Where to begin... this show was one of the worst I've seen in quite a while. The crowd was sparse, I guess they all knew something I didn't.
Mosquito to Moscow played almost all new songs and changed the way they played the old ones. What's that all about?? While on stage the guitarist, Travis said something about "keeping it fresh" whatever that means, if that's what they call it, give me stale any day. Somewhere in the middle of a song called "TvNBC" I believe I heard the influence of highschool marching band drum style rearing it's nasty head.
Speaking of highschool, I saw, for the first time a band by the name of The Disclaimers, who are all 15 years old. They were talented for their ages and due to the lack of orriginal material, played a Rancid song in which the bassist really whipped it out. Good for him.
Time 4 Change took the unenergetic vibe left off from Mosquito to Moscow and got the crowd going. How could anyone resist excitement in the presence of Dex, the guitarist, who was bouncing off of the walls (literally). In addition,the lead singer had captivating facials and always a witty remark, and none of the guys could seem to keep their pants up regardless of their belts. (No this isn't a weak reference to the duct tape reading "I'm a daddy" on the drum kit). [ By the way guys what was that all about?] And anyway about the drummer, why does that kid think he needs to get up after every show and mention the webstie. Enough outta' you drummer boy, that's what you've got a lead singer for.
Lastly, Dumbstruck took the stage. It was getting past The Disclaimers' bedtimes so they and their parents left, leaving about twenty people in the crowd. Dumbstruck played well enough until nearing the end when things basically stalled. Asking for requests a few kids called out for "The Mullet Song" at which point the lead singer admitted his hatred for the song in saying "It wakes me up at night in a cold sweat." This is when I think to myself "Yeah, me too, I wish I'd never heard it." After what seems to me like an eternity they played the song and everyone went home happy. Except for Dumbstruck who started off a national tour in Albuquerque to a less than enthusiastic handful of kids. But who cares, because as the lead singer yelled to a small crowd of kids and their mothers "Albuquerque Rocks!" I realized that Dumbstruck isn't just the name of thier band... it's a way of life.