Tangent: Concert 101

So it’s nearing summer (ok its still spring, but it snowed today so I’m dreaming of summer) and summer means heavy concert season. A lot of people go and don’t know what they’re getting into, don’t know what they’re doing. It ends poorly, not just for them but for others too. I’ve been at this for the better part of thirteen years, so I figured I’d give some of the less experienced folks a crash course.

1. If you don’t absolutely need it, don’t bring it. Or check it in the coat check that most indoor venues have. In fact it’s a good general rule that if it doesn’t fit in your pockets or a bag no wider than your hip, leave it at home.
2. Do bring:A cell phone, ID (even if its an all ages show), and money/ credit cards. Poncho if its outdoors. Personally, I like to bring at least $20-40 in case i have to cab it home for some reason
3. Do not bring large bags larger than you are wide or backpacks. This is not only asking to be robbed, but it’s a hazard to anyone near by. Epically in standing room only venues. You’ll end up having to buy people drinks because your huge bag knocks them.
4. Wear sensible clothes/ shoes.Yes, we all go a little nuts at concerts bur bear in mind, you are going to be in a crowd of people dancing, jostling and above all trying to see. Ditch the parka and the heals.
5. Be nice to the openers.Your band was once an opener, and odds are there is someone trying to enjoy them. There are people on a stage, putting themselves out for a crowd that, odds are, are not here to see them. Clap at least. Even if they are bad.
6. Be nice to security. It could save your life.
7. Don’t stand around bored. This is sort of part of five, but bears reiterating. The people who go to shows and stand bored, huffing and puffing until their song/ artist comes on are really rude.
8. Stay hydrated. Yes, water can be over priced at some venues. But 3$ for water, is better than 300$ for an ER visit
9. Don’t be afraid to shove a little, but don’t be a jerk. –It’s a concert, especially if it’s a rock/ metal sort of show, there’s going to be jostling, head banging, probably moshing et.
10. Be careful, but not too careful. You may think you’re ready to be thrown around, thrash danced into etc. But pits can be pretty dangerous if you’re not prepared. I tend to stay toward the middle of the crowd, just behind/ to one side of the proper mosh pit. But you are at a concert; most fans I’ve run into are good to each other, if you really get scared and need to get out odds are you can.

Subsection: Things NOT to bring

1. Water bottles: Most venues will not let them in as they are a safety hazard
   
2. Large bags; Bear in mind a) you’ll be holding it for 2-6 hours b) it will be hitting people.
3. Cameras:some venues are flexible on this, know what you’re getting into.
4. Anything you don’t want getting hurt that isn’t signed there.
5. Young Children. This is a use your own judgment sort of thing, some kids fair well at concerts I saw a 7 year old with at a metal show once having an absolute ball but I’ve also seen crying, unhappy ones.
6. Anything that can’t fit into a small bag.
7. A person who won’t enjoy it: yes it may feel better to bring your friend/SO, but it brings all of us down if someone is not having it.

This may seem like a daunting list. Concerts can be wild, intense, dangerous places. You will sweat, your ears will ring, and your legs might not forgive you the next day. There might even be bruises. Let me tell you right now, it’s worth it. If you’ve never been to a real concert, they are the biggest, loudest rush you can find without completely risking your life. There is nothing quite like the thrum of the base in your chest or the power of an enter crowd knowing the every word to a song.

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Concert revew: Flogging Molly with, The Architectsand Frank turner at the Aragon Ballrom

Venue: The Aragon Ballroom (4/5) The most beautiful venue I've ever seen. The pictures on the site don't come close to doing it justice. Originally a legit ball room  in the twenties, the Aragon is a larger venue than most (Holding up to 4,500 people, compared to the House of Blues at 1000people ).  The entry way is a little cramped, and has an appearance of converted movie theater. there's one bar as you walk in across from the merch booth. You walk up the stairs into a beautifully painted and molded  dance floor with  balconies and little towers ornately carved and painted in oranges and creams.  Each turret has intricately carved windows.  I'm neglecting however, the most breathtaking element.
The ceiling is high and arced a little giving the place avery airy open feel. It is painted  like a night sky with swirling blue clouds and a white moon toward the stage. The top of the stage is framed with swords. If that wasn't enough, when the houselights go down, little stars appear, winking in and out alternately. The orange windows in the turrets reflect onto the ceiling reminiscent of citylights.  The total effect transports you to a Spanish plaza, rather than a concert venue jammed in the bar district.

