This was my last day of classes after my freshman year of college, and what better way to wind down but go to a rock and roll show. I only have 2 things I need to complain about pertaining to this show however. Death to strobe lights and raging guitar feedback. I have been plagued by panic attacks for a few years now, and nothing is worse than flashing lights that contribute to me having seizures and feedback ringing through your head until it�s about to explode. Nonetheless, this show rocked my sorry ass, and I�m not ashamed to admit it.
I have been running into the pretentious punks left and right these days, but I am fully in a �screw you� mode and don�t care that I enjoyed an alternative rock show. I missed Doozer yet again, and I am curious to see the band of Eric Schrader�s (Grover Dill) brother. I believe that Superbomb Jr. is now called Building a Factory. They�ve changed since I have first seen them. When it was cool to be like Blink 182, they sounded like Blink 182, now that it is cool to sound like Saves the Day, they do. Shaggy haircuts and all, they are heading straight into emo-land. They have improved a sight though, and they are a tight band with good performing abilities. I know they are a bit younger than I am, and though I am 19, I would pass out at the thoughts of playing with big bands at a big club. Again, I think they were the wrong choice for an opener, along with Doozer, a band like Throne, a real rock star band, should have been on the bill, not emo-punk bands.
I had never heard of Handsome Devil before tonight, but nonetheless, I was really impressed by them. Any band that hangs around in the crowd and talks to fans is okay in my book. The thing this band possessed above all was stage presence. They looked cool, sounded great and were funny. Songs like �Samurai� were a big hit with the crowd. Once I heard the band, a few songs definitely sounded familiar. This band was definitely more on the order of Lit, tattooed, crazy hair, and boundless energy. This was a great idea for a touring partner. I watched them after their set talking to little kids out near the pool tables, which was really adorable. I usually won�t talk to bands, but I wanted to talk to these guys, just to make my review a little more interesting and I would have had I felt better.
I would consider Lit a fairly big band, so needless to say I was disappointed in the turn out for the show. They still rocked the house with no consideration for how many people were in attendance. Lit knew exactly what songs to play to keep the crowd enticed. Songs like �Zip-lock� and �Miserable� kept the middle of the set exciting. The Star Spangled Banner was played in between songs as well. Another great moment was the duet between guitarist Jeremy Popoff and singer A. Jay Popoff of an almost acoustic version of �Happy in the Meantime�. Well, it was played on a Telecaster, but there was no distortion, almost acoustic, it�s my new term, use it, love it, live it.
Of course, �My Own Worst Enemy� was saved until the end and the boys from Handsome Devil joined in for it. The thing about Lit is that their lyrics hot home for a lot of people, and so does this song! I may have felt like crap all night, but this was a nice way to end that horrible freshman year.
