stand around and just enjoy the music. The ska crowd is just too nice, simple minded, careless, or all of the above for this blog to pertain to them. It’s the general alternative, metal, hardcore, and screamo shows that sometimes need a review of etiquette. This includes everything from Thrice and Taking Back Sunday to bands like As I Lay Dying and Cradle of Filth.
When you come to one of these shows the venue will most likely be pretty spaced out. Not everyone comes for the opening acts. People will most likely be standing in circles with their friends or with their arms crossed looking at the stage that has nothing but equipment on it. You also have the fan that has come to the show only to play with their cell phone. These fans I have never understood because you can play with your cell phone at home without paying the price of admission. Before sound check starts, most people will stand near the stage with a good 4 to 6 inches of space between each person. There is no need to stand shoulder to shoulder, chest to back at this point of the concert. However, you will often have a young fan arrive to the venue late and disrupt the harmony that was carefully carved out by more prompt concert goers. To add salt to the wound, this fan will often gleefully wave his friends over destroying any shred of harmony left and testing your patience even further. Why fans choose to bully their way through and make everyone around them uncomfortable is beyond me. Sure, now you’re a little closer to the stage and your vantage point might be slightly better, but what about the people around you? Plus, I am willing to bet a good lump of money that you will not end up in that exact spot when the show or set ends. There will be music in the room; you will be able to hear it regardless of where you are. When sound check ends and the fans can sense the start of the first band, an act occurs that I like to call “the rush”. The rush is a compression of everyone in the room and migration toward the stage. It’s a phenomenon that occurs at all concerts and puts a smile on my face every time.
Now let’s take a moment to look at the crowd from a bird’s eye view. The common rock concert crowd can be sliced into three primary sections. I will analyze the three sections starting with the section closest to the stage and move toward the back of the venue. The first section can be called “claustrophobia unfriendly”. This section probably doesn’t take up as much room only because the fans are so concentrated. This is where you will typically find younger fans who mistakenly believe that being closer to the stage will enable them to be more involved with the music. There are fans in this section that could care less about the music and more about being physically closer to the musicians because it gives them a sense of being involved with the scene. To be fair, there are plenty of good fans in this section too that just have the misfortune of sharing this area with poor fans. When I was a young concert attendee, I thought this was the place to be, but that perspective quickly changed as I gained more knowledge. Most of the fans here will be grumpy as they have absolutely zero wiggle room and sometimes will find it difficult to breath because of the of the amount of pressure created by bodies being pressed against each other. In this section, you sometimes have to think twice about putting your hands in the air at the band’s request because you might not be able to put your arms back down. One of the most annoying acts in this section is something I like to call “the-ring-of-protection”. You will see this immensely annoying violation by young couples. Often a boyfriend will try to create breathing space for their girlfriends by creating an imaginary hula-hoop around them with their arms making it uncomfortable for everyone around them. These violators need to either quit this act, or they have to take their romance to the back of the venue. You cannot go to a concert and commit this heinous act in section one without being a thorn to everyone around you. If your girlfriend is that petite, you have to know better and stay home or respect the people around you. This is a rock concert, you know what to expect.
The second section is probably the largest in terms of square feet and not necessarily bodies. I believe you will find more veteran concert goers in this section and I am certain you will find the more rowdy concert goers here. Most of these fans are indeed there for the music, but to be fair, some are only there to thrash and can sometimes ruin it for the other people. The fans in this section have grown tired of the first section and have learned that the party is actually in this region. There is also another kind of fan that make of the periphery of the second section. These fans are also tired of the first section, but don’t plan to partake in the circle pit. These fans can fully enjoy the music and appreciate the crowd as well. They also play the vital role of maintaining the frame of the circle pit. The circle pit is a chaotic and amazing space. The circle pit might look like complete anarchy, but to a seasoned vet, there are unwritten rules in place, rules that a newcomer will not know. There are two types of fans in the circle pit. One who is there for the love of music and to take advantage of the atmosphere and everything a live show has to offer while connecting with the similar fans. Then as mentioned above, there are some fans in the circle pit just to release some aggression. I personally can’t get involved in a circle pit unless I can “feel” the music. Now here is an unwritten rule that was often ignored at the Dead Throne concert I attended: when a fan falls, it is the duty of everyone else in the circle pit to help that individual up. If that person is not helped up, they will get stepped on, possibly injured, and they will have a hell of a time attempting to get up as the swarm of people above them continue to step on them as the madness continues. Another element newcomers to the circle pit don’t seem to understand is that the objective of a circle pit is not to run into each other in an attempt to destroy each other. For example, at the Dead Throne show, there was a not so gentle man whose main intent was to knock everyone in the circle pit over before they knocked him over. It was as if he were playing a very violent and deranged version of tag. Of course after a few minutes he was the least liked guy in the pit and he found himself on the receiving end of a couple of choke holds. To help you better picture this ass of an individual, just know he had his Ed Hardy polo on and his collar popped. When people told him to quit intentionally knocking people over, he replied that it was a concert and this is what was suppose to occur. To the untrained eye, this is what it might look like. This is, however, not what is actually going on. No one is in the pit performing their best Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher impersonation. It just so happens that sometimes during the chaos people run each other over. There is not, or at least shouldn’t be, any intent to injure someone in a circle pit. People just understand that a certain level of violence comes with the territory. There is another fan that I like to call “the flailer” that shares the space inside a circle pit. The flailer doesn’t move around much within the pit, but does demand a good amount of space as they flail their extremities in an unhealthy fashion. It may look as if the flailer is mindlessly attempting to unhinge his forearm off his elbow, but a good flailer is very aware of the length of their limbs, the people around them, and the amount of space they have. The flailers at The Devil Wears Prada show failed to consider the three elements of flailing just mentioned. Flailers already look dumb (I know, I flail sometimes), let’s not hurt people in the process by elbowing, kicking, and/or slapping them. The last rule I want to throw in here quickly for the people of the second section is not to throw stuff into the stage. It puts the bands in danger and it doesn’t make you cool. The bands are working hard night in and night out and the last thing they need is for a shoe to hit them in the face.
The third section mostly makes up the back of the venue, but depending on the venue can take up space on the peripheries and can also manifest on multiple floors. There are two types of fans in the third section. The first one being the fans who don’t give a shit about the bands that are playing and are there more to be hip and because alcohol is served. The other type of fan is one that still loves music, but has grown out of the other two sections and could care less about partaking in those concert activities. They are there strictly there for the music. The third section really doesn’t need a lot of rules because most of the older fans are here. Plus, this is the section I have the least experience with although I find myself here more and more lately.
