Bayside / The Matches / Valencia / The Status

Recher Theater / Towson, Maryland

11-09-08

Sunday was a busy day for me, but I managed to slip (some) of this show in for good measure. Sunday evening was reserved for me to assemble my entry into the 2008 Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar's annual conference so it was rather hectic. Thanks to Gary and Rey over at Reybee Productions I was added to the list for Bayside's show in nearby Towson...or was I?

When I request and that request is honored by way of work on behalf of the band/label contact I rarely do not attend the show/event, but I was buried in my contest entry so a part of me wanted to skip the show and work on what was pressing, but I'm glad I fought that urge and headed out for a bit of a break.

The show apparently started early and I found myself at the door about 10 minutes before Bayside took the stage. I have not seen, nor heard Valencia or The Status before so I will check them out as should you. Ive seen The Matches live and they are pretty awesome, so needless to say I'm a bit disappointed to have missed them this time around.

Upon my arrival the door man informed me that my name was not on the list (insert funny joke about the blog here) I had to do a significant amount of calling and talking, an amount of which I've grown accustomed to, before i was finally let in by Steven, Bayside's manager. I do advocate the playing of Deftones - Around the Fur between sets though. Good stuff!

The place was packed. Maybe because it was an early show on the weekend, but I did not think Bayside would draw such a crowd. I guess I was wrong. 

I photographed the first (quick) three songs and then posted up in the middle of the crowd to observe. Bayside released a new album last month that Ive been listening to lately. It doesn't have the same appeal just yet, but i imagine it will grow on me like their earlier releases. They played 5 new songs (from Shudder) but mixed in 2 songs from their first release, Sirens and Condolences, which they never do. 

Bayside is a consistently good band, but I will acknowledge the fact that a lot of their songs sound very similar. A few times throughout the night I asked myself, "didn't they just play that one?" 

If a band is going to have a lot of similar material, let it be Bayside.

My other gripe is not with the band, but with the audience. There was obviously a lot more than a few kids that were into Bayside, but they were just standing there and quietly singing along. Apparently I wasn't the only one that recognized this as the band told the crowd that they were very "quiet" multiple times throughout their set. Its Bayside not Pantera, but that doesn't mean you have to sit on your hands the whole night. Don't be scared of the legions of Recher Theater "security" (read idiotic frat boys) watching the crowd, get rowdy people! 

H2O / Bane / Cruel Hand / Energy

Ottobar / Baltimore, Maryland

11-02-08

This show definitely caught me off guard. I guess I maintain a semi-current schedule of shows on this very page and while I knew there were a slew of shows in November, I totally forgot it was...November? Time flies. I cant believe its already November. 

After a lovely hangout with my fellow photo colleagues from the Baltimore Sun and PPC at the amazing Brewer's Art here in Baltimore I headed out to the nearby Ottobar for the show. I missed the first two openers, Cruel Hand and Energy in the process and arrived just in time for Bane to start their set. 

Ottobar is a smaller venue that has had its share of history. Fliers all over the walls and where there is not, black. While Ram's Head Live has bathrooms with their own Nigerian attendants, Ottobar's don't have doors let alone attendants. For my Houston brethren, the Ottobar is akin to a slightly larger Fat Cats or possibly a Fitz Up. What I dig about the Ottobar is the pseudo mezzanine section stage right. A lot of (larger) venues have mezzanines but this one is low enough to actually touch the heads of the bands. It allows you to sit and enjoy the show and actually feel like you re still there. What? Sit and enjoy a show...especially this one? Yeah. Agreed. But the spot provides a great location to mount a video camera and a semi-unique angle for photos. 

I walked in to find Aaron of Bane fame dancing about the stage just as I remembered. The place was comfortably filled and the atmosphere light. I did not sense any drama or tension even though there was plenty of mosh and uninterrupted stage diving. It was a breath of fresh air not to find a huge steel barricade between the stage and the fingerpointers and no over zealous security guards freaking out about kids on stage or diving off. I worked my way backstage to watch and photograph the rest of Bane's set but since Ottobar is very (understatement) dark and since flash isn't really in my all day repertoire for shows I worked on some more "moody" (read: noisy) images. 

