December 2006 :: Event Reviews
Event Reviews
Bon Savants
Chris Catania takes in a triple bill of bubbling-under indie talent, headlined by the flamboyant pop of Bon Savants, and leaves the Chicago venue mightily impressed.
Bouncing Souls
The Social, in Orlando, has been frequently offering two-night residencies to bands that can easily sell out the small venue. Booking the bill with big talent and odd packaging, these shows are usually a hot ticket and always memorable. For a holiday treat in December, Bouncing Souls were the band in big letters with hefty support from The Street Dogs, Whole Wheat Bread and World/Inferno Friendship Society. Jen Cray was there for the mayhem on night #2.
Cursive
On the first real cold night of our Florida winter, Cursive came to town with Jeremy Enigk, and The Cops. Jen Cray found the weather to be more enjoyable than some of the music.
Death Cab For Cutie
Appropriately booked at a college campus, Seattle's shoegazers Death Cab For Cutie rolled into Orlando for a crowded show at the UCF Arena. Jen Cray found their inimate sounds rather impersonal inside the too big space.
Hot Chip
The whirlwind electro-pop of Hot Chip, complete with giant glasses and walls of keyboards, makes a convert of our very own Chris Catania. The opening bands weren't half bad either.
Joan Jett
Even this far into her career Joan Jett is all about the music. Why else would she bring two show-stealing bands- Eagles of Death Metal and Riverboat Gamblers- on tour with her? Jen Cray falls into the celebratory atmosphere of one perfect lineup of rock n' roll.
Mute Math
There's a good reason why Mute Math played two consecutive nights during Orlando's Anti-Pop Festival, at The Social... Because, as Jen Cray soon found out, they are one of the greatest live bands touring the club circuit these days.
No Snow Show
The annual O-Rock 105.9 No Snow Show had AFI in top billing with heavy support by Taking Back Sunday, Angels & Airwaves, Buckcherry, Sugarcult, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Kill Hannah. Reporting deep inside the very unwinter weather was Jen Cray.
Patrice Pike
Chris Catania takes in a Chicago concert by Patrice Pike, contestant on the recent "Rock Star Supernova" show, and he ends up seeing a serious performer, and not a one-trick pony, whose career may have been harmed, rather than helped, by reality television exposure.
Silverstein
The Never Shave Again Tour may have had Silverstein with top billing, but as Brittany Sturges found out, it was Aiden who stole the show.
Sparta
When At The Drive In split up, half of the band went on to critical success in The Mars Volta. The other half quietly slipped into a band just as worthy of praise, Sparta. Jen Cray stepped in to pay the band some respect.
The Hold Steady
The Hold Steady are in part known for the copious amounts of alcohol they consume onstage during every performance. How much alcohol can they actually get through in an hour and change? Jen Cray was at their Orlando gig to find out.