It would be convenient to have a book to teach us how to properly rock the fuck out, but alas things just aren’t that convenient for this scene that isn’t highly exposed. The scene is still a beautiful and thriving one, and so my hope is to hand it over to the next generation of young fans as beautiful and intact. Music has done so much for me and I’m sure for many people and it still has the capacity to do so much if we let it. It is truly one of the most beautiful and amazing mediums we have as proven by how eternal it is. I want to do my best to protect it and as I slowly fade into the third section, I hope music does for new fans what it has done for me.
I have never been to a rap or pop concert, so this blog does not pertain to those types of concerts. I mostly listen to the spectrum of rock music. I have been in friendly ska circle pits, I have been to atmospheric concerts where people stand in place in awe of the music, I have been to general alternative concerts where it’s just about having a good time, and I have been to metal concerts where it seems I never go back home without sharing some blood with the venue. There isn’t too much going on at concerts like Copeland and Lydia where people can stand around and just enjoy the music. The ska crowd is just too nice, simple minded, careless, or all of the above for this blog to pertain to them. It’s the general alternative, metal, hardcore, and screamo shows that sometimes need a review of etiquette. This includes everything from Thrice and Taking Back Sunday to bands like As I Lay Dying and Cradle of Filth.
When you come to one of these shows the venue will most likely be pretty spaced out. Not everyone comes for the opening acts. People will most likely be standing in circles with their friends or with their arms crossed looking at the stage that has nothing but equipment on it. You also have the fan that has come to the show only to play with their cell phone. These fans I have never understood because you can play with your cell phone at home without paying the price of admission. Before sound check starts, most people will stand near the stage with a good 4 to 6 inches of space between each person. There is no need to stand shoulder to shoulder, chest to back at this point of the concert. However, you will often have a young fan arrive to the venue late and disrupt the harmony that was carefully carved out by more prompt concert goers. To add salt to the wound, this fan will often gleefully wave his friends over destroying any shred of harmony left and testing your patience even further. Why fans choose to bully their way through and make everyone around them uncomfortable is beyond me. Sure, now you’re a little closer to the stage and your vantage point might be slightly better, but what about the people around you? Plus, I am willing to bet a good lump of money that you will not end up in that exact spot when the show or set ends. There will be music in the room; you will be able to hear it regardless of where you are. When sound check ends and the fans can sense the start of the first band, an act occurs that I like to call “the rush”. The rush is a compression of everyone in the room and migration toward the stage. It’s a phenomenon that occurs at all concerts and puts a smile on my face every time.
Now let’s take a moment to look at the crowd from a bird’s eye view. The common rock concert crowd can be sliced into three primary sections. I will analyze the three sections starting with the section closest to the stage and move toward the back of the venue. The first section can be called “claustrophobia unfriendly”. This section probably doesn’t take up as much room only because the fans are so concentrated. This is where you will typically find younger fans who mistakenly believe that being closer to the stage will enable them to be more involved with the music. There are fans in this section that could care less about the music and more about being physically closer to the musicians because it gives them a sense of being involved with the scene. To be fair, there are plenty of good fans in this section too that just have the misfortune of sharing this area with poor fans. When I was a young concert attendee, I thought this was the place to be, but that perspective quickly changed as I gained more knowledge. Most of the fans here will be grumpy as they have absolutely zero wiggle room and sometimes will find it difficult to breath because of the of the amount of pressure created by bodies being pressed against each other. In this section, you sometimes have to think twice about putting your hands in the air at the band’s request because you might not be able to put your arms back down. One of the most annoying acts in this section is something I like to call “the-ring-of-protection”. You will see this immensely annoying violation by young couples. Often a boyfriend will try to create breathing space for their girlfriends by creating an imaginary hula-hoop around them with their arms making it uncomfortable for everyone around them. These violators need to either quit this act, or they have to take their romance to the back of the venue. You cannot go to a concert and commit this heinous act in section one without being a thorn to everyone around you. If your girlfriend is that petite, you have to know better and stay home or respect the people around you. This is a rock concert, you know what to expect.
The second section is probably the largest in terms of square feet and not necessarily bodies. I believe you will find more veteran concert goers in this section and I am certain you will find the more rowdy concert goers here. Most of these fans are indeed there for the music, but to be fair, some are only there to thrash and can sometimes ruin it for the other people. The fans in this section have grown tired of the first section and have learned that the party is actually in this region. There is also another kind of fan that make of the periphery of the second section. These fans are also tired of the first section, but don’t plan to partake in the circle pit. These fans can fully enjoy the music and appreciate the crowd as well. They also play the vital role of maintaining the frame of the circle pit. The circle pit is a chaotic and amazing space. The circle pit might look like complete anarchy, but to a seasoned vet, there are unwritten rules in place, rules that a newcomer will not know. There are two types of fans in the circle pit. One who is there for the love of music and to take advantage of the atmosphere and everything a live show has to offer while connecting with the similar fans. Then as mentioned above, there are some fans in the circle pit just to release some aggression. I personally can’t get involved in a circle pit unless I can “feel” the music. Now here is an unwritten rule that was often ignored at the Dead Throne concert I attended: when a fan falls, it is the duty of everyone else in the circle pit to help that individual up. If that person is not helped up, they will get stepped on, possibly injured, and they will have a hell of a time attempting to get up as the swarm of people above them continue to step on them as the madness continues. Another element newcomers to the circle pit don’t seem to understand is that the objective of a circle pit is not to run into each other in an attempt to destroy each other. For example, at the Dead Throne show, there was a not so gentle man whose main intent was to knock everyone in the circle pit over before they knocked him over. It was as if he were playing a very violent and deranged version of tag. Of course after a few minutes he was the least liked guy in the pit and he found himself on the receiving end of a couple of choke holds. To help you better picture this ass of an individual, just know he had his Ed Hardy polo on and his collar popped. When people told him to quit intentionally knocking people over, he replied that it was a concert and this is what was suppose to occur. To the untrained eye, this is what it might look like. This is, however, not what is actually going on. No one is in the pit performing their best Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher impersonation. It just so happens that sometimes during the chaos people run each other over. There is not, or at least shouldn’t be, any intent to injure someone in a circle pit. People just understand that a certain level of violence comes with the territory. There is another fan that I like to call “the flailer” that shares the space inside a circle pit. The flailer doesn’t move around much within the pit, but does demand a good amount of space as they flail their extremities in an unhealthy fashion. It may look as if the flailer is mindlessly attempting to unhinge his forearm off his elbow, but a good flailer is very aware of the length of their limbs, the people around them, and the amount of space they have. The flailers at The Devil Wears Prada show failed to consider the three elements of flailing just mentioned. Flailers already look dumb (I know, I flail sometimes), let’s not hurt people in the process by elbowing, kicking, and/or slapping them. The last rule I want to throw in here quickly for the people of the second section is not to throw stuff into the stage. It puts the bands in danger and it doesn’t make you cool. The bands are working hard night in and night out and the last thing they need is for a shoe to hit them in the face.