Between sets I got the superclamp out of the car and posted up in the mezzanine for H20.

I haven't seen H20 in a very long time. It might have been at Fitz-Up in Houston, but that was years ago. Toby sounds great and while there seemed to be some minor misses here and there they powered through like old pros. I also realized that Toby is the only hardcore/punk singer I know that uses a wireless mic setup on stage. Just an observation. The thing about H2O is they have a lot of great, solid releases and a few flops like GO and their latest record which still hasn't grown on me, but this time around their set was full of all of the amazing songs you'd want to hear. 

Family Tree (with a Fugzai - "waiting room" interlude)

5 Year Plan

Everready

I See It In Us

Thicker Than Water

Guilty By Association (with Mitts of Madball fame on guitar)

Of course there were others, but you get the idea. I was really impressed by the whole atmosphere of the show. There was an older crowd as both of these bands have been around, but there was still plenty of stage dives and all around good times. No BS fights or drama to speak of (at least that I saw) no security tearing people off stage, and a great sound by the guys at Ottobar. I think this officially ends my run of semi-nostalgic shows for these few weeks. The next couple of shows are either bands I have never seen live or newer bands. 

The Bouncing Souls / Strike Anywhere / The Casting Out / Gimmie Drugs

The Black Cat / Washington DC

10-29-08

Two incredible shows back to back! Well, I'm pretty busy these days so I tend to only make it out to select shows and since this blog is my own baby, currently, I'm going to make sure there is a strong potential for me to enjoy myself at those shows I do select. Now if a hip industry magazine wants to hire me to review and photograph for them, that's a different story, but until then this is my time. 

But, there are shows that are good then there are amazing shows. Tonight's show definitely falls into the latter category. 

A short history lesson for those not privy to the grassroots beginning of my pretentious writing. 

Some kids in high school played football, others were on the debate team...I was in bands. A few (a lot) of crappy ones and a few decent ones. The day after I walked across the stage and received my high school diploma, I left for a 2 week tour. The tour featured Strike Anywhere and it was a grand time. Some of the best times ever. It's so much of an indescribable experience that my friends get annoyed when I bring it up (yeah, figure out how that makes sense) Two days after coming home from that tour I left on a similar (West Coast/California) tour with another band. Great summer (2001) I could bore you with the "back in the days" forever, so Ill just end the nostalgic aside with a photo from those times. Bonus points if you can tell which one is me.

I started the hour or so drive south on the Balt-Wash Parkway early to miss the traffic and to hang with the boys before the show. The Black Cat is situated on a busy street in DC void of a nearby parking garage, but with plenty of free evening parking nearby. I was able to find a safe spot along a side street pretty quickly. I came in through the rear and saw Thomas (vocalist/Strike Anywhere) in a backstage room scribing a set list. After a quick round of greetings Thomas and I, as usual, started our in-depth discussion on the current state of politics and society today. Thomas is one of those incredibly inspirational and genuine people that you meet once and are forever affected by. Thomas' passion for social awareness and change were a direct motivation for my choice in my undergraduate studies. I began my studies for my BA at the University of Houston in the Fall of 2001 just a few months following our tour together. Even though I have decided on a different path, I still use the knowledge from Thomas and from school in my current work and personal life. With the most important presidential election of our generation less than a week away, there was plenty to discuss. I just wish we had more time.

The Black Cat is an interesting venue. There are several separated rooms; a ground floor bar area, a smaller stage area and the second floor main show area. Again if I were to compare it to a Houston venue, it would resemble the Merdian with a touch of the historic feel of Notsuoh. After a line of cold and wet patrons were let in from inside, the first band, Gimmie Drugs took the stage.

Gimmie Drugs is a new outfit from New Jersey and were definitely not was I had my ears ready for. I was expecting some melodic punk rock, but got a slow, yet driving sound that I was really into. The trio had a very good presence and you could tell they had the enthusiasm and eagerness of a young opening band, but the poise and presence of veterans. Great stuff. I'm going to have to get my hands on their release soon.