There is a coat check, i didn't use it, nothing to report on that or the bathrooms.

The bars were irritating. Rather than wristband you when you enter,  they wrist band you on your way to the bar, thus creating huge lines, and causing those of us who just want water undue amounts of hassle. The bars are also more like kiosks than real bars.  And I was charged $3 for an 8oz bottle of water.  Irritating.

There were only two problems with the floor itself. The first was minor, That being because there is very little variation (no steps, et.) and its a larger venue its very hard to see from the back.  I'm five foot one so I'm use to this problem.
However, they are in desperate need of fans, and better ventilation. I'm a stubborn concert goer once I'm in the crowd and the main act is on  i break for nothing except illness.  I had to go out for water, after already having some at the start of the show. It was ridiculously stuffy.

The crowd: (2.5/5)The problem of such a large space is that the crowd varies wildly and I didn't get as much of a chance to weave through as I had a wonderful group of friends with me. For being such a great band, the crowd was tame. They were amicable, but very relaxed.  However, I was in a bit of a dead zone for part of the show. I find just standing there bored absolutely rude, especially when you're over six feet and toward the middle of the crowd.

on to the show.

First Act: Frank Turner (3/5) All the way from Manchester, it was just Frank Turner and his guitar for this show, though according to his myspace he has a backup band. I have to confess, for part of his act I was distracted by the gorgeous venue. His music was enjoyable with the occasional lyric that made me grin and a few others that I sympathized with.  A little relaxed for what was to come,  with a more ethnic engish feel to it, Turner's music  was a perfect warm up for a band like Flogging Molly.

Second Act: The Architects (2.5/5). There are  three bands easily found on the internet with that name, and if your forming a band in this day and age it pays to check these things.  It made them harder to track down.  Not that I especially wanted to.  While they significantly improved over the course of these set, they were out of place in that they sounded much more like mainstream rock/metal than  the Irish flavored music of the evening.   They were thrashy, hard to understand  and the numbers of theirs that caught my attention were either covers, or stylistic rip off of other bands. They aren't half  bad recorded however, with some decent lyrics. On stage, they were discordant and inarticulate. Worth dancing to, very much not worth buying a CD from.

The Main Act: Flogging Molly (3.5/5) Great live show, good solid sound. For those of you who may be new to this  band they are  about two parts traditional Irish music.  This band manages to keep to their Irish roots,  while still engaging  with modern politics and more importantly a modern audience.  These guys may be in their late fifties, but they still no how to rock without coming across as clinging to their younger days.  The sound they make is insane, and unmistakably their own.  Even front man, Dave king, doesn't quite know what genera to put them in, nor does he care.  I would have been happy indeed with the guitar work with the mandolin and banjo work, but then the fiddle came in.
And let me tell you something,  you've never seen or heard anything quite like an electric fiddle player rocking out, let alone one dueling with a guitarist.  It was intense.  The lyrics are serious and at times irreverent. Its wonderful to see a band that's been around as long as they have keeping the edge sharp politically and musically.

While predominantly thrashy, they do have their share of ballads that are equally strong and more articulate.

 Where they lose points is that they are a bit of a one trick pony.  Most of their stuff sounds similar weather its from 2002 or 2010. However, it's quite an enjoyable trick and  a  lot of fun.

A Rant/PSA

I don't normally do this but, I have a public service announcement.
I understand sometimes you have to bring stuff with you, I had on me last night: one eyeshadow, two brushes two crayons, a cell phone, several cards (both credit/debit and store related), my ID et. I also acknowledge  that some outfits aren’t conducive to pockets (I ware cargos so I don’t have to face this issue). But if you’re at a show that is standing room only, or crowded in anyway, LEAVE THE BULKY PURSE/ BAG/BACKPACK AT HOME or check it. If the purse juts past your body more than a couple inches, I guarantee you will be obliviously hitting people, getting in people’s way and generally be “that girl” You don’t want to be that person at a sold out jammed to the walls show.  Hell , if you’re  near me, a seasoned concert goer and tiny metal head, you don’t want to be at any show with more than a very few people. )Also wear as thin a coat as you can justify, for the same problem.)  You also hold up the pat down line and make yourself look like a giant newbie.
Not only is your giant bag a danger to people who are jumping around and ducking through the crowd and generally  not keen on being smacked by a purse, its a danger to you.  People generally at concerts are there to have fun, bond and drink. (I got my cell back when it slipped out of my pocket last night!) However, people are human, and some people are assholes.  You could get robbed, or things could simply fall out/ get hurt.  And at concert hall, even the nicest ones, you will never see said stuff again.  At best its in the trash, at worst someone stole your cards. 

