Fangbase - Reviews

Suffolk Downs Lot, Boston, MA

(Part of the Warped Tour)

Thursday 15th August 2002

Good show. Really about as good as could be for a half-hour set in a madhouse with several simultaneous stages.

Unfortunately the stage area was very crowded with a mostly unenthusiastic bunch who were waiting for the currently huge New Found Glory, who followed the Damned. But the Warped kids are at least more polite than the Zombie kids--nobody yelled anything or threw anything, except for a roll of TP. And Monty scored some points when he tried to wrap himself in a bit, including around his face.

Set list:
Ignite
Democracy
New Rose
Disco Man
Love Song
Amen
Neat Neat Neat
Smash It Up

Ignite was a great start--I hadn't heard this since a terrible version in the Dreadful days. Democracy kept up the momentum, and the people around me mostly seemed to like it. Then, from where I stood, New Rose was lacking something in this atmosphere. It's always sounded good in clubs but maybe it's just too simple and bare-bones a tune for a big stage like this, for an audience that doesn't already love it. From here on it seemed like they'd lost most of the crowd's attention, although I still liked some parts of the set--especially the instrumental bits of Amen. Captain played especially well and seemed to enjoy really playing and adding a lot. Monty really couldn't be heard, unfortunately--but this set list doesn't really focus on the keyboard tunes anyway.

And sorry, but I have to offer one bit of constructive criticism: Dave's shimmy-dancing is barreling over the borderline between camp and embarrassment. Please, get the theremin out there on the next tour and have something to keep Dave busy. (sorry to any of Dave's female fans who like the shimmying, but for our heroes' long-term success, they need to be taken at least a bit seriously. Otherwise, when Dave's looks do eventually go he could be the next Adam Ant :-( )

Natural D

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Paul Kray for these photos!