The third section mostly makes up the back of the venue, but depending on the venue can take up space on the peripheries and can also manifest on multiple floors. There are two types of fans in the third section. The first one being the fans who don’t give a shit about the bands that are playing and are there more to be hip and because alcohol is served. The other type of fan is one that still loves music, but has grown out of the other two sections and could care less about partaking in those concert activities. They are there strictly there for the music. The third section really doesn’t need a lot of rules because most of the older fans are here. Plus, this is the section I have the least experience with although I find myself here more and more lately.
It would be convenient to have a book to teach us how to properly rock the fuck out, but alas things just aren’t that convenient for this scene that isn’t highly exposed. The scene is still a beautiful and thriving one, and so my hope is to hand it over to the next generation of young fans as beautiful and intact. Music has done so much for me and I’m sure for many people and it still has the capacity to do so much if we let it. It is truly one of the most beautiful and amazing mediums we have as proven by how eternal it is. I want to do my best to protect it and as I slowly fade into the third section, I hope music does for new fans what it has done for me.
Monday, May 21, 2012
The Devil Wears Prada Album and Concert Review
This article will be used to review both the The Devil Wears Prada (TDWP) concert I went to in Minneapolis and their new album Dead Throne. I’ll start off with a quick album review which I will keep short because the album has already been out for two months. Dead Throne, which was released on September 13th of 2011, was the first album Adam Dutkiewicz produced with TDWP. Their previous three full lengths and their Zombie EP were all produced by Joey Sturgis. Anyone who follows the scene also knows Adam Dutkiewicz from successful metalcore band Killswitch Engage. The band only had good things to say about their new producer and you definitely can hear a difference on this album. Although, I would argue that the growth of the band made more of a difference than picking a new producer. I make this claim because the Zombie EP which was produced by their previous producer really marks a turning point for TDWP. They took their sound to an entirely new level of brutality and cohesiveness and only expanded on that with Dead Throne. I’m not entirely sure what caused such a change but I would love to figure out what inspired this immense jump as there was no hint for the forthcoming carnage on their 2009 record, With Roots Above and Branches Below. Even just taking a glance at their album art and their track titles will support my point. The album art for With Roots Above and Branches Below is a lot more “colorful” and “playful” than the covers of the Zombie EP and Dead Throne which I think are much more dark and serious. The band previously had song titles like, “I Hate Buffering,” “Big Wiggly Style,” “HTML Rulez D00d”and “Swords, Dragons, and Diet Coke.” Now they present songs with simpler names. It has been very exciting to hear this accelerated growth from TDWP and watch them morph into a more mature band. I was hoping for a song that would echo that of “Louder Than Thunder” off of With Roots Above and Branches Below, but they didn’t have anything like that on Dead Throne. I find it very exciting when a band slips in a song on the record that is a complete changeup and throw the listener off a bit. A great example of this is Underoath’s “Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape”. “Kansas” is probably the closest thing to doing that on Dead Throne as it is one of the albums slower songs, but it still remains to hold a level of brutality and darkness. If you liked TDWP’s Zombie EP, you have to check out Dead Throne.
The concert I attended a couple of weeks ago was one of the bigger concerts I have been to in a while. Bands don’t seem to go on these huge tours anymore where any of the bands could be headliners themselves. Every band on this tour was outstanding. It was exciting to see a level of production on the TDWP’s set as most bands these days try to save money because of the recession. They didn’t have too much going on, but just enough to enhance the show. Although the strobe lights sometimes made it difficult to see anything. They also did a great job breaking up blocks of unrelenting songs with slower songs to give the crowd much needed breaks. Front man Mike Hranica was all over the stage and energetic as always. Hranica really understands the 180 degree line that performing on a stage creates and plays the angles very well. He also plays along well with the lights creating perfect silhouettes when the lights brighten and blotch him out. The show was full of energy and the crowd seemed to love the entire show. However, my only complaint about the show would be the crowd itself. Minnesota isn’t known as a tough place to play, but the crowd that night lacked respect to each other and to the bands. But that’s a different article I will be writing later.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Lights - "Siberia" Review
This album review is a bit late so I’ll keep it short since anyone who is interested in this review will probably have been able to check out the album by now. Valerie Anne Poxleitner, better known as Lights, released her second studio full length, Siberia, on October 4th, 2011. Lights is a Canadian synthpop artist, and although Siberia is still very much a synthpop record, I think her sound is a lot different on this record than her previous album, The Listening. It seems like she stripped away much of the “cotton-candy” sound out of her songs and replaced it with a lot more maturity. Not every song off of Siberia fits this description, but the album as a whole does. For an artist that is primary known for her fun and upbeat songs, I dare say this album is dark at times.
The dubstep movement is no secret at this point. A lot of the people within “the scene” seem to be against this movement toward electronic instrumentals arguing that it’s not “organic” enough. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the movement, but I can’t deny that having another avenue for creating music and expressing oneself is a good thing. I’m sure anytime there are any sort of advancements in any field, there is always some form of resistance. Humans just seem not to do well with change. Siberia seems to be Lights’ contribution to the dubstep movement. Someone who listens to Skillrex might see this statement as absurd as Siberia probably isn’t considered pure dubstep to most. However, I would argue that Lights takes a different spin on dubstep by using the elements of dubstep and applying it to more traditional music format. She finds a way to create a fusion of the two worlds where she can still use lyrics to convey and enhance the story of the song. Whereas Skrillex is primarily heavy synth and beats without any lyrics. I think this ability to find a balance between the two worlds shows how creative this young lady is. I’m not a huge Lights fan, but I can recommend at least checking this record out.
Lydia Album and Concert Review
I’ve been putting off my review of the new Lydia album, Paint It Gold. Then a few nights ago, I went down to Minneapolis to watch Lydia play at the 7th Street Entry. Now that I have even more material and finally have some time, I will condense my review of the show and the new record together.