During our talks, Thomas told me that The Casting Out was Nathan's (of Boy Sets Fire fame) new outfit, which was an awesome surprise to me as I was a huge BSF fan back in their day. Another aural surprise as they took the stage...complete 180 from Boy Sets Fire. Nathan's talent as a front man was even more apparent with this group as they play (somewhat) fast and happy rock n roll. It's like if you were listening to After the Eulogy (Boys Sets Fire record) and just wanted to take a break from seriousness of the music and hear a happy song, that is The Casting Out. Don't get me wrong, these guys stand on their own just fine without referencing their individual pasts, but hearing a great band and then pairing that with the unique vocal stylings known only to a band that has since broken up is a good thing. These guys were definitely another added gem to an already amazing show. So much fun to photograph, so much fun to be around, so much fun to hear. 

I should interject a small complaint before I continue. The Black Cat guys stamped my hand with a band stamp early in the day, but I was stopped before trying to take photos and was told to go back downstairs and get my photo pass. I did, and was stamped with a few more stamps (confusing and hard to get off) I return and wiggle my way in front of the barricade (which has no business at a show like this) I was immediately told that I could not shoot from in front of the barricade, but only from the sides of the stage. I usually go with the flow in these situations, but this is the first time I had ever heard of a club with a barricade NOT letting photographers shoot between it and the stage. Odd. I asked what the point of my pass and 5 different hand stamps were and they said security. Stupid. Either way I eventually convinced them to let me shoot from the sides and rear of the stage. During Strike Anywhere's set I was able to shoot from in front of the barricade, but not during the other 3 acts. 

Do I even have to say how amazing Strike Anywhere was? Over 7 years and 1 member swap later, these guys don't look like they have missed a beat. This was the first in a short string of shows so everyone was fresh. Eric (drummer/Strike Anywhere) had just flown in from Spain, Thomas from his home in LA, Matt from Baltimore and the rest of the guys in each band from their respective locales. It was awesome, because the first night of tour is always the most enthusiastic. Everyone is watching each other play, no beefs have formed, no drama has been dredged up, just good times all around and Strike Anywhere definitely carried that theme well. The last time I've caught up with these guys was last year in Colorado Springs and they did not play a good mix of older jams, but tonight they did. Great performance as usual. I video recorded the last song of their set as a supplement to my usual picture gallery so check that out. 

Im not going to lie, my primary motivation for coming out to this show was Strike Anywhere, but I was really excited when I heard The Bouncing Souls were headlining. Less than a week ago I saw NOFX play and tonight Im seeing The Bouncing Souls. Good week! Like, Strike Anywhere, but with a little more history, these guys are consistent and still got it. Greg's awkward stage presence is something that is incredible to watch. He is dominant and engaging is the quietest way possible. I hate to reference last week's NOFX show, but The Bouncing Souls live are similar in that, they have so many awesome records and played a lot of my favorites, but still there were many I did not instantly know off hand, because of their expansive discography. Regardless, a great time was had. Michael still looks like an awkward teenager, Bryan still looks like he's on roids, Pete still looks like your dad if he liked Punk Rock and Greg is still skinny and still wears ties...what more can you ask for? These are The Bouncing Souls and they are still here and playing like its 1997 (or 87, but I was 5) Im just thankful that there are bands that have been around for this long and are still living the life, breathing a breath of fresh air into the lungs of the young ones and taking us older dudes back a few years.

The Flatliners / Teenage Bottlerocket / Dillinger Four / NOFX

Ram's Head Live / Baltimore, Maryland

10-24-08

Thanks go out to the fine ladies at Fat Wreck for hooking up this incredible show on such short notice. I missed NOFX during the first leg of this tour earlier this year in Houston and got to make it up tonight. Nothing like a day filled with horse racing and high school football followed up by some great punk rock. Punk Rock. The genre that seemed so simple decades ago and was universally understood for so long now has evolved itself into so many sub-genres and spin offs of late. Indie, screamo, emo, hardcore, metal, post-hardcore, math rock, etc etc...I don't remember the last time I could truly say, "Tonight I went to a punk rock show." 

