Therefore I Am
Smartbomb
Beyond City Lights
Worcester Palladium
Worcester MA Sunday December 27th, 2009
I am always extra excited to visit a new venue. It opens up the option of more gigs if I can master the drive and find parking. The Palladium has GREAT parking ridiculously priced but right at the side of the building, to me- well worth it. Worcester is a dirty barren city. The Magpie and I had to get to the venue an hour early for an Artist Arena meet and greet. First off……it was freezing second I was just about positive the next episode of Cops was going to be filmed right there.
But once inside the staff was happy, kind and helpful. Not at all what i would expect based on the atmosphere. I was somewhat surprised by the crowd. For the most part it was frat boys, not your stereo typical hardcore scene guys (Mary was sorely disappointed) and the mentality was interesting too, just a bit unhip. I attribute this to the too far from Boston,
5 bands 5 hours
Beyond City Lights- when the lead singer apologizes for smoking too much weed thus causing his voice to give out in one breath, then taking a solemn ‘Bro” vibe thanking the band for being on that ‘is really going somewhere’, there is no credibility. You’re a bar band and fifth warm up to a hometown gig. Unless you prioritize your ‘career’, the only place your going is behind the counter of FYE as a sales clerk. Take it seriously- you’re not Aerosmith. Musically they were tolerable, but I was glad I had a blackberry to entertain myself with.
Smartbomb
STOP THE FUCKING PRESS.
I adore these guys. Paunchy receding hairlines, but fantastic music for music sake.. It felt like Minor Threat on acid and I was on my feet craning to see what they were all about. These guys are hardcore punk rock circa 82 and today I’m going to find more on them. The floorboards were vibrating the air became electric and I was transfixed. I was texting friends during their set asking them to tell me about these people (seriously all but the singer looked rather ‘mature’- which enamored me even more!) but apparently my friends were too busy watching the game or something cuz I got nothing on them But today Ill investigate.
Therefore I Am.
OK these guys were offloading their gear as we froze our asses of pre meeting. Nice enough fun enough but what the hell with inviting the entire neighborhood on stage to stand at the wings fist pumping for you? Ive heard great things about this band but it wasn’t there last night. Maybe I was basking in the afterglow of Smartbombs incredible performance. But they did what they had to do and when a repulsively drunk Dave Grohl look alike stumbled into my chest and asked. ‘how many more bands’ I responded 2 after this….he threw himself on the table and said…….”WHY NOT NO MORE?” Welcome my friends to the Worcester hardcore scene its Animal House without the jokes.
Bane
OK watch out here comes the burly men. The crowd loved them. I did not. Again they brought the neighborhood and their families side stage to fist pump and sing along. There was a girl stage right who was a better performer than the lead singer. She was enthusiastic and knew all the words. She was the star of the set. Bane… yup … they’re a band go listen to them see if you like them. This is the sort of band who’s fan base will blow up your car if you say anything negative. But again…..Bane was a door mat for
Four Year Strong
Holy Freakin Can of Shaving Cream!!!!……………this band RULES! They came out on a holiday adorned stage in white undershirts. Blue collar factory working dudes who absolutely kicked ass. Its times like this when I step back and want to scream how lucky I am to experience such amazing entertainment. I’m going to leave out all the parts about the drunken meat head assholes that surrounded me and focus on nothing more than the magnitude of this band. Again I am totally blown out of the stratosphere by the insane drummer… call the paramedic. I thought for sure this was going to be a train wreck of a night. FYS washed the filth of the street and brought down the moon. A new release is planned for March and i cannot wait. My hope being I can catch them at a ‘non hometown’ venue. Hardcore is not exactly known for brain over brawn but I think we can find a better scene to see them in. They gave the crowd a couple of songs from their yet to be released album (*I always wonder if I should say ‘album’ or ‘disc’ or offering.. whatever) and even with the acceptance that “this’ll get put on the Internet before it comes out’, true amazing stuff. I loved the interaction of the band, in this case I loved that they looked like the casting call of Ice Road Truckers, I loved that these lumberjacks were totally cool to my kid too. Four Year Strong is FANTASTIC recorded and they are 2000 times better than that live. Found this on youtube from last night. Apparently I wasn’t the only one having a blast during their set!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdOrOBS7Ngg
Spring yet?