I’ll begin by sharing my thoughts on the new album. Paint It Gold was released on October 4thof 2011. I wanted to give the album a handful of spins before I wrote a review for it. When I felt I was ready to give the record an honest review, I was hit with a storm of busy. I mentioned in previous posts that I dislike when fans harp that bands need to not evolve and keep one sound throughout their entire career. I’m not one of those fans, but I will admit when I think a particular album off a discography stands out as the masterpiece. For instance, when I discuss Underoath with people, I have no doubt that Define The Great Line is the album that defines Underoath at their peak. Another example is Senses Fails’ Still Searching. When it comes to Lydia’s discography, I think many would argue that Illuninate is that album. Does Paint It Goldlive up to Illumanite? Although I wish I could report that it is just as good, I would be lying if I did. This is their first album since the hiatus, and they could be shaking off the rust. Although I don’t see that as a valid excuse since Lydia front man, Leighton Antelman, seemed to have kept busy during the hiatus. Antelman has been the primary song writer for most of Lydia’s history. It’s hard to compare how much influence Antelman had on how the songs shaped.Illuminate had a much different lineup from Paint It Gold and Assailants which is the album between Illuminate and Paint It Gold and before their hiatus. One has to ask if Mindy White really did have that big of an influence on how the songs sound. Mindy White is a fan favorite and a former member of Lydia. She was only with Lydia during Illuminate before she left the band to go on to form States. Was it Mindy that gave Illuminate its polish and will we ever hear anything as good as Illuminate without her? Or, could it be that the other members that quit after Illuminate also played a large role? Mindy seems to be at the forefront of this question since she was the fan favorite.
Now I don’t want my comparison of the two albums to make it sound like Paint It Gold is a poor album. It’s still a good album and it still very much feels like Lydia. I’ve been a fan of music and a fan of the scene for a very long time, but I’ve never really been a big lyrics guy. I’ve never looked too deeply into the lyrics because I think it’s near impossible to know what the writer is trying to get across without knowing them personally. I usually take the lyrics for what they are and try to personalize it. I think what made me a fan of Lydia is that the band forced me to listen to the lyrics a bit more. I say “the band,” and not just the writer of the lyrics because Lydia is excellent at writing lyrics against the context of their instrumentals to help create an image. When I listen to Lydia, I feel like I don’t have to interpret or personalize the lyrics. The lyrics and instrumentals, in a perfect marriage, are painted on a screen for me to understand. Quite often when I listen to Lydia I just close my eyes and just let the song sink in. Antelman’s unique voice with his lyrics and the perfectly complementing instrumentals is a force to give you chills every time you listen to Lydia.
Now because I don’t look too deeply into the band and the lyrics, I have a question for fans that might look into the personal lives of the band with more depth. Who is Hailey? Antelman seems to continuously refer to Hailey. And I have to admit, the songs he refers to Hailey are some of my favorite.
The Lydia concert was my second time seeing Lydia live. I never got the chance to see Lydia with their complete Illuminate group which is a shame. However, Lydia was typical Lydia keeping it low key as exemplified by Antelman and other members coming out without any shoes and socks. There wasn’t much special production, a customized backdrop, or special entrance. After sound check was completed, they simply walked out onto the tiny stage and begin to play their catalogue of atmospheric tunes. Antelman wasn’t pitch perfect, but he can get away with it since he isn’t known to be a strong vocalist. His unique voice and song writing skills are what people admire. I didn’t mention Lydia’s first album This December; It's One More And I'm Free. I must admit I’m really not a fan of that album. That is the first album of Lydia’s discography I listened to and I thought I would never listen to Lydia again. Luckily, some of my friends learned about Lydia when Illuminate came out and multiple occasions suggested I listen to Illuminate. After delaying listening to Illuminate for quite some time, I finally caved and gave it a chance and the rest is history. After I became a full time Lydia fan, I went back and tried to give This December; It's One More And I'm Free a second chance. Thinking maybe I had missed something the first time I listened to it. Even after giving the record a second chance, I have to say that I cannot get into it. If my memory serves me right, I read Antelman concede that This December; It's One More And I'm Free is not something he is very proud of. And so although the concert overall was good, Lydia really lost me towards the end when they started playing more songs off of This December; It's One More And I'm Free. The song they played for the encore even came off that record, which was disappointing to me. Again, the concert overall was good, very calm and just about the music, but I don’t see myself going to another Lydia show for a while. I’ve seen Lydia twice now, and I’ve seen what I have to see and heard what I wanted to hear, but there isn’t really much there pulling me back. I could potentially see them in two album cycles or if they make something that matches Illuminate.
Someone should count how many times I said Illuminate.
Evolution of Thrice
Just a short entry this time that doesn't really have a lot of meat. Really just an observation I had today.
I've been listening to a lot more Thrice lately and mostly on shuffle. It hit me today while listening to some of their really old material, that Thrice has evolved so much. I think they really capture how a band is suppose to evolve. It annoys me a bit when I'm at shows and fans only want bands to play their old material. It bothers me that fans expect artists to remain complacent and never change.
Thrice formed in 1998 and started as what I would describe as a punk-alternative rock act. In 2003 they released "The Artist and the Ambulance" where I think their sound began to change. This album probably also marked the peak of their popularity. I think the album did so well because they still had their core punk base, as well as a growing group of alternative-rock listeners. Their sound took another evolution when "Vheissu" was released. They really matured with this record, and I think a lot of their older fans felt abandoned, although I thought it was a very strong record.
I was lucky to follow them throughout their evolution. If you're interested in this type of music, I highly suggest going through each of their albums in order.
Identity Crisis(2000/2001)
The Illusion of Safety(2002)
The Artist in the Ambulance(2003)
Vheissu(2005)
The Alchemy Index Vols. I & II(2007)
The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV(2008)
Beggars(2009)
Major/Minor(2011)
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Underoath at The Triple Rock (Review)
Why do I suffer being shoulder to shoulder with people who have let the scent of their body odor ferment on their skin over a week? Why do I keep returning to the pit just to have elbows thrown at my face and to bang knees with other concert goers? Why do I allow myself to have stage divers torpedo at my cranium? To answer those questions simply, it’s for the love of music. It’s so I can submerge myself into the art and the atmosphere of live music.
I have been an Underoath fan for many years now, so I was not going to this show hoping to be exposed to new music and to be converted. I went to enjoy myself and to support a very talented band. I knew of the supporting acts, but have not spent much time listening to them. By the time I arrived at The Triple Rock in Minneapolis, This Is Hell was already mid-song. Pretty good opening act, but I was unfamiliar with their music and they didn’t do much to draw me to their music. The band I was least familiar with was The Chariot. Looking back, I fully wish I had known their songs because they put on an incredibly energetic show and their fans were as rowdy as ever. I learned later while chatting with Chris from Underoath that The Chariot barely made it to the venue on time. When This Is Hell finished and was loading their trailer, The Chariot pulled in and began to unload. Comeback Kid was the main support to Underoath. They are long time veterans of the scene and they haven’t lost a step. For a band with such a large catalogue of songs, it must be difficult to cater to their new and old fans simultaneously.
