March 2, 2010

Rickshaw Theatre

Vancouver, B.C

From the lengthy conversation with Andrew Seward (Against Me!’s bass player) upstairs at Rickshaw Theatre to the pair of 7” records I scored downstairs, nearly completing my collection—it was already a memorable evening in the making.

The evening’s beloved headliners weren’t the only act I had high expectations for.  Cancer Bats were one of those bands I’d continually heard great things about, though regretfully had never experienced until tonight.  Setting the mood with a crimson medley of quotes from my favorite movie—Lost Boys—was a flawless initiation.

The seemingly large pit of fans dispersed immediately—separating the hardcore kids from the innocent bystanders (guilty as charged)—as the Bats made their descent.  A captivating, devil-locked front-man and his clan of gruff musicians unleashed a slaughter of Zack Wylde [Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society] approved guitar riffs along side a kindred N.Y hardcore sounding choral scorn.

Liam Cormier made friends quickly as he described his longing to be in Vancouver for the recent Olympic US & Canada hockey game.  He paid his respect both to opening act Jaguar Love—who played while my photographer and I stood, waiting in line despite our guest-listing—as well as the Against Me! camp.  Fan favorite “Pneumonia Hawk” was heard amid “Scared To Death” and a bone crippling Beastie Boys cover “Sabotage”—both from their newly released Sabotage EP and forthcoming album Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones.

Gainesville’s fab four soon surfaced while “These Boots Were Made for Walking” primed the walls of the sold-out theatre.  Testing new waters with a tale of anarchist past, Tom’s signature rasp cut through the pack with vigor as he disclosed “I Was a Teenage Anarchist” from the upcoming 2010 release White Crosses.  Instantly I felt a stronger connection with the band and crowd alike than at past performances.

Was it “White People for Peace,” “Don’t Lose Touch,” or future title track “White Crosses” that had my fist, my heart and—above all—my smile screaming within the set’s initial minutes?  While the latter is surely an enchanting instant classic regarding extremist fundamentalism, there is little room for awe outside of hearing the lyrics, “Turn gunshots and mortar blasts into a metaphor of how we are all the same / This is the party we came for” in “Cliché Guevera.”

Amongst Andrew’s signatory mannerisms, James’ trademark background cries and newcomer George’s bulls-eye drumming were amps with White Crosses style lettering.  One so boldly displayed what appeared to read “Fear breeds in honest men”—which is thought provoking at bare minimum.

“Because of the Shame” and “Suffocation” were the final pair of new material, the second being my least favorite of the bunch.  It did offer a ditty of a guitar solo; why they required a second (guest) rhythm guitar player is unknown.

Fresh from a handful of Florida home state club shows and a one-off stint in Seattle, they seemed genuinely at home in front of the significantly larger Canuck mob of 1000 faces.  “I wish Canada would adopt us,” he craved, with his command temporarily granted as they are set to embark on a country wide arena run with Billy Talent all month long.  Thankfully the Van-city vermin were the fortunate few who experienced an intimate tour opener as well as a setlist sure to rival the rest of the nation’s (in both length and song selection).  Hearing Tom’s recent solo cut “Amputations” along side classics “I Still Love You Julie” and “Pints of Guinness Make You Strong” provided a famously seasoned set as the clock turned to 11:00—a dreadful curfew for the city’s all ages shows.

Gratefully our southern souls returned, discounting the regulation and kicking into their (arguably) most triumphant tune of all: “T.S.R.”  “The party’s over / It was fun while it lasted / I hope everybody had a good time” echoed over the crowd who surely did. Cries of both surprise and endorsement rattled the room’s walls as the evening’s final number “Baby, I’m An Anarchist” assembled the crowd.  Originally a duet, in this instance it was a choir of all ages, races and (I’d bet) political stances.

Tom dodged crowd surfers and smirked at the scantily clad gal in the crowd, elevated with her back towards him.  Although it may have gone unnoticed to the chanting baron with whom I stood, I appreciated the contrast from the set’s opening take on anarchism to the closing radical anthem.  Showcasing the here and now, the career-planting seeds and all that flourished in between, Tom and his band of merry men avoid stagnation yet maintain relevance.  Well, boys, in spite of what fashion—it sure is great to know you.

