Post by thetheory on May 7, 2006 0:26:22 GMT -5
Overall I don't really consider myself a huge Christian music fan. I definitely like some music which falls into the market, but I don't really like to make a differation between the industries. I just like good music.
So it's really odd that I'd go to two concerts in one week where most of the bands are well known Christian acts. Wednesday night was more of a whim for me... I had the evening free and figured what the heck.
The line-up was an unknown band opening, followed by The Showdown, August Burns Red, and Project 86.
The opening band (who's name I don't care to remember) was just a Deftones rip-off.
The Showdown was the band that caught my attention to the existance of the show in the first place. Their cd had really impressed me when it released and I was curious as to what their live show would be like. It wasn't as great as I thought it could have been... but definitely a lot better than many metal/core groups are. The Showdown have the chops to be amazing... they just need to get over their breakdown fixation. I wasn't impressed with the new material they played.
August Burns Red is a Solid State band... and actually come from my little hometown, so the crowd was extremely prejudiced toward them. I had listened to their cd a few times, but never purchased it, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It turns out they are really super tight live. Much much more technical than I expected. If they can purge their core tendancies as they mature (and lose the emo band name) those kids could be an incredible metal band. This was definitely the show of the evening.
Project86... despite the small club setting they went for the big budget rock show feel, bringing along their own lights to flash into the crowd and everything. I had really stopped listening to P86 after the "Drawing Black Lines" album, although I had hear most of their cds, so I was familiar with most of the material. As great of an album as DBL is, the rest of their material gets really redundant really quick. I found that I only had a vague interest in their set and didn't stick around to see if they encored.
Then on thursday, at the same venue, was a show I had been looking forward to for quite a while. (hint: this time it was the headliner I was excited to see)
Opening band was I think called Clean Falls or something. Average local band indie rock. Main upside was the cute violin player.
Twelve O One is also local, but they've been developing a good reputation around here for their great live shows. They always surprise me each time I see them at how good they are. You could peg them into the emo/indie thing... but their guitar players are too good and too creative to limit their fan base. I'm interested as to what a full length would sound like from them.
Cordova (or something like that) is not local, nor are they Christian. Their music was boring attitude rock. But their set was entertaining simply for the between song banter.
Movies With Heroes is another local band that is doing well for themselves outside of the Central PA scene, getting good reviews in major magazines and all that jazz. I loved their lastest cd and their live set is super solid. I've seen better from them than this one, though.
Lastly, and most important:
mewithoutYou. I've seen mwY quite a few times over the years, and while none of the shows have topped that first experience, they are all definitely an experience. This show was notable because they played 3 new songs (one which they debuted live for the first time) from their upcoming album. The songs are excellent and make me glad to be alive.
So it's really odd that I'd go to two concerts in one week where most of the bands are well known Christian acts. Wednesday night was more of a whim for me... I had the evening free and figured what the heck.
The line-up was an unknown band opening, followed by The Showdown, August Burns Red, and Project 86.
The opening band (who's name I don't care to remember) was just a Deftones rip-off.
The Showdown was the band that caught my attention to the existance of the show in the first place. Their cd had really impressed me when it released and I was curious as to what their live show would be like. It wasn't as great as I thought it could have been... but definitely a lot better than many metal/core groups are. The Showdown have the chops to be amazing... they just need to get over their breakdown fixation. I wasn't impressed with the new material they played.
August Burns Red is a Solid State band... and actually come from my little hometown, so the crowd was extremely prejudiced toward them. I had listened to their cd a few times, but never purchased it, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It turns out they are really super tight live. Much much more technical than I expected. If they can purge their core tendancies as they mature (and lose the emo band name) those kids could be an incredible metal band. This was definitely the show of the evening.
Project86... despite the small club setting they went for the big budget rock show feel, bringing along their own lights to flash into the crowd and everything. I had really stopped listening to P86 after the "Drawing Black Lines" album, although I had hear most of their cds, so I was familiar with most of the material. As great of an album as DBL is, the rest of their material gets really redundant really quick. I found that I only had a vague interest in their set and didn't stick around to see if they encored.
Then on thursday, at the same venue, was a show I had been looking forward to for quite a while. (hint: this time it was the headliner I was excited to see)
Opening band was I think called Clean Falls or something. Average local band indie rock. Main upside was the cute violin player.
Twelve O One is also local, but they've been developing a good reputation around here for their great live shows. They always surprise me each time I see them at how good they are. You could peg them into the emo/indie thing... but their guitar players are too good and too creative to limit their fan base. I'm interested as to what a full length would sound like from them.
Cordova (or something like that) is not local, nor are they Christian. Their music was boring attitude rock. But their set was entertaining simply for the between song banter.
Movies With Heroes is another local band that is doing well for themselves outside of the Central PA scene, getting good reviews in major magazines and all that jazz. I loved their lastest cd and their live set is super solid. I've seen better from them than this one, though.
Lastly, and most important:
mewithoutYou. I've seen mwY quite a few times over the years, and while none of the shows have topped that first experience, they are all definitely an experience. This show was notable because they played 3 new songs (one which they debuted live for the first time) from their upcoming album. The songs are excellent and make me glad to be alive.