That brings us the headliner. Grammy nominated Underoath released their newest album, Disambiguation, on November 9th, 2010. Disambiguation is Underoath’s first album without founding member Aaron Gillespie, and this was my first time seeing them without Gillespie. I was very interested to see how they would perform their old songs and how Spencer Chamberlain would handle full time vocal duties. The set did not have the production value that Underoath shows in the past have had, but my assumption is the lower level production was mostly due to the economy and because The Triple Rock best serves for an intimate setting. With that in mind, Underoath’s performance was still as good as ever. Like Comeback Kid, Underoath has an extensive back catalogue of songs to choose from. They did a great job creating a set list that covered all their albums (or at least the albums since Spencer Chamberlain joined) and did a good job sneaking in slower songs in between the brutal ones. However, the set list in my opinion was not perfect. I very much dislike when fans at shows want bands to play only their older material. This show was no exception as many fans called for songs off of They’re Only Chasing Safety, the album that launched them into a larger fan base. However, I was hoping for more songs off of Define The Great Line which is arguably Underoath’s masterpiece. It had not occurred to me how many “slow” songs were on Disambiguation until I went to the show.
Regardless, Underoath still put on an amazing show and I had a great time. The concert reminded me of my youth but it also reminded me why I have been a fan of music and of the scene for many, many years. If you’re a fan of the hardcore, screamo, metal scene and have not seen Underoath yet, add it to the bucket list. You can thank me later.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
WARPED TOUR 2009!
Sometimes I hear things. I hear things that sometimes makes my goose pimples rise, that sends a shock through my system, that get my hormones pumping. I hear music.
The highlight of my summer has come and is now gone. I am officially one day closer until Warped Tour 2010 comes to Minnesota. This blog might be a little early to start writing about how excited I am for Warped Tour 2010, so I will use most of this space to write about how amazing Warped Tour 2009 was. Warped Tour 2009 was kind of awesome. Just a little bit. The sun burn and pain I feel in my body right doesn't equal the amount of happiness Warped Tour brings me. A day full of music and culture. A day when I can completely ignore the world and just let music sink into me. A day when it doesn't matter how stupid I look and how stupid I act. If there is a heaven (and let me assure you now, there isn't a heaven) Warped Tour is the closest thing to it (at least for me). Some people claim to "like/love music" because it is "cool" to like music. I wouldn't say that is a false statement, music is indeed very cool. Music isn't just a bunch of noise that convey a message and make us feel things. Music is also fashion, culture, history, stories, etc. Music should mean much more in our world, but this meaning seems to get lost and is often traded in for what is "cool." Music to me is a life force. Music helped me through the hardest and darkest times of my life. I don't think I was ever close to be suicidal, but it would be fair to say music kept me afloat. Music was, and still is, by my side ready to take on the world with me. Music is also there during the happiest days of my life. If there is a group that appreciates music, I'd like to think I deserve a spot in that group.
The day I knew music was woven in my soul was at an Underoath headliner. That night was the closest thing I came to a supernatural/out of body experience. I don't know what song Underoath was playing, but it was so intense, it was so inviting, it was so clear and beautiful. During that song, I lost complete control of my body. I literally froze and had no control over my body. I could think and talk to myself, but I couldn't command my body to move. Shortly after I lost control over my body, I started crying out of no where. I have no idea why. But, I knew from that moment, I would forever be passionate about music.
I didn't have any body versus soul experiences at Warped, but I did have an overload of fun. The day started out with our usual breakfast at McDonald's then we hit the road. What we didn't expect was the amount of traffic on 169. One of my biggest fears is missing an important 11:00 set. My heart nearly imploded when we were still a while off, and 11:00 was near. When we got to Warped, there were massive lines like usual. We had to first find the will-call tent so that I could receive my free tickets from Warner Bros. Records. My tickets were there, but Richard's tickets he won through the John Lennon Education Foundation were a bit more difficult to track down. Eventually we got all our free tickets and got the whole crew together. It must have been at least 11:30 when we got into the venue. Naturally my first instinct is to speed walk my ass over to the mecca of Warped. When I looked to the top left corner of that giant red balloon, my heart sank about 16 yards. Devil Wears Parda was the first band on the main stage. "2 years in a row!?" I thought to myself because I had missed their set last year. However, I looked at the time next to the Velcro T.D.W.P label and saw that the first set on the main stage hadn't started yet. Thank the lord! This year Warped only used one main stage instead of two so the first band played a bit later. We had about 10 minutes until T.D.W.P hit the stage so we planned out route quickly. Main stage...Hurley stage...Hurley.com stage...Smartpunk stage...main stage...break. Warped 2009 would start quickly and would show no mercy.
I joked before Warped about badly we would be drained if Warped started with Underoath and Devil Wears Prada. Well, 1/2 of that joke came true as we started with The Devil Wears Prada. This would be the first T.D.W.P set I attended after the release of their new album. I don't think it was good for me to start off so quickly and aggressively. I always tell myself before concerts, "take it easy, pace yourself," but when that music hits me, I lose all control. They came in to the Mortal Kombat theme and I could feel all the juices in my body flowing. When the music started, it was all out hell. T.D.W.P sounds like T.D.W.P for the most part when they perform live. One difference I always notice is that it is much easier to hear the keyboard on their record. Which is the opposite for Underoath. Since T.D.W.P played so early, I had plenty of room to move around and act like a complete fool. My friends told me after Warped that there were some members of the crowd that laughed at my "dancing." Which is fine with me. I'm not at Warped to impress people, haha. I wish some of the people I went with knew more of the songs because they really are a fun live band. We didn't get to finish their set (most likely left a song early) because Scary Kids Scaring Kids overlapped.
We sprinted over to the Hurley stage and when we got there Scary Kids Scaring Kids were already mid-song. Dean and I snaked through the shell of the crowd so that we could get into where the party really happens. The Scary Kids crowd was much more calm compared to the T.D.W.P crowd. I was actually surprised. T.D.W.P had a bigger stage, but I thought a Scary Kids crowd would have an equal amount of energy for its size. This all just meant that we would have to get the people around us more into the energy of the songs. The vocal mic was a little low in the mix, but Scary Kids sounded very good. They did a good job of mixing new songs, old songs, softer songs, harder songs and gave their set a diverse feel. Scary Kids requested a "wall of death" (which I hate). Dean and Jon seemed to have some fun with it. Scary Kids ended and it was off to the Hurley.com stage as the end of this set and the start of the Meg&Dia set matched perfectly.
