Reggie and the Full Effect:
Being unfamiliar with this band detracted from the performance I think. I get the feeling their music is more enjoyable after a few listens. Despite that, it was very fun, and the only act I was in the center of the pit for the whole time. Now, at the beginning, there were a million 12 year old girls all in the front, but after I'd guess 3 songs or so, the majority had fled to safer areas and so only the most hardcore twelve year olds were down there by then. Still, they didn't know how to mosh well and unfortunately since they're so short most of their elbows were right in my kidney. It was more leaning and pushing than anything else though. It was fun though. They played a very short set though, probably around 30 minutes. Despite the length I was thoroughly worn out by the end though. I enjoyed it.
Alkaline Trio:
The band I came to see didn't disappoint, but the venue did a little. The sound in the pit was not very good and I can honestly say I'm listening to this CD louder than the music down there was. That was very disappointing, but I still sang along and had as much fun as was possible with them. There was a good mix of old and new in the set, judging from the fact that I didn't know about 1/3 of the songs they played. The second guitarist they brought in added a lot to the music too. Unfortunately, the crowd was also a little dead by the middle of the set, mainly because in the 30 minute or so transition between sets, they decided to crowd surf and mosh to...I don't even know. They were moshing to the nearly inaudible music before Alkaline Trio came on, so by the middle of the set it was pretty tame. Except for up front. I was pretty beat by then though because all the little kids there have no pit ettiquette, so I was the only one picking kids up when they fell, and I was damn tired because of it, so I hung more towards the back of the pit. Nonetheless, great show. I want to see them at a better venue and as headliners, because I'm sure the show could be so much better than it already was.
My Chemical Romance:
So I hung back above the pit for this one, and really I can't say I regret it. The "pit" was a bunch of little girls waving their hands in the air and idolizing the band. The crowd itself was static minus the handwaving, and it reminded me more of a pop concert than a rock concert really. Especially with the dance beats the drummer was hitting in the background. The band itself wasn't actually that bad, though I'll never like their vocals. Gerard was pretty good at talking to the crowd too, though it was a little odd...("Look at the sky and say 'Hi Grandma'"?) But the band was pretty decent, though I did leave early. If you liked the music though, I can envision it being a good show, I just didn't like the music.