October 19, 2004
@ The El Rey, Los Angeles
After careful deliberation I made my choice: I was going. So we arrived as the Red Sparrows finished their set. Totally atmospheric band and more compelling than some of the other acts. While waiting for Misery Signals to set up I looked around and marveled at the size of the El Rey. So Misery Signals came and went...nothing special. Zao was up next and they have always been a band that sparked my interest. From what I've heard they are heavy as fuck with a vocalist who sounds like he belongs in a black metal band. The catch is that they are an openly Christian hardcore band...Jesus freaks.There were tons of Zao disciples in the crowd who went crazy. I was digging their set for the most part but got pissed off when the singer (whos pretty damn short to begin with) kept dropping to his knees during songs and refused to get up. Maybe he was praying onstage? Maybe it helps him with his shrieks...but all I know is it made him all but impossible to see and appear lazy in the process.
So here is where I officially eat crow. Every Time I Die, the band I love to hate came onstage and blew me away. Yes, I still think the singer is an annoying, pompous asshole. Their musicianship hasnt improved and their songs are hardly rocket science... and the way they dress still irks me but when they are playing live it all comes together somehow and are infectious if not flat out fun. When they opened with AC/DC's "thunderstruck" I knew I was in for a pleasant surprise. The place went nuts for ETID and I'd say about half the crowd was there for them and them alone.
Finally after a loooooong wait inbetween sets The Dillinger Escape Plan took the stage. Sadly they were missing one of their guitarists and try as hard as his replacement did, this still had a negative affect on their set. Of course Dillinger on an off day is still better than most bands on their best. They opened wth "Panisonic Youth" and once again played a crap load of songs off Miss Machine. The crowd seemed a bit puzzled watching the band go to work. The DEP's music isnt exactly moshable and lacks the simplistic breakdowns for kung-fu dancing. Instead their brand of insanely complex music makes you want to spasm and flail around as franticly as the band members do. That being said, all the Zao kids and ETID hipsters were at a loss. Everyone sang along during "Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants," stomped each others brains out to "43% Burn" and some kid fell on me during the 'hush baby DONT SAY A WORD!" part of "The Running Board." I'd have to say the highlights of the night were "When Good Dogs Do Bad Things" and "Baby's First Coffin." All in all it was a fun night. Every Time I Die has been crossed off my enemies list (for the time being) and Dillinger proved once again they are untouchable and seeing them again was well worth my wacky trip into hardcore land.