…Weasel Was Here

HQ PHOTO ALBUM w/ Full Screen Option
Photographer: Kris “Photo Gopher” Mayor

Setlist:

1. I Was A Teenage Anarchist
2. White People For Peace
3. Cliché Guevera
4. Don’t Lose Touch
5. White Crosses
6. Turn Those Clapping Hands Into Angry Balled Fists
7. Amputations
8. New Wave
9. Americans Abroad
10. Because of The Shame
11. I Still Love You, Julie
12. Pints of Guinness Make You Strong
13. Suffocation
14. Miami
15. Sink, Florida, Sink
16. Stop
17. Thrash Unreal

Encore:

1. T.S.R
2. Holy Shit
3. Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious
4. Baby, I’m An Anarchist

Visit Against Me! online:  againstme.net / myspace.com/againstme

“White Crosses” live

“Cliche Guevera” live

February 20, 2010
Neumos
Seattle, WA

On Sunday morning I heard Grandmaster Flash, Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye, Ice-T, and others speak on the origins of underground hip-hop, punk rock, and its subcultures.  I knew seeing Epitaph Records’ latest addition Alkaline Trio play a sold-out bar—with zero tolerance for crowd surfing or stage diving—later that day would spark obvious critiques (warranted or not).  I’m not easily influenced by any sort of “punk rock code of conduct” per se, but the modern day contrast here ended up being (expectedly) apparent.

Thankfully the crowd was predominantly underage for the reason that adults (if drinking) were restricted to the upper level without the ability to see the stage or crowd (for the most part).  I arrived early, unsure how early an all-ages show might start or finish, since at home in Van it could be over by 9:30pm (no joke).  While I waited for the opening act to get going, I was impressed to notice This Addiction for sale on both CD and vinyl days before its release.  Kudos to Epitaph/Heart & Skull Records (the band’s new subsidiary record label) for the move.

Dear and Departed—a band for which I had rather low expectations—started as the mob started to pile into Neumo’s. They delivered their brand of emotional, new-wave influenced pop-rock.  Yearning to sound as intriguing as The Cure while failing further than a modern day AFI—it was at least complimented by a tight performance and remarkable sound that was noticeably fine tuned throughout their set.

I maintained my upper balcony, stage obstructed position as I felt it was an improvement over a stance below, yards away, behind a sea of Hot Topic brood.  I hadn’t heard Cursive, the evening’s sophomore act, before tonight.  I expected another fitting, teen-friendly or emo act to precede the evening’s pop-punk princes.  I was delighted to see and hear something altogether different than either act before or after them.  Don’t get me wrong—I bussed down here to see Alkaline Trio—I just didn’t have the highest expectations based on their core audience.

Comprised of a gent on keys, a couple on bass and lead guitar, a front-and-centre amigo on drums, and a guitar laden front man, their tom heavy, wah-wah guitar and complimentary whiny (and sometimes falsetto) vocals produced a groovy post-punk sound that was instantly captivating.  They clearly maintained the seal of approval from two thirds of the Trio as Matt and Dan watched favorably, side-stage.

Matt, Dan, and Derek wasted no time plugging new material as they opened with their latest catchy single, “This Addiction,” as well as “Dine, Dine My Darling” from their forthcoming album.  They are—in my opinion—one of each vocalist’s stronger album cuts.  Although I enjoyed hearing these tunes as much as a personal faves “We’ve Had Enough” and “Fatally Yours” (which was dedicated to Judd Nelson), I didn’t hear the clarity (especially with the vocals) that I’d heard for the opening acts.

The setlist was surprisingly heavy on classic tunes such as “Fuck You Aurora,” “Goodbye Forever,” “Sadie,” and another beloved offering “Continental.”  That being said, one of the evening’s highlights was hearing “In Vein” from 2008’s Agony and Irony, which breathed new life as hundreds of kids shouted “woah, woah” in unison with Matt as Dan took care of leads.  The amount of singing heard from the crowd tonight was one of the loudest I’d ever heard.  These kids knew and sung every last word.  I’m not sure if was the fact that I was looking down on them, the band’s vocals being a little tougher to make out, the fact that these fans were simply some of the most stoked I’d ever seen, or a combination of the above but their spirit definitely helped make the evening.

I’d hoped for a slightly different set but the legion of spectators would obviously disagree.  Matt and Derek did however switch drum and vocal duties for a tune that didn’t garner as much of the crowds attention but it sure as hell did mine as “Attitude” by The Misfits was covered as the first song of their encore.  To top it off, possibly my favorite Skiba penned tune, “Blue in The Face,” finished things off with Matt commencing on his electric (versus the solo acoustic album cut) and the others completing the trifecta.  Matt drove the final nail as he finished with the words “So what do you say? / Your coffin or mine?”

…Weasel Was Here

Visit these artists online:

Alkaline Trio – alkalinetrio.com
Cursive – myspace.com/cursive
Dear & Departed – myspace.com/thedearanddeparted

Alkaline Trio “Blue in The Face” live (electric)

Alkaline Trio “We’ve Had Enough” music video