April 4th at USC. (Springfest Event)
Most of the bands that I caught were horrendous or just boring. We got there too late to catch Run Doris Run, sadly, and walked around campus for a while after that. Watched the last few minutes of The Summer Set's performance and they were just as sugary sweet as I remembered them. Not bad or anything, just very VERY pop-esque. I don't remember who all played or in what order, but some band called The Lovemakers played and were not very good. Iglu and Hartly were horrendous, almost like listening to 80s power pop infused with rap rock, but somehow everyone there loved it. Their set literally turned into a dance party.
We caught a little of Miniature Tiger's set in passing and they sounded good. Portugal. the Man was rad, but after sitting around all day in anticipation of Brand New, their mellow sound was not helping our moods at all. I'm glad I got to see them live though. Pinback was alright. I probably would've liked their music better had it not been for the overly-outspoken and entirely obnoxious guitarist. He insulted Reggae music and pointed out the Psychic/Fortune Teller's booth by saying, "Oh look, a psychic. Fuck you! FUCK you!" After they played, some guy came out to talk about the event and the stupid guitarist took his mic and kept talking. He just came off as rude and kind of trying too hard to be funny or contraversial, and that just completely turned me off of their music. Plus there was the fact that I'd been waiting eight or more hours to see my favorite band play.
Of course, Brand New had to take a good half hour to set up, but no care ever once they started. It was only a ten-song set, and after seeing Jesse play a ton of my favorite BN songs solo & acoustic, that no song-combo could beat that, but just seeing Brand New at all is always a treat. I told Spencer after the show that it won't ever matter how many times I've seen them before. It's always thrilling for me. Jesse came out wearing a crown of leaves on his head (?) and they played You Won't Know, Sowing Season, Jaws Theme Swimming, The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows, Tommy Gun, Archers, Bride, Degausser, Jesus, and Welcome to Bangkok, but that was a little out of order. I was really pleasantly surprised by Jaws Theme, Quiet Things and Tommy Gun. Degausser and Jesus were both wonderful, and I'm not usually a huge fan of instrumental songs, but when they had the two drumsets finish off Welcome to Bangkok after Jesse and Vin both played the shit out of their guitars, it was pretty fucking epic. They had three sets going when I saw them in November '07 at the Wiltern, but this was still very rad. Vin is crazy, by the way. That guy puts so much energy into their sets that it's kind of mind-blowing. He's hard not to watch the whole time haha.
Anyway. Not the greatest festival I've been to, but Brand New made everything worth it. :)
Saturday, April 11, 2009
one hundred and twenty
March 25th at Chain. Versa Emerge, the Gay Blades, Ace Enders and Craig Owens.
Versa Emerge was pretty good, though nothing groundbreaking or awe-inspiring. Comparable to Paramore, not only because they had a female singer, but because of the style of music. To be honest, I haven't listened to them since the show, but I did like them. I definitely wouldn't mind seeing them again.
The Gay Blades on the other hand were very original and different and highly entertaining. I liked them A LOT. They were kinda funky at times, but every song literally sounded like a completely different style. They covered a Rage Against the Machines song and killed it. Most of the set was just two guys but they definitely never lost my interest.
Ace Enders was wonderful of course. He played his whole set acoustic and I don't think I saved the setlist, but I know he played "Reaction," "Bittersweet Symphony," "When I Hit the Ground," "Ready Ankles," two I Can Make a Mess songs, "I Want to Hear You Sad," "Ever So Sweet," and more. He is so ridiculously talented and it makes me happy I've been able to see him twice, though I never got to see his previous projects. He's a super nice guy too; we said hi to him outside the show and got a picture (ridiculously blurry because no one in the world knows how to use Ashley's camera properly). Great set from Ace, as always.
Craig Owens headlined and we only stayed for a few songs of his set, but it wasn't bad. The only song I really recognized was "Umbrellas and Elephants" from the Cinematic Sunrise record.
Versa Emerge was pretty good, though nothing groundbreaking or awe-inspiring. Comparable to Paramore, not only because they had a female singer, but because of the style of music. To be honest, I haven't listened to them since the show, but I did like them. I definitely wouldn't mind seeing them again.
The Gay Blades on the other hand were very original and different and highly entertaining. I liked them A LOT. They were kinda funky at times, but every song literally sounded like a completely different style. They covered a Rage Against the Machines song and killed it. Most of the set was just two guys but they definitely never lost my interest.
Ace Enders was wonderful of course. He played his whole set acoustic and I don't think I saved the setlist, but I know he played "Reaction," "Bittersweet Symphony," "When I Hit the Ground," "Ready Ankles," two I Can Make a Mess songs, "I Want to Hear You Sad," "Ever So Sweet," and more. He is so ridiculously talented and it makes me happy I've been able to see him twice, though I never got to see his previous projects. He's a super nice guy too; we said hi to him outside the show and got a picture (ridiculously blurry because no one in the world knows how to use Ashley's camera properly). Great set from Ace, as always.
Craig Owens headlined and we only stayed for a few songs of his set, but it wasn't bad. The only song I really recognized was "Umbrellas and Elephants" from the Cinematic Sunrise record.
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