Same old song and dance at the Ram's Head. I was there only 2 days prior, but a different crowd and apparently different rules. Tuesday's show only had venue employees checking tickets and stamping those over 21 while tonight's show featured long lines, and a TSA regimen of security guards of the usual over zealous, "you mean I'm not protecting the 45th parallel?!" brand emptying out patrons pockets and patting them down harder than a little boy at confessional. To their credit and my selfishness, my photo pass was good enough to allow me to bypass such trivial unpleasantries. 

Ram's Head was stuffed! It was Friday and NOFX hadn't played here in 6 years. Punk rockers young and old (from 40 year olds to 8 year olds) came from nearby states just to see the band perform. To put it in perspective, Ill guess that I was about the median age and I have been seeing them for over a decade now. Exactly 10 years ago at my first Warped Tour in 1998, NOFX threw out $5000 in $1 bills into the crowd. Legend.

As I walked in The Flatliners were playing. They were followed by Teenage Bottlerocket. Both fairly straight forward, no frills punk rock. Great jams, not stuff Id listen to on the daily, but i was in the mood for some good punk rock and these openers were definitely no lame ducks. 

In keeping with the legendary fashion, Minneapolis' great punk rock outfit Dillinger Four played third. What an incredible set and what a great tour match up. Dillinger's front man has such excellent stage presense and no its not because he was drunk and dressed in a baby diaper for the better part of NOFX's set (see below) These guys have also been writing/playing/touring/living the punk rock life for decades and still got it. 

NOFX, what can I say. After all these years, they are still keeping it punk rock. Purposefully draping a 2 foot by 1 foot banner across the backdrop, opting out of the smoke and mirrors of younger, more popular acts of today. No ridiculous intro samples (although they did jam reggae as usual to come out to) no elaborate sets, no fire and no effects (i seriously el o el'd there) Since their reality show aired earlier this year I began to recognize all of the roadies. Awesome! I had seen copies of their set list floating around the net and knew that it changed periodically. The Decline was on a few lists and I was really hoping to hear the entire 18 minute song live, but we did not win that lottery. The entire set was great though. Over an hour of NOFX songs means like 20 since most are under a minute or two. There was a fair amount of talking and heckling going on, but that can be expected at such a show. Where talking during a set is annoying for many, Fat Mike and the rest of the guys (well I guess only El Hefe) make it entertainment. From thumb wrestling wars, to naked dudes hugging, to stage dives and drunken dudes getting drug off stage the hour + show was amazing. 

The trouble though with seeing a band like NOFX that has been around since the 80's is that there are so many songs. They have a ton of records and are still putting out full lengths to this day and while there are a ton of die-hard fans that know every single song on every single record I don't. I knew a ton of them, but there were a few that I did not know or did not know well. 

Regardless amazing night. 

Copeland / Lovedrug / Lydia

Recher Theater / Towson / Maryland

10-23-08

Another awesome show just a day and a half after the last show. Im starting to come to grips with the fact that there are so many more awesome tours and bands that come through this area than back down in Houston. 

This was my first time to visit the Recher Theater in Towson, just a few minutes north of Baltimore. Towson is an awesome little town with modern ammenities as well as a stretch of York that almost reminds me of a 6th street-ish area. Recher Theater rests here as well. Nearby garage parking can be found in the local courthouse garage. Since the garage mostly caters to the daytime court goers and not nightlife, the afterhours fee is only a dollar. I think I may have gotten back to my car after the show at around 11pm and there was no one manning the booth and the fee was waived. Good deal. You have to walk a measly 2 short blocks to the venue that could be treaterous in the Winter, but the streets are safe(r) here than in downtown Baltimore. The venue boasts a large old school marquee out front and the interior reminds me of a Meridian-esque spot. Smaller venue with dark interior and a small barricade in front of the stage. One large room with a bar that stretches along one side and like other local venues, in-house food vending is available. There is also a coat check. The staff seemed to fit the profile of what I had heard; over-zealous, fratty, and annoying. The bill for the night wasnt exactly a huge draw, but the place seemed to slowly fill with indie types and general interested college types. During the long wait for the first act, I began to miss all of the seating choices of Rams Head. 