We got to the Hurley.com stage as Dia just started singing. This is only my second time seeing Meg&Dia perform, but the first time was completely boring. I was hoping that this time would be a little different. When we got there, the crowd was spaced out and completely still, which was not a very good indicator that this was going to be a very fun crowd. I'm not for crazy pushing, crowd surfers, but I am for a little crowd movement. A little dancing. It doesn't seem right when there is about a foot of space between me and the next person. The first time I saw Meg&Dia, I think I was the only person in my group that had really checked their music out. This year Dean and Jon joined me so I had at least 2 other people to feed of off. They made the Meg&Dia set 100% more entertaining. The people we were around didn't seem to like our moving around and jumping too much, but they can suck a dick. Dean and I have had many friendly debates debating whether Carlo or Meg is playing the guitar solos. Dean officially earned his Meg&Dia badge mid-way through the Meg&Dia set. What amazed me was the band was able to completely ignore 3 college aged males jumping around and yelling in a sea of 4 foot tall girls. Not even a look, not even a smile of amusement. I don't know if this was a good thing, or bad. If they didn't completely ignore us, they probably would have yelled at us for causing such a scene. I always hear Meg&Dia fans complement the band on how much they sound like their records. I would like to disagree. Some of the parts seem watered down and I Dia doesn't sound nearly as good live. She doesn't sound that amazing on the album. I really appreciate the diversity of their songs and their composition, but they just aren't my favorite live band. The crowd is no good, the songs a much thinner live, and they lack stage presence. Dia is no Hayley Williams. However, I think they are a good band to have on Warped. It is a very good mix up, and I needed a break before we headed over to Senses Fail. Plus, Meg and Dia (The sisters, not the band) are incredibly attractive. I can't believe my own girl friend didn't even say hi to me in the middle of their set!
Lucky for us, the Hurley.com stage was right next to the Smartpunk stage. I think the band I have seen the most is still Senses Fail, although Underoath is catching up quickly! Coming into Warped, there seemed to be a lot of Senses Fail break up rumors. I actually thought the same. Heath is leaving the band soon, they haven't done much touring, they all seem to have regular jobs, Buddy now has a side project, and their latest effort was about 2 touchdowns weaker than Still Searching (although Still Searching was a near masterpiece). I heard they have a fall tour in the works, but I am still not convinced. I missed the last This Day and Age show, and the last Acceptance show (they announced their break ups after their last tours) so I promised myself if this is the last time I see Senses Fail, it'd be a good one. Senses Fail put on a good show. I don't think they have ever been the best live band and Buddy certainly isn't the greatest singer on this earth, but they have enough passion and energy to make a lot of people happy. The instrumentals are pretty much spot on with the records -- I think. I can't be sure because the way I participate, I feel like I'm not catching everything. Buddy always has some interesting topics to talk about between songs. He reminded us that Brett Favre isn't coming to play for the Vikings (jerk!). But he also had a very good message about the scene becoming a joke. There are so many joke bands out there now because it is so easy to record a decent demo in your basement and create a MySpace profile. As long as your band wears neon skinny jeans, high tops, typical neon band shirt, shutter shades, and a flat brim baseball cap, you are ready to become a scene band. You also can't know how to play actual instruments and need to be completely computer based. Maybe I'm not the one that should judge because I am not good on any instrument. However, that is why I consider playing and instrument a skill, because it is hard and I can't do it. I always joke about making a top 40 album on my keyboard with the samples I have on my computer. That doesn't seem to difficult, but playing a guitar at a high level is something that I am not close to doing. One of the songs I was most excited for was "Family Tradition" (along with "Danger: Wildman" by T.D.W.P) and I was not disappointed. This was the first time I heard any of the songs off L.I.N.A.W.R live and they all sounded good. Hopefully Warped isn't the last time I see Senses Fail.
After Senses Fail it was back to the main stage for Chiodos. We got there in time for a 5 minute breather and then the music started. At this point I'm completely drained. The worst part was Craig had the crowd do all these stunts that made it almost impossible for me to pay attention to the music. At one point he challenged us to beat the world crowd surfing record (apparently held by My Chemical Romance). Many punches were thrown as I absolutely hate crowd surfers. I can handle a few as I understand sometimes that is the best escape route. Especially if I see little girls crowd surfing. I never understand when fat fuckers crowd surf. Why would you do that to us?! I also hate it when I see the same fucker crowd surf more than once. When I do catch someone crowd surf more than once, they will have some sort of mark on their body to remind them not to do it again. A long time ago, I felt bad when I punched someone thinking it was a boy, but it actually turned out to be a girl. It is difficult to tell sometimes since everyone looks like a girl in a Chiodos crowd (except for the prog type emo). Now, everyone just gets punched with out any sympathy. Well, some sympathy. If I didn't show sympathy, there would be a poor individual in the hospital right now getting work done on his male genitalia. When surfers are hanging right in front of me, is when they get it the worst. After the song, Craig said that there would be no more crowd surfing for the rest of their set. A few songs later, he had us do a wall of death for "Best Friends". Chiodos sounded very good, it was just hard to pay attention to them with all the crowd participation. I sound kind of hypocritical because I just complained about how boring a MegDia crowd is, but now I'm complaining about how rowdy a Chiodos crowd is. I just need some balance is all. I need to crowd to be into the music, but too much pushing makes it difficult to pay attention to the music. I guess I'm too much of a circle put guy.
Our first break came after Chiodos and I needed it. I don't think I've ever felt that bad at a Warped since my first Warped tour which is excusable since I had no idea what I was getting into my first time around. An hour gap for us to get drinks, pee, and eat before Underoath. We left some drinks in the car, however they wouldn't let us re-enter after we left the venue. It is good thing Dean is such a sweet talker.
Underoath would be our epic finale. Underoath played around 4:00, but there weren't many bands we needed to see after. Easily the earliest our Warped ended. Not because the Warped lineup was thin, but because they stacked all the acts we wanted to see on top of each other early. If you haven't seen an Underoath set and you are into the scene, then you are obviously not very smart. Easily one of the best live bands in the scene. They sound absolutely perfect and identical to their albums (maybe Aaron's singing is a bit cleaner on the albums), they perform with enough energy to create about 5 atomic bombs, and there are so many other reasons why they are one of my top bands. I knew the set was going to be awesome because it started with a Gatorade bottle landing on me full of yellow Gatorade. Now my face and shirt were full of Gatorade. There isn't I can say to help someone imagine an Underoath set, it is truly an experience. Again, the songs are perfect and it is obvious they practiced their sets because they add theses amazingly intense and epic interludes between their songs. I wish they would just record those interludes and make an album. They ended their set with "In Regards To Myself." That sound of the film projector starting will forever be known to the screamo world through this song.
