This is an open forum for staff members, contributers, and fans alike to submit their reviews on the latest music releases and concerts. In an industry that is drowning with overprocessed, grossly overrated, unoriginal crap these days, this is our chance to allow the real stars to shine, if only on our humble, little stage; and expose you to some of our favorite talents.
Reviews are given 1 - 5 stars.
There’s a line outside Headliner’s Music Hall in Louisville, KY as I arrive five minutes after doors for the Saosin show. And I’m not talking about stragglers that got stuck in traffic like me. I’m talking a line about four to five people wide that stretches from the door, across the parking lot, out the front gates--at which point it goes as high as ten or more people wide and at times blocks the entrance to the venue from the street--down the sidewalk on both sides, and a good block or more up the street. I’ve only seen this once, maybe twice, at this venue. I have a good feeling about tonight…
After the first two bands, Fiore and The Receiving End of Sirens, my good feeling is almost gone. Fiore is a band I’ve never heard of, and even after their set is over I feel like I can honestly say I’ve never heard them. This is more the FOH guy’s fault than the band’s, I know...or at least I hope, for Fiore’s sake… Nevertheless, it’s a bad way to begin the show. A fan of The Receiving End of Siren’s CD, I had been looking forward to seeing them perform live. Unfortunately, they didn’t live up to their recorded reputation this night and I was left more in awe of their producer than their stage presence or musical abilities.
Poison The Well was up next. Often described as “melodic metal-core,” they have a more composed feel to their songs, a sense of intricacy that sets them apart from other bands in the metal or hardcore genres. First lending their energy to the crowd, then turning around and feeding off of it again, the amazingly tight Floridian five-piece had little trouble firing up a crowd that was more than ready to hear something a little less distorted.
Saosin energetically headlined the show, taking the stage to the chanting of their name and launching right into their set after just a quick hello from vocalist Cove Reber. It was short lived, though, as not even halfway into their second song, Cove stopped singing...stopped jumping...and just stood looking into the crowd to his right.
“Wait, wait, wait! Hold up!” he shouted to the band. Then, to the crowd, “I’m sorry, I’ve gotta take care of something here… You don’t fight...at a Saosin show!” He pointed to a couple of girls in the front row. “First of all, you’re girls! You don’t need to be fighting! People come here to have a good time, hear some music, have fun. If you’re gonna fight, make us stop the show, and ruin things for everyone, just leave! As a matter of fact...security?... Peace out! Everybody put your hands in the air and tell these chicks ‘peace out!’”
Hundreds of hands flew into the air, all throwing the peace sign, and the annoyed crowd erupted into the second chant of the night. With the troublemakers gone and the whole atmosphere somehow seeming more chilled already, the band apologized for the delay and picked up right where they left off in the song.
Known for their powerful performances, Saosin did not disappoint. I still say Alex Rodriguez is one of the most underrated drummers in the business today. Lacing intricate rhythms through unique time signatures, he and bassist Chris Sorenson provided a solid background to the raw, pure, guitar-driven set standards “Bury Your Head,” “You’re Not Alone,” “It’s Far Better To Learn,” and “I Wanna Hear Another Fast Song/Sleepers.” Guitarists Beau Burchell and Justin Shekoski executed technical riffs that, aided by Cove’s unfaultering vocals (the climax of “Voices” continues to be a highlight of the live set) and unrelenting interaction with the crowd, turned even the slower songs into an all-out party. Later, when Cove asked the crowd for a small favor--”...the biggest circle pit I’ve ever seen!"--they were more than happy to oblige. And for once I was damn proud to be from Louisville, KY.
“That was the greatest shit I’ve ever seen! You know, the concept of a ‘circle’ escaped the people down in Nashville--but you guys rock!” -Cove Reber
Saosin did one encore and then invited the sweat-drenched, “sufficiently rocked” crowd to hang out and talk for a while. It was almost twenty minutes before half the band made it to the merch table, though. Not because they were breaking down their equipment or drinking beer out back, but because they were lined up at the front of the stage shaking hands, talking to, and taking pictures with every single person that came up to them. Overall, it was a good night. One thing left me perplexed, though. How could a band with such obvious talent, musicianship, energy, and love for their fans take their name from a Chinese word that means “little heart?” Clearly, they’ve quite the opposite!
Auburn, WA - July 25, 2007 White River Amphitheatre
Marysville, CA - July 27, 2007 Sleep Train Amphitheatre
San Bernardino, CA - July 28, 2007 Hyundai Pavilion
Mountain View, CA - July 29, 2007 Shoreline Amphitheatre
Chula Vista, CA - July 31, 2007 Coors Amphitheatre
Phoenix, AZ - August 1, 2007 Cricket Wireless Pavilion
Selma, TX - August 3, 2007 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Dallas, TX - August 4, 2007 Smirnoff Music Centre
The Woodlands, TX - August 5, 2007 The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Atlanta, GA - August 7, 2007 HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Charlotte, NC - August 8, 2007 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
West Palm Beach, FL - August 10, 2007 Sound Advice Amphitheatre
Tampa, FL - August 11, 2007 Ford Amphitheatre
Raleigh, NC - August 13, 2007 Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
Virginia Beach, VA - August 14, 2007 Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheatre
Wantagh, NY - August 15, 2007 Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Cuyahoga Falls, OH - August 17, 2007 Blossom Music Center
Darien Center, NY - August 18, 2007 Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Bristow, VA - August 19, 2007 Nissan Pavilion
Toronto, CA - August 21, 2007 Molson Amphitheatre
Clarkston, MI - August 22, 2007 DTE Energy Music Theatre
Mansfield, MA - August 24, 2007 Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
Camden, NJ - August 25, 2007 Tweeter Center at the Waterfront
Hartford, CT - August 26, 2007 New England Dodge Music Center
Syracuse, NY - August 28, 2007 NY State Fair
Holmdel, NJ - August 29, 2007 PNC Bank Arts Center
Noblesville, IN - August 31, 2007 Verizon Wireless Music Center
Tinley Park, IL - September 1, 2007 First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Englewood, CO - September 3, 2007 Coors Amphitheatre
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Reviewed by: Debie Patton | August 2007
