Concert Review
So, first things first. I’ll give a review of the concert we went to last night.
The lineup was: Hot Rod Circuit, Less Than Jake, New Found Glory and Good Charlotte. Of the four bands, I’d never heard of Hot Rod Circuit.
We arrived a few minutes late, and missed a couple of songs by HRC. They were (to me) a pop/power-punk blend. Nothing of what I saw of their set stood out more than anything else. But, the kids (Klumpen and her two friends) seemed to enjoy it.
After a quick stage change, LTJ was up next. I’ve heard the name of the band, but hadn’t heard any of their music prior to the concert. Their set was a very lively one. Visually entertaining, as well as a good listen. At one point, the horn section (one trombone player and one sax player) were armed with leaf blowers with a “special” toilet paper attachment, which they used to T.P. the crowd. They also had several inches of confetti rain down upon the stage. T he singers had a good patter going with the crowd as well. Again, nothing that really stood out in my mind, but I enjoyed them.
The next intermission between bands was a little longer, and the kids went to purchase their overpriced t-shirts and such. I didn’t feel uneasy about letting them roam without me, because the crowd was definitely leaning to the under 21 side. And the police/security presence was highly visible too.
Third for the night was NFG. I’d heard at least one or two of their songs, so knew what to expect. I must be getting old, because everything sounded the same to me. The only song I recognized was “My Friends Over You”, which they saved until last. The crowd loved them, though, and they had a huge amount of energy. We were on our feet through their whole set. Although they’re not my new favorite band, I’d see them again if presented with the opportunity.
Finally at about 9:30, GC took the main stage. I’m much more familiar with them. B & I first saw them sometime back in 1999(?), when they played one of the “HFStival” shows put on by the local radio station, WHFS (99.1). Again, though I’m considerably older than most of the fan base, I really enjoyed their set. I recognized most of their songs, and sang along with the majority of them. They kept the pace upbeat, and even during the between song patter, were constantly in motion. I’d definitely go see them again with Klumpen.
The worst (or best, depending on your point of view) was the 40 minutes it took us to get out of the Patriot Center parking lot. The kids talked to everyone walking by and were generally silly. I just wanted the ringing in my ears to stop! (Forgot the earplugs.)
Klumpen says I didn’t embarrass her, and everyone had a good time, so the tix were worth the money.