A Musical Road Trip To End All Road Trips. (Or, I Have Seen The Future Of Rock And Roll, And Her Name Might Be Hayley Williams. Maybe.)- Part 1.

So, I am glad to be back in the RHT fold. I've missed being random on these pages, but I had a task I just had to undertake. I decided to take a vacation from my brand new job, and go on a 2 week concert road trip. Mapping out stops in Charlotte, Akron, Boston, Athens (GA.), And back to Charlottesville. I was armed with my amazing fashion sense, critical musical awareness, pretty much my life's savings, and my lifelong friend Maria (who came along against her will...umm....thanks?) to keep me grounded, and make sure that I didn't kill myself, or anyone else. What compelled me to do this? I've got no clue, and I'm pretty sure I might be fired. But I think I did it for RHT. And here's the rundown:

Charlotte, NC: Cold War Kids, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Family Force 5 -

So, upon arriving in North Carolina, I want to throw up. I generally dislike NC, and the fact that I was kind of close to Duke university was enough to ruin my life. But, Cold War Kids, the band that I consider to be the new next wave of band to take over everything is here. And I vowed to see them this year. We go to a small town outside of Charlotte which is the basic hippie town of the area. Maria and I, both hippies, are in our element. We're anti-establishment, but also both drug free, so I think we raised eyebrows when turning down some of the goods, but once we again established how anti-everything we were, we get props, and are well on our way. Lady asks if we're a couple. I joke that we are. Lady shows us rugs for when we fake move in together and picks out a "romantic" one. Lady is old, and sweet, so I buy a 50.00 rug that nor Maria and I will ever use, but it goes in the back of the car.
(Maria's irritation level: 2)

On to the show...it's a small venue, which is always good for me, as I'm anti-arena rock with a passion. It's a small packed venue, and hot, and sticky...which I don't entirely mind, but I kind of mind. The first act is Atlanta's own Family Force 5. These guys were interesting, but fun. They're apparently a Christian band, which was odd, since they were sharing a bill with one band who's last hit song was about murder, and another band who's last hit was about sex...but they're riding a current hit about having dance fever....so it all comes out in the wash. They're also criticized roundly by Christian music critics for their music, but that's neither here nor there. Lead singer Solomon Olds (or "Soul Glow Activatur" as he's called) was the thief of the night, stealing the show entirely. During the aforementioned hit song ("Fever"), the band bought a slip n' slide on the stage, got some water and slid around while playing. I'm usually not a fan of such theatrics, but it lifted the spirits in the room. They played a short set, which was the only way that I remembered that it wasn't their show. Next was what I had waited for...The Cold War kids are amazing, first of all. The first album ("Robbers & Cowards") is a new classic, and if you haven't heard it, do it. It may go down as one of the best albums post 2000 era. Now, since that was their debut, in classic form, the follow up ("Loyalty To Loyalty") fell flat. It's currently getting abused by critics (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/145813-cold-war-kids-loyalty-to-loyalty), and fans alike. Personally, I didn't like it, but I have accepted sophomore slumps as a way of life in music (See Blog: Your Second Album Will Probably Ruin My Life.) But, nonetheless, I think, much like the subject of that blog, Bloc Party, Cold War Kids will bounce back, and be the new White Stripes. With better drumming.

This show, however, did nothing to prove that fact. They fell flat. Hard. Bringing out about 6 additional members to a 5 member band on a crammed stage didn't help. Note to dude playing the trashcans over there: Hey. We get it. You're edgy and unique. But I can't hear the damn vocals because you seem to think that this is Stomp. Give it a rest. There were high points. An emotion rendition of the song Hospital Beds really struck me. With frontman Nathan Willet playing piano, and guitarist Matt Aviero laying on said piano...I'm a sucker for theatrics. I think they mostly fell flat because they played mostly new material, and it just doesn't do it. For anyone. Every Man I Fall For is a decent new track, solely because it reverses gender roles, but I don't think the more ummm..."country" part of the crowd thought that deeply about the song, and it's gender bendish lyrics ("Every man I fall for/drinks his coffee black/love and hate are tattooed on his knuckles/And my name is on his back".....? Seriously?), and most people lost interest. I felt like the CWK just threw in the towel midway through. They did have a nice sing along session when they did a cover of Kings Of Leon's "Molly's Chamber", which was a brilliant choice. Maria, upset that they didn't play her favorite song ("Old St. John"), or her second favorite song ("Sermon vs. The Gospel") or her third favorite song ("Hair Down"...which is actually my favorite), sulks and goes to get a drink until Yeah Yeah Yeahs come out.