We wanted to try and catch a bit of the Saosin set before we left, but they overlapped Underoath more than I thought. We left Warped and headed to our traditional post-Warped Taco Bell dinner. This year we were joined by Jeff and first timer Ben. I felt bad for some people in my group because they didn't know many of the bands at Warped. I always safely have about 5 acts at Warped that I have to see. I'd like to think I am pretty diverse when it comes to music. Not as diverse as I once used to be, but I enjoy everything from pop-punk to hardcore. If it is good music, I can listen to it. Now I play the waiting game and prepare myself for that one special Sunday in August.
Thank you Warped Tour! And thanks for all my friends.
(And thank you to Meg&Dia and Warner Bros. Records for getting me in for free!)
(I hope this blog makes some sense, because I never proof read these shitty things. I may have wasted the last 2 hours of my life).
The highlight of my summer has come and is now gone. I am officially one day closer until Warped Tour 2010 comes to Minnesota. This blog might be a little early to start writing about how excited I am for Warped Tour 2010, so I will use most of this space to write about how amazing Warped Tour 2009 was. Warped Tour 2009 was kind of awesome. Just a little bit. The sun burn and pain I feel in my body right doesn't equal the amount of happiness Warped Tour brings me. A day full of music and culture. A day when I can completely ignore the world and just let music sink into me. A day when it doesn't matter how stupid I look and how stupid I act. If there is a heaven (and let me assure you now, there isn't a heaven) Warped Tour is the closest thing to it (at least for me). Some people claim to "like/love music" because it is "cool" to like music. I wouldn't say that is a false statement, music is indeed very cool. Music isn't just a bunch of noise that convey a message and make us feel things. Music is also fashion, culture, history, stories, etc. Music should mean much more in our world, but this meaning seems to get lost and is often traded in for what is "cool." Music to me is a life force. Music helped me through the hardest and darkest times of my life. I don't think I was ever close to be suicidal, but it would be fair to say music kept me afloat. Music was, and still is, by my side ready to take on the world with me. Music is also there during the happiest days of my life. If there is a group that appreciates music, I'd like to think I deserve a spot in that group.
The day I knew music was woven in my soul was at an Underoath headliner. That night was the closest thing I came to a supernatural/out of body experience. I don't know what song Underoath was playing, but it was so intense, it was so inviting, it was so clear and beautiful. During that song, I lost complete control of my body. I literally froze and had no control over my body. I could think and talk to myself, but I couldn't command my body to move. Shortly after I lost control over my body, I started crying out of no where. I have no idea why. But, I knew from that moment, I would forever be passionate about music.
I didn't have any body versus soul experiences at Warped, but I did have an overload of fun. The day started out with our usual breakfast at McDonald's then we hit the road. What we didn't expect was the amount of traffic on 169. One of my biggest fears is missing an important 11:00 set. My heart nearly imploded when we were still a while off, and 11:00 was near. When we got to Warped, there were massive lines like usual. We had to first find the will-call tent so that I could receive my free tickets from Warner Bros. Records. My tickets were there, but Richard's tickets he won through the John Lennon Education Foundation were a bit more difficult to track down. Eventually we got all our free tickets and got the whole crew together. It must have been at least 11:30 when we got into the venue. Naturally my first instinct is to speed walk my ass over to the mecca of Warped. When I looked to the top left corner of that giant red balloon, my heart sank about 16 yards. Devil Wears Parda was the first band on the main stage. "2 years in a row!?" I thought to myself because I had missed their set last year. However, I looked at the time next to the Velcro T.D.W.P label and saw that the first set on the main stage hadn't started yet. Thank the lord! This year Warped only used one main stage instead of two so the first band played a bit later. We had about 10 minutes until T.D.W.P hit the stage so we planned out route quickly. Main stage...Hurley stage...Hurley.com stage...Smartpunk stage...main stage...break. Warped 2009 would start quickly and would show no mercy.
I joked before Warped about badly we would be drained if Warped started with Underoath and Devil Wears Prada. Well, 1/2 of that joke came true as we started with The Devil Wears Prada. This would be the first T.D.W.P set I attended after the release of their new album. I don't think it was good for me to start off so quickly and aggressively. I always tell myself before concerts, "take it easy, pace yourself," but when that music hits me, I lose all control. They came in to the Mortal Kombat theme and I could feel all the juices in my body flowing. When the music started, it was all out hell. T.D.W.P sounds like T.D.W.P for the most part when they perform live. One difference I always notice is that it is much easier to hear the keyboard on their record. Which is the opposite for Underoath. Since T.D.W.P played so early, I had plenty of room to move around and act like a complete fool. My friends told me after Warped that there were some members of the crowd that laughed at my "dancing." Which is fine with me. I'm not at Warped to impress people, haha. I wish some of the people I went with knew more of the songs because they really are a fun live band. We didn't get to finish their set (most likely left a song early) because Scary Kids Scaring Kids overlapped.
We sprinted over to the Hurley stage and when we got there Scary Kids Scaring Kids were already mid-song. Dean and I snaked through the shell of the crowd so that we could get into where the party really happens. The Scary Kids crowd was much more calm compared to the T.D.W.P crowd. I was actually surprised. T.D.W.P had a bigger stage, but I thought a Scary Kids crowd would have an equal amount of energy for its size. This all just meant that we would have to get the people around us more into the energy of the songs. The vocal mic was a little low in the mix, but Scary Kids sounded very good. They did a good job of mixing new songs, old songs, softer songs, harder songs and gave their set a diverse feel. Scary Kids requested a "wall of death" (which I hate). Dean and Jon seemed to have some fun with it. Scary Kids ended and it was off to the Hurley.com stage as the end of this set and the start of the Meg&Dia set matched perfectly.
We got to the Hurley.com stage as Dia just started singing. This is only my second time seeing Meg&Dia perform, but the first time was completely boring. I was hoping that this time would be a little different. When we got there, the crowd was spaced out and completely still, which was not a very good indicator that this was going to be a very fun crowd. I'm not for crazy pushing, crowd surfers, but I am for a little crowd movement. A little dancing. It doesn't seem right when there is about a foot of space between me and the next person. The first time I saw Meg&Dia, I think I was the only person in my group that had really checked their music out. This year Dean and Jon joined me so I had at least 2 other people to feed of off. They made the Meg&Dia set 100% more entertaining. The people we were around didn't seem to like our moving around and jumping too much, but they can suck a dick. Dean and I have had many friendly debates debating whether Carlo or Meg is playing the guitar solos. Dean officially earned his Meg&Dia badge mid-way through the Meg&Dia set. What amazed me was the band was able to completely ignore 3 college aged males jumping around and yelling in a sea of 4 foot tall girls. Not even a look, not even a smile of amusement. I don't know if this was a good thing, or bad. If they didn't completely ignore us, they probably would have yelled at us for causing such a scene. I always hear Meg&Dia fans complement the band on how much they sound like their records. I would like to disagree. Some of the parts seem watered down and I Dia doesn't sound nearly as good live. She doesn't sound that amazing on the album. I really appreciate the diversity of their songs and their composition, but they just aren't my favorite live band. The crowd is no good, the songs a much thinner live, and they lack stage presence. Dia is no Hayley Williams. However, I think they are a good band to have on Warped. It is a very good mix up, and I needed a break before we headed over to Senses Fail. Plus, Meg and Dia (The sisters, not the band) are incredibly attractive. I can't believe my own girl friend didn't even say hi to me in the middle of their set!
