REVIEW
 |
NOVEMBER 5, 2004 FRIDAY, Doors: 6:30 $10 @ Laser Tag A Dying Melody (Narin, ON) A Room Without A View (?) The Suits (St. Thomas, ON) 1 game of laser tag
|
Ok - this one is going to be a quickie since it's being written over a week after the fact. Also, I must admit the last two bands didn't do much for me so anyone who wants to properly describe the sound of these bands is encouraged to send me a review.
I heard about it weeks earlier at the Circle Takes the Square show but disregarded it because it only had three bands and was $10. By the time the show rolled around, I couldn't resist it and I had promised Brett from The Suits that I'd come so I could get some of the new stuff he released.
It was a strange environment that I'd never been in before, but I adjusted quickly. I couldn't get anyone to come with me because of the price so I showed up alone. I was pleased to see the Suits, and even more pleased when I saw some kids I knew cause then I knew the show wouldn't be completely uncomfortable for me.
The Suits were playing first and it seemed like forever before they played. When they did though, there were enough fans that showed up that we had a pretty fair-sized pit going on for them. In fact, during the first song I collided heads with someone else and my head is still sore from it over a week later. They rocked and rocked and rocked with a set filled with their ska-core originals as well as covers of the Misfits and Leftover Crack. Brett also described the meanings of some of the songs like Ignorance, a song against racism, homophobia, etc... and a new song about George Bush. This was also my first time seeing them with their new guitarist. The energy embodied in that set was awesome. And it couldn't possibly have been matched by what was to come.
The rest of the show to me was nowhere near as exciting. It's not that the last two bands weren't good. Both bands played well and gave their all to their set. The singer for the last band was energetic as hell jumping all over the place. However, there just wasn't the same type of fanbase that The Suits had and I guess a lot of the people who were into what they were doing might not have been the type of folks to dance their asses off. Many of the people just stood (including myself) and I actually felt bad because I hate for good bands to go away feeling like the scene here is a bore.
At the end of the night I stood around outside for a bit listening to metalcore being played by a person who was loading up equipment, and talking to some friends. I think this venue has potential and certainly has a good set-up for bands to play within. I felt that maybe the last two bands were too loud for the space though. In spite of how far out in the middle of nowhere it was, there was still a great turn-out - which I think demonstrates some pretty good promotion. My only other complaint is the laser tag. I know a lot of people played it, but I had no interest in doing so. I highly recommend having a cheaper show that would enable an even greater turn-out, and no laser tag. Or offer games of it during the show, but not have it mandatory for all. $7 is a better price that I'm sure would attract even more people because if I didn't work fulltime I probably wouldn't have been able to afford to go.
- Stu (November 15, 2004)