Karen O is more of a rock star than anyone, ever. At least you'd think that. Yeah Yeah Yeahs (from now on in this blog, referred to as YYY) have the pedigree. They're from New York, and clawed to the top of that scene, so playing in NC should be nothing. Right? Right?? I think what it comes down to is that they were just not used to headlining, and there was no ceiling on Karen. She's a performer where if you don't get a lid on her, she'll do her Siouxsie Sioux thing, and just overshadow her band. Which, tonight meant rolling around on stage in (canola?) oil during "Rich" and "Y Control", as guitarist Nick Zinner gets his "this is just a paycheck" look that we've all seen so many times in Charlie Watts. In short, all this show told me was that YYY are probably breaking up after their new album comes out in January, and I think everyone in the room could sense at least that.

The highlight of this show: At the end, members of all of the bands came on stage to pay homage to what is now known as the "saddest day in indie rock", or the day that Sleater-Kinney broke up, and Karen O, Nick Zinner, Nathan Willet, and some of FF5 paid a great tribute by doing a rousing cover of "Entertain", which ended the night on a good note. The note turned bad, however, when true to form, I lost the hotel key. Eventually was found. And we're off.
(Maria irritation level: 4)

Akron, OH: The Black Keys-

So, I'm back in Ohio, taking in garage rock revival, and checking out The Black Keys in their hometown. Turn my phone off due to outrageous requests. To all my friends: No, I'm not coming to Columbus to visit. I love all of you, but I'm on a mission. I don't show up at your roadtrips, so lets keep this honest. Guilt gets the best of me. Drive to Columbus for a few hours before the show, and get caught up longer than I want to, but make Maria happy, because she can see her family. Family asks when the two of us are getting married, and I show them the rug for our fake house for when we fake move in together after we fake fall in love and get married. Maria is amused, Dad is amused, Mom is confused. We roll to Akron, taking with us 4 more friends than we came down with the first time, as long as they promised to drive separately and not hit on random girls. 5 minutes into Akron, one of those promises fell flat. The show is packed beyond belief, and since I decided to come late, after going to Columbus, we are way in the back. Maria pokes me every time I give her an "I told you so look", and the looks are frequent, so the pokes get harder. I will never stop though. So, here's the thing. If you've never had the pleasure of seeing a band in their hometown, you're missing out. The Keys came out with fire, intensity and excitement. They opened up with about a 10 minute jam session that called to everything from old blues to new garage rock. There's only drums and guitar here, but it's just so loud, you can't believe it. The set was filled with energy, and complete with every concert shenanigan ever. They chose a decent amount of cover songs, which was interesting. Nada Surf's "Popular" made the cut, and I was shocked when I was only about 4 people were singing along. I feel old. I am reassured that I'm not, it's just that despite the ironic title, Nada Surf was indeed never popular, so no one remembers that song. Singer Dan Auerbach then drooled all over QOTSA's/Eagles of Death Metal's Josh Homme, and they proceeded to cover both "Feel Good Hit Of The Summer" and "Go With The Flow", which more people got involved with. They then attempted a rough cover of "Acadian Driftwood" by the Band, which only fell flat because, well....there's only two of them, and keys are such a vital part of that song. Since this is Maria's favorite Band song, she feels cheated, but perks up when for the first time, she hears a favorite of hers, when The Keys break into "The Lengths", a romantic, wistful song that makes her cry 99% of the time. (The lyrics "Hold me now/or never ever hold me again" are what does it, I think.), which also makes me happy, not because she's crying, but because this is the first opportunity in which I see lighters in the air at a concert, and I get to go on my "Thank God we're getting away from that stupid cell phone in the place of lighters trend" rant, as I find a lighter and do the honors. The show closes out with a 15 minute version of "10 a.m. automatic" in which in a surprise, they were joined by Arctic Monkey's band member Matt Helders.

Highlight of this show: I. Met. Chrissie. Hynde. Period. I mean, it was more like autograph, shake hand, and tell her "You are amazing"....but that counts, right? In my more dull moment, I wondered aloud why she was there, and Maria hits me on the head and reminds me that she is not only from Akron, but graduated from the same high school as The Keys. Drive back to Columbus, and say goodbyes. Moving on....