Please for your sake and mine, leave the giant bag at home.

Album Review: Halestorm(self-titled)

Halestorm(self titled) 4/5

I've gushed about this little band(particularly their front woman, Lzzy Hale)  multiple times. Sexy, hard edged, but still feminine, I don't think there's much Lzzy Hale couldn't do if she set her mind to it.

The album itself, like the band, is a powerhouse. Strong guitar work coupled with vocals like I've seen in no other band of this generation. The lyrics are fearless and sexually charged. Finally, the music scene has a woman who isn't afraid to be sexual without being obscene. The album has a running theme of strength and danger. Between the pained"Familiar Taste of Poison"  and the white hot anger of "It's Not You," Halestorm demonstrates stylistic variety without betraying the underlying tone of the album.

Highlights:
It’s Not You (linked above)-- Its the opening song, and what an opener. It's an attention grabbing, fierce rock song that inspires defiance and tells the listener very clearly "read my finger."

Innoncence-- -- an interesting reversal of the classing man-takes-woman's-virginity, story this song is about the conflict of a woman taking someone's virginity.

Familiar Taste of Poison (also linked above)-- This bitter lullaby demonstrates Halestorm's range of style wonderfully. I think its also a feeling a lot of people have experienced-- the desire to stay with a toxic relationship.


Dirty Work: This song made me grin, this song is an aggressive song that could only be about one thing--sexual dominance

In short, I still have nothing but good things to say about this band. Wonderfully bitter, sexy and talented. My only hope is that they come back to Chicago soon.

Errata

I said that the self titled album was Halestorm's debut, While its their first full album,  they also had an EP in 2006 (One and Done EP (2006)

Album Review 3DR: In the Bedroom-EP

3DR: In the Bedroom EP(2009)(1/5)

I Picked these guys up because I'd been a big fan of Red Line District, the band these guys used to be in. What a disappointment.
3DR(short for Third Day Rising) should NOT be confused with the band Third Day Rising the Christian screamo band, they are very different.
I wanted to like this album—the band’s previous incarnation Red Line District* was edgy and good old fashioned teen rock with songs like “Stuck” that had a lot of promise. Apparently, the band members that left took the majority of the bite and talent with them. Here we have a discordant EP that tries very hard to be a real album but falls flat. The vocals are decent, but very hard to hear over the cacophonous background While it is growing on me, as I do have a fondness for strange music, This EP is not up to any of my standards.

The lyrics are whiney, which can be alright if pared with strong vocals and clean instrumentation. However, the guitar work is just as whiney.

I do hope these guys get better, though judging by their work on Myspace, they haven’t. I really support local talent, but I think these guys sadly only fit one of those terms.
No highlights, due to length and quality of the album. If I had to pick one song that may have been a little better than the others, it would be “In Recovery” but even that, frankly, isn't that good.

album review: Cavashawn(white) /w bonus tracks.

 Cavashawn(White) 2009--4/5
Fun is the first word that comes to mind with Cavashawn’s second album. One part 1960s pop, two parts jaded, Cavashawn's second album bounces its way through seven tracks of thoroughly enjoyable rock. I think I will skip the highlights section as it’s a short album, however if anyone picks up these guys(which you can do for free at Cavashawn's homepage)  I'd give "All the Lonely Girls" and "Friendly Fire" a listen.

Front man, Scott Salmon has a good range, with a distinctive, slightly nasally voice. The lyrics are deliciously bitter, yet hopeful. Salmon defies the pain of a breakup with a clever, if pained grin. Salmon also uses a lot of interesting word play and has a very expressive voice. In the beginning of "Friendly Fire," for example, you can hear the mock-innocence in his voice without it being overt. Sexy, clever and energetic, even recorded Salmon knows how to work the listener.

On first play through, Cavershawn sounds fairly simplistic, however on a closer listen there are some interesting little complexities in the music. Cavashawn is a well coordinated band that keeps a very nice balance between the volume of the music and the vocals

I'm very interested in what Cavashawn does next and where they end up shelved, as they don't quite settle into one particular genre.