I really hate that i don't take pictures at concerts I go to, but it's a policy of mine. I'm there for the music and the experience, not as a photographer, but this post is going to be rather difficult without the photo proof of the experience. Me and "the gang" with a few lineup changes headed to Asheville's The Orange Peel to catch this one. Concert started actually on time at 8 PM.
First up was The Becoming. I don't have much to say about them, except their sampler/keys/synth dude had a sweet set-up and they probably get this guy to do their hair. The different elements of their music by themselves were ok, but together, at least live, it didn't jive well. After listening to their music on myspace, I'm disappointed by the live show, the few good things about them didn't shine through at all, and that singer got on my nerves. Lower voice, similar to demon hunter, but devoid of all dynamic ability. OH! yea, I forgot. I swear the bassist (I think) had a tattoo of OJ Simpson on his left wrist. This band is from Nashville, just signed to Tooth and Nail, and according to them, just made it to #1 on Christian Charts. This surprised me, cause I get an email weekly with a readout of all the chart crap that way I don't have to listen to the radio to know what's "hot", yet I had never heard of these guys. They aren't anywhere on Billboard, iTunes, or Christianrock.net. After some searching, I found some chart I'm not familiar with that verily, had them listed at #1 with "Your Love" (Red @ 2, which is what I thought was #1). Go figure. Their current album, Volume I is now available.
Next, it was time for me to be frustrated. After seeing Between the Trees with Rene Yohe from TWLOHA in Greenville, I was amazed by their live performance. So I dug out their album from the massive iTunes library and gave it a re-listen and was reminded why I had ditched the band in the first place. To me, the album goes in a direction musically that this band isn't meant for. It's hard to explain, maybe these guys just need to go make a live album, but I don't feel the energy and earnestness on the album that I get live. I feel they're ok on the album, but live, the music is fuller, the vocals better (Lead Ryan Kirkland is amazing),the message clearer, and the energy far more apparent. I understand that's natural because you're actually seeing them perform, but this band still remains a mystery to me with their studio vs. live difference. Bonus points for the band being apparent diehard Florida gator fans. All but one member was decked out in Florida gear and post-concert meet and greet was postponed til the game ended. Between the Trees has a new album coming out this year... I hope the album is different than the last one, but if it isn't, I'll just have to catch them next time they come through town.
I would have left for Madina Lake had I not been stuck in the crowd. They are one of the things I hate most in music (alongside cheap popular R&B tunes made on garage band). They represent to me that brand of sub-emo punk that is embodied by bands such as My Chemical Romance, The Used, and formerly, Fall Out Boy. Their music is written decently and their ambitious concept of the fictional town of Madina Lake fits together and permits their views a musical portal. I'll admit that their performance was good, and the lead knows how to get the crowd going with invitations to take "whatever the hell is bothering you and release it". Mosh pit ensues and then comes one of the most stunning performances of the evening. Like CIA trained lifeguards, Orange Peel security breaks up what could have been an (awesome) disaster considering the blend of people at the concert and packed-ness of the venue. I'm not hatin' on Madonna Lake (my new fav nick for a band), but I can not respect their music and what they stand for--I AM hatin' on whoever signed them to this concert. Even while they were playing I tried to figure it out. At first I thought it may have been a one time thing, but Madina Lake and Between the Trees is touring with Anberlin throughout this tour. Then I thought maybe Madina Lake is also signed with Universal, Anberlin's new label, but Madina Lake is signed to Roadrunner Records which is a subsidy of Warner. There is no label connection. Their match up with Anberlin is lamentable. You expect to hear the stylings of the headliner band in the openers. This was apparent with The Becoming, and Between the Trees and Anberlin being fairly close as far as bands go. But Madina Lake represents something on the opposite side of the spectrum (they've toured with Linkin Park and cite Trent Reznor as an influence). Their music also comes from a completely different breed of post-grunge rock. Anberlin is from the home of modern alternative pop-rock (central Florida) while Madina Lake comes from the heavily pop-punk influenced hardcore scene. If you still doubt that Anberlin and Madina Lake are polar opposites, take this: Madina Lake appeared on the show Fear Factor in 2005 eating cow innards and hanging from helicopters to pay for their demo album.