Lydia was first up. All but the female keyboardist/vocalist played barefoot. Questionable. They were great live though. Their newest release "Illuminate" is exquisite and the songs live are just as. The female keyboardist and the front man share the vocal responsibilities and their voices are so beautiful, but I would have loved to hear a bit more harmony. The lead guitarist served up some face melters for the indie naysayers amongst the crowd and quieted the chaperoning parents. I know they were the opener, but there were only 3 bands and their set seemed really short.

Lovedrug was next. Wow! Where have these guys been all my life. Great live performance and musical style that takes you back to the mid-late nineties. They have a sort of indie/pop rock rock feel with a mainstream streak. Their songs and music in general were predictable, but in the best way possible. Their front man rotated between the piano and guitar and did both very well. Great stuff. From my short listening of their work via internet and cd, their live performance seems to be a little more engaging. 

Copeland has always been a band that I really dug, but never was THAT amazed by live. I have been listening since their debut release and have enjoyed the majority of the songs on the majority of the releases but the handful of times I have seen this band live they have been less than stellar with this occasion being no exception. It was a solid set, but the music and overall production (especially in the later releases) in itunes seems to have so much more impact. The band just looks bored on-stage and without that x-factor from the live show and without that amazing production factor of the recorded music, Id much rather jam these guys at home. 

I was pleased with the nights performances as a whole and not so pleased at the crowd perfomance. Seriously people, I realize this isnt a Youth of Today reunion show, but for god's sakes move! Its music! Its supposed to move you. These kids seemed so uptight and worried about what their peers would think to react in any way to the live music hitting them in the face. Besides about 5 girls whispering along with a portion of Copeland's lyrics and one rando broad completely losing it when Lovedrug took the stage no one moved. Lydia stole the show with their live performance, and although Copeland's live set was sub-par their recent LP "You Are My Sunshine" is amazing. Listen to "The Day I Lost My Voice" for the creamiest production harmony ever. So Good.

Underoath / Saosin / The Devil Wears Prada / P.O.S.

        Ram's Head Live / Baltimore, Maryland

       10-21-08

My boy came to town! Doomtree Records has come a long way in the past year with releases from the whole damn crew, Cecil Otter et al. I witnessed the whole crew perform at this years SXSW in Austin, Texas and then again over the summer with the Flobots. This time around Stef (P.O.S.) came out on his own with Underoath, Saosin and The Devil Wears Prada. 

I had/have been blasting the new Cecil Otter LP Black Rose for the last month or so and when I saw that Stef was playing Baltimore I was stoked...partly because he is incredible live and partly because the clientele that attends a christian metal/screamo show does not expect to see a black dude take the stage and rap as the opening act. The juxtaposition is amazing, it always is, and it didn't let me down this time. 

The show was at Ram's Head Live, a larger music venue in downtown Baltimore akin to Houston's Verizon Wireless Theater. My youthful, hardcore side says this venue is an overly corporate monstrosity that charges way too much for tickets (almost $30 for 4 bands is ridiculous) but my older, "ill just watch it from up here" side loves the place (besides I was on the list, of course!) The venue is only a matter of blocks from my place in Fell's Point and an ample parking garage allows one to park (for $10!) and take an elevator straight to the venue's lobby. Awesome! I guess when you live in a place that snows or gets really cold this is a great thing. The Verizon in Houston has nearby underground parking, however you can never tell where to emerge and when you do you are always turned around and on another block trying to find your way back. To that same end, i am starting to get used to the fact that even the smaller venues have coat checks. These things are foreign to me as coats in Houston are merely a fashion statement, not a necessity. 

My name was on the list. I was handed a ticket and a Ram's Head photo pass, bypassed a line of angsty teens and went inside.