Lucky for us, the Hurley.com stage was right next to the Smartpunk stage. I think the band I have seen the most is still Senses Fail, although Underoath is catching up quickly! Coming into Warped, there seemed to be a lot of Senses Fail break up rumors. I actually thought the same. Heath is leaving the band soon, they haven't done much touring, they all seem to have regular jobs, Buddy now has a side project, and their latest effort was about 2 touchdowns weaker than Still Searching (although Still Searching was a near masterpiece). I heard they have a fall tour in the works, but I am still not convinced. I missed the last This Day and Age show, and the last Acceptance show (they announced their break ups after their last tours) so I promised myself if this is the last time I see Senses Fail, it'd be a good one. Senses Fail put on a good show. I don't think they have ever been the best live band and Buddy certainly isn't the greatest singer on this earth, but they have enough passion and energy to make a lot of people happy. The instrumentals are pretty much spot on with the records -- I think. I can't be sure because the way I participate, I feel like I'm not catching everything. Buddy always has some interesting topics to talk about between songs. He reminded us that Brett Favre isn't coming to play for the Vikings (jerk!). But he also had a very good message about the scene becoming a joke. There are so many joke bands out there now because it is so easy to record a decent demo in your basement and create a MySpace profile. As long as your band wears neon skinny jeans, high tops, typical neon band shirt, shutter shades, and a flat brim baseball cap, you are ready to become a scene band. You also can't know how to play actual instruments and need to be completely computer based. Maybe I'm not the one that should judge because I am not good on any instrument. However, that is why I consider playing and instrument a skill, because it is hard and I can't do it. I always joke about making a top 40 album on my keyboard with the samples I have on my computer. That doesn't seem to difficult, but playing a guitar at a high level is something that I am not close to doing. One of the songs I was most excited for was "Family Tradition" (along with "Danger: Wildman" by T.D.W.P) and I was not disappointed. This was the first time I heard any of the songs off L.I.N.A.W.R live and they all sounded good. Hopefully Warped isn't the last time I see Senses Fail.
After Senses Fail it was back to the main stage for Chiodos. We got there in time for a 5 minute breather and then the music started. At this point I'm completely drained. The worst part was Craig had the crowd do all these stunts that made it almost impossible for me to pay attention to the music. At one point he challenged us to beat the world crowd surfing record (apparently held by My Chemical Romance). Many punches were thrown as I absolutely hate crowd surfers. I can handle a few as I understand sometimes that is the best escape route. Especially if I see little girls crowd surfing. I never understand when fat fuckers crowd surf. Why would you do that to us?! I also hate it when I see the same fucker crowd surf more than once. When I do catch someone crowd surf more than once, they will have some sort of mark on their body to remind them not to do it again. A long time ago, I felt bad when I punched someone thinking it was a boy, but it actually turned out to be a girl. It is difficult to tell sometimes since everyone looks like a girl in a Chiodos crowd (except for the prog type emo). Now, everyone just gets punched with out any sympathy. Well, some sympathy. If I didn't show sympathy, there would be a poor individual in the hospital right now getting work done on his male genitalia. When surfers are hanging right in front of me, is when they get it the worst. After the song, Craig said that there would be no more crowd surfing for the rest of their set. A few songs later, he had us do a wall of death for "Best Friends". Chiodos sounded very good, it was just hard to pay attention to them with all the crowd participation. I sound kind of hypocritical because I just complained about how boring a MegDia crowd is, but now I'm complaining about how rowdy a Chiodos crowd is. I just need some balance is all. I need to crowd to be into the music, but too much pushing makes it difficult to pay attention to the music. I guess I'm too much of a circle put guy.
Our first break came after Chiodos and I needed it. I don't think I've ever felt that bad at a Warped since my first Warped tour which is excusable since I had no idea what I was getting into my first time around. An hour gap for us to get drinks, pee, and eat before Underoath. We left some drinks in the car, however they wouldn't let us re-enter after we left the venue. It is good thing Dean is such a sweet talker.
Underoath would be our epic finale. Underoath played around 4:00, but there weren't many bands we needed to see after. Easily the earliest our Warped ended. Not because the Warped lineup was thin, but because they stacked all the acts we wanted to see on top of each other early. If you haven't seen an Underoath set and you are into the scene, then you are obviously not very smart. Easily one of the best live bands in the scene. They sound absolutely perfect and identical to their albums (maybe Aaron's singing is a bit cleaner on the albums), they perform with enough energy to create about 5 atomic bombs, and there are so many other reasons why they are one of my top bands. I knew the set was going to be awesome because it started with a Gatorade bottle landing on me full of yellow Gatorade. Now my face and shirt were full of Gatorade. There isn't I can say to help someone imagine an Underoath set, it is truly an experience. Again, the songs are perfect and it is obvious they practiced their sets because they add theses amazingly intense and epic interludes between their songs. I wish they would just record those interludes and make an album. They ended their set with "In Regards To Myself." That sound of the film projector starting will forever be known to the screamo world through this song.
We wanted to try and catch a bit of the Saosin set before we left, but they overlapped Underoath more than I thought. We left Warped and headed to our traditional post-Warped Taco Bell dinner. This year we were joined by Jeff and first timer Ben. I felt bad for some people in my group because they didn't know many of the bands at Warped. I always safely have about 5 acts at Warped that I have to see. I'd like to think I am pretty diverse when it comes to music. Not as diverse as I once used to be, but I enjoy everything from pop-punk to hardcore. If it is good music, I can listen to it. Now I play the waiting game and prepare myself for that one special Sunday in August.
Thank you Warped Tour! And thanks for all my friends.
(And thank you to Meg&Dia and Warner Bros. Records for getting me in for free!)
(I hope this blog makes some sense, because I never proof read these shitty things. I may have wasted the last 2 hours of my life).
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