Next, it was time for me to be frustrated. After seeing Between the Trees with Rene Yohe from TWLOHA in Greenville, I was amazed by their live performance. So I dug out their album from the massive iTunes library and gave it a re-listen and was reminded why I had ditched the band in the first place. To me, the album goes in a direction musically that this band isn't meant for. It's hard to explain, maybe these guys just need to go make a live album, but I don't feel the energy and earnestness on the album that I get live. I feel they're ok on the album, but live, the music is fuller, the vocals better (Lead Ryan Kirkland is amazing),the message clearer, and the energy far more apparent. I understand that's natural because you're actually seeing them perform, but this band still remains a mystery to me with their studio vs. live difference. Bonus points for the band being apparent diehard Florida gator fans. All but one member was decked out in Florida gear and post-concert meet and greet was postponed til the game ended. Between the Trees has a new album coming out this year... I hope the album is different than the last one, but if it isn't, I'll just have to catch them next time they come through town.
I would have left for Madina Lake had I not been stuck in the crowd. They are one of the things I hate most in music (alongside cheap popular R&B tunes made on garage band). They represent to me that brand of sub-emo punk that is embodied by bands such as My Chemical Romance, The Used, and formerly, Fall Out Boy. Their music is written decently and their ambitious concept of the fictional town of Madina Lake fits together and permits their views a musical portal. I'll admit that their performance was good, and the lead knows how to get the crowd going with invitations to take "whatever the hell is bothering you and release it". Mosh pit ensues and then comes one of the most stunning performances of the evening. Like CIA trained lifeguards, Orange Peel security breaks up what could have been an (awesome) disaster considering the blend of people at the concert and packed-ness of the venue. I'm not hatin' on Madonna Lake (my new fav nick for a band), but I can not respect their music and what they stand for--I AM hatin' on whoever signed them to this concert. Even while they were playing I tried to figure it out. At first I thought it may have been a one time thing, but Madina Lake and Between the Trees is touring with Anberlin throughout this tour. Then I thought maybe Madina Lake is also signed with Universal, Anberlin's new label, but Madina Lake is signed to Roadrunner Records which is a subsidy of Warner. There is no label connection. Their match up with Anberlin is lamentable. You expect to hear the stylings of the headliner band in the openers. This was apparent with The Becoming, and Between the Trees and Anberlin being fairly close as far as bands go. But Madina Lake represents something on the opposite side of the spectrum (they've toured with Linkin Park and cite Trent Reznor as an influence). Their music also comes from a completely different breed of post-grunge rock. Anberlin is from the home of modern alternative pop-rock (central Florida) while Madina Lake comes from the heavily pop-punk influenced hardcore scene. If you still doubt that Anberlin and Madina Lake are polar opposites, take this: Madina Lake appeared on the show Fear Factor in 2005 eating cow innards and hanging from helicopters to pay for their demo album.
Anberlin was everything I expected. Not really anything more than, but they did fulfill my best hopes for their show. I believe the started out with "Day Late Friend" and worked from there. They played a good mix of songs from their career, which made me happy because some of the songs on their latest album, "New Surrender" were half-baked. As much as I have written about the other bands, I amazingly don't have that much to say about Anberlin, which may be a testament to how much I enjoyed it. For everyone but Anberlin, I focused on the music, performance, and show (except for when me and Jordan made fun of bands). I let myself go during Anberlin's concert, which is the first time I've done such since a Nickelback concert 2 years ago. I can't recite the set list, but I do remember "Disappear" standing out in my mind as one of the best songs of the evening.I had mentioned during the show that I had hoped they would play either "*Fin" or "Miserabile Visu" but doubted it as they relied heavily on sampling and were longer almost alternative styled art rock pieces. After the last song (which I've already forgotten what it was), there was the usual call for an encore, which was honored with "*Fin". I could write this song it's own post, but I'll spare you that travesty. It is safe to say that the moment provided definition and closure to the evening.
All in all, this was one of the best concerts I have been to in at least a year. The music was good, the emotion good, and company was bar none the best in town. Other than Madina Lake, I feel on the same level with where these bands were coming from and I look forward to seeing Between the Trees and Anberlin in the future.
I'm working on a decent concert rating system, so bear with me. I'm digging this one I came up with, but it requires higher math for me to figure out the overall score.
Overall: 94
Venue: 18
Opening Band(s): 18
Set List: 19
Band Connection: 20
Band Energy/Intensity/Showmanship: 19
ConcertGoer Energy/Intensity: 20
Sound Quality: 19
Set and Lighting Design (SLD): 17
Lasting Value: 19
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