This club has concessions. Its like a high school cafeteria and a trendy club rolled into one. You can buy a $9 chicken basket, get a whiskey and coke and in the bathroom you are greeted by a Nigerian trying to pawn expensive tic tacs and hand you a paper towel. "No thanks, I'm here to see punk bands, Ill grab my own paper towel and keep my dollar." I'm torn between liking this novelty and being annoyed of its presence at rock shows. I guess I applaud it being there in a "just in case" scenario, but these guys get annoying, fast. I shouldn't have to punish my bladder because I'm avoiding the fact that you feel you have to tip for using a urinal. The rest of the club is very nice with a spacious floor level with multiple bar areas, upper levels with areas to watch the acts from higher up and flat screen TVs around the whole place broadcasting the show from the stage. A stream from the center vocal mic is blasted into the bathrooms and other secluded areas. 

The view from in front of the barricade felt more like home. P.O.S. was up first. Like always a great performance. Just him and his sample box. The kids were perplexed. I love(d) it. With only a few days left until the most important presidential election in decades, P.O.S. poignant political lyrics seemed right at home. "This is for those of you who know there's more to rap than Lil' Wayne and Jay Z." 

Don't get me wrong, Lil' Wayne is a good guy, after all we shared a psych class together at UH, but Stef and the rest of the Doomtree crew are an amazing group of underground hip hop acts that should not go unnoticed. 

The Devil Wears Prada took the stage next. Worst band name ever? Probably. Seriously though, Anne Hathaway is hot, but this movie was trash. If you re going to name your crappy metal/screamo band after a movie, name it after a good one. Goonies anyone? I mean Anne Hathaway at least gets naked in Havoc so how about that. It's even more tougher...right? A different name couldn't have helped these guys out. Typical bad metal/screamo crap that didn't do anything to separate themselves from the rest of the pack of typical bad metal/screamo acts out there. 

About 4 or so years ago I stumbled upon Saosin somewhere, somehow and really dug it. I loved the vocals and the melodic nature, but things have changed. A few years back original vocalist Anthony Green ditched the group and formed Circa Survive (which has a little less metal and a lot more awesome) leaving Saosin leader-less. Saosin since has acquired a new front-man, but he is obviously not what Green was. In my opinion Green's unique vocal characteristics made Saosin, so it was no surprise when half of the crowd at the show was screaming, "turn up the vocals!". Cove Reber, the new vocalist, seemed upset when he lashed out at the crowd for their request. The music was still there, and while I enjoyed hearing those early songs I dug some years ago, I could not get passed the vocal differences. New Rule: When the front man leaves so does the namesake. NEW BAND!

Underoath headlined this one and actually got the crowd moving. They are good at what they do and are good musicians, but not really for me. I like some of their more melodic stuff (like the earlier Saosin) but when the second vocalist starts screaming wildly they lose it for me. They really need to cut their hair, but hey, its Jesus-like, and makes for good photos. 

Hear This!

I have been tossing the idea around of creating this blog for the past few days. In Houston I was a staff photographer and writer for Houston Music Review, an awesome, DIY music review house that has been reviewing music and shows for almost a decade. Since moving up to Baltimore, Maryland I have recently found myself filling the void by attending, photographing, and reviewing live shows in the area. Baltimore may have its shortcomings, but due to its favorable geographic locale, Baltimore and the surrounding cities make it an excellent hub to see and review live music. I am also researching more customizable wordpress themes (I hope Google doesn't destroy my blogs for saying that) and may eventually move my primary blog and this newer one over. For now it will house my first few reviews from my limited time here. A lot of names were spammed up, but the above (albeit long) title seemed appropriate. 

I usually find myself hunched down, squawking my name into scored plexiglass. The opening band's lower frequencies destroying any chance of being heard, "NO, not the will call list, the press list!" A typical bearded box box office employee offers a blank stare. So is my life.

Please remember I am a photographer by trade, not a writer so if I don't come off as the next Sedaris, don't shoot me. Embrace my oftentimes cynical take on live music today and please let me know what you think.