(Maria irritation level: 1)

Boston, MA: My Chemical Romance (MCR), Taking Back Sunday (TBS) -

Things that happened on the drive to Boston that may or may not have pissed Maria off. Well, first off, we realized that we left her camera in Columbus. And by "We", I definitely mean "Me". Also, in my attempt to be kind and find a new camera for her, we also ran out of gas, setting us back, and making us stay at a hotel which can only be described as dodgy. So.

(Maria irritation level: 7)

Despite my aversions to Boston, I wanted this show. Look, I don't hate Boston. I just got tired of all of my Irish friends from Boston (count: 3) who love only 2 things: Boondock Saints, and Flogging Molly (actually, the lead singer of Flogging Molly went on to start the band Streetdogs, with great success. Side note is that Streetdogs were playing at a festival in Boston during the day, and due to our gas issue, we missed this festival, knocking Maria up to an 8 at this point.) But, nonetheless, this show was dubbed the concert of the once great band (TBS), and the might be great band, but I am not sure yet (MCR). I mean, The Black Parade was a masterpiece, but it was above MCR's station. And TBS....well they released a classic debut, and haven't been the same ever since. So, I went into this with mixed feelings. MCR has long stopped with their Black Parade theatrics that were wearing thin. I mean, how long can anyone get away with wearing full army attire in shows?

And it's a good thing, as this venue was not made for this. Playing a small show in a small club after coming off of their Black Parade theatrics was just what MCR needed, and just what I needed, as I haven't seen them since warped tour in about 2004, when Gerard Way went on his infamous "anti-emo" rant, and alienated every 15 year old girl on the planet (setting the stage for The Black Parade early? hmm....), and since they now have discovered Queen, and have critical acclaim to back them up, I figured I should give them a try. And I haven't seen TBS since 2002, when they were still good, and I have since swore them off, and told myself I would never see them again. I walk into this venue with caution on my back, and a pissed off girl on my arm. Formula for a good night.

First off, let me say this. Taking Back Sunday still has it. It's just hard when the best song of your career is the first song on your first album, and it's all downhill from there. And, true to form, they started out with that song ("You Know How I Do"), and let the slide start. But, here's the thing...it never really did. Lyrically, you have to love lines like "Crush me baby, I'm all ears", "I've got so good at setting bad examples", "Make sure that you're seen With a girl on your arm and your heart on your sleeve", and "If it wasn't for you, this scene would have no muse". I mean, it's emo for emo's sake. And we've grown with them, so it was all about 21-27 year olds at this show, just waiting for a taste of what used to be good about TBS. And I think we got it. Maria showed signs of life when they played "You're So Last Summer" as she screamed the lyrics "Boys like you are a dime a dozen", seemingly at me, but probably at the kid with the emo swoop next to me. At least that's what I tell myself. The song "Twenty Twenty Surgery" got a bit dramatic when frontman Adam Lazarra did his umm....trademark swinging of the mic (still? after like 6 years? let it go dude...please. This guy knocked himself out with the mic at Warped Tour in '04. So, do we admire his persistence? maybe...), and hit the drum set, but the drummer did recover well. TBS closed out the show with a cover of MCR's "Helena", which I thought was tacky, but everyone else loved, and on comes the Chemical boys. Despite the fact that they've dropped the Black Parade sideshow, there's still something dark about My Chem. They played almost an entire show in darkness, and for a band trying to shed their Black Parade image, starting a set with that exact song wasn't smart, but I love the track, so I was all for it. Emo (sorry, Gerard) theatrics were in full effect, with dueling guitars and dramatic lead singer posing. Here's the thing. For as much as MCR wants to forget the Black Parade, Gerard Way still, and maybe always will think that he's Freddie Mercury. So, they will always have that. The only difference I saw was that they weren't wearing the stupid army gear. But, I also saw a much more musically technical band. Yeah, Frank Iero thinks he's Brian May, and give me a break, and bla, bla, bla. But whatever works. I can't say much about the songs they played, because I was watching most of the show in awe, feeling like I was watching a band that has risen above it's prior station, and is ready to have a serious impact on rock. If only they could do it without the platform of a concept to hide behind. I mean, I liked the Black Parade concept as much as anyone else, but strip that down, and what did they have on this last album? I'm ready for them to step forward. On the way out, I purchase new camera for Maria, and jam on the street with some random guy who had a harmonica and a keyboard.

Highlight of show: Further going into my theory that MCR is the new Cure, the boys did a cover of both "Mint Car" and "Fascination Street" that were upbeat and spooky at the same time.

(Maria irritation level: 0)

Tune in tomorrow for the conclusion of my road trip. And it's good to be back.