What do a sold out show, a drunken alien, and good friends have in common? A damn good time! I admit, I initially didn't want to go to this show, purely because it was going to cost $45 a ticket. Luckily I have a great friend who happened to have 2 extra tickets, that Sherri and I happily procured.
I won't go into too much detail about each band, but I will summarize the events of the night, and hilight the wonderful memories that will stick in my head for years to come.
What: Edge Fall Bowling Ball
When: Sept. 19th, 2001
Where: Bronco Bowl Entertainment
The afternoon began around 4:15 PM with local punkers Bowling for Soup playing their "First ever show on a bowling lane". I have been a big fan of these guys since I heard them play a festival back in my home town with the likes of The Hunger/Kicking Harold/ and Podunk. Oddly enough, BFS's song "Thespian" was written about an incident with a friend of mine's girlfriend at that show. Anyhow, the played a 45 minute set and passed the stage onto another local talent "Jibe" (If you haven't heard them, you should).
We actually skipped this part of the show to go see one of my personal favorite bands Chomsky playing on the mainstage (Inside the Bronco Bowl). I've been to the Bronco Bowl before, but had forgotten what an intimate stage setting it was. There are not really any bad seats in the place, and ironically the only other time I went to a show there, my seat was only 2 places over (N/G/14 opposed to N/G/12) from where I sat Saturday night.
Chomsky led off the "Main Stage" show, and to my surprise played to a relatively small crowd. A few people scattered throughout the seats and a couple of hundred fans in the pit. As always thought they put on a wonderful show. I had seen them a couple of times before, when they were promoting their previous record A Few Possible Selection for the Soundtrack of your Life, though I hadn't heard any of the new stuff from Onwared Quirky Soldiers performed live. Let me just say, Chomsky definitely lives up to the stands they set with Selections. They actually even played a couple of my favorites from the old disc.
My only complaint about Chomsky's set was: The crowd didn't seem to be into the show as much as they could have been.
Next up was 7 Channels. Not really a whole lot I can say about these guys, but 1) The singer was short (like abnormally short) 2) the guitar players were giants (like 8 feet tall it seemed) 3) Their music wasn't too catchy. Truthfully, I don't even like their single "Breathe" yet I kept hoping they would hurry up and play it so I could sing along.
The single most impressive point about these guys was their new guitar player. I can't be sure (because they don't have any info on their website about him), but I think their new guitar player is Killa Ted: previously from local band Beef Jerky and currently of Space Cadet. He is an amazing guitarist, and will hopefully give the band that little nudge they need to "Get their own style".
Flickerstick: Holy shit what can I say about these guys to give them the credit they deserve. I watched them on VH1's Bands On The Run, and had heard of them through some of my local contacts, yet I didn't realize just How amazing they really were until I heard them live. The energy they emit during their performance can only be rivaled by Pink Floyd, and Tripping Daisy. It's not often I hear a band that is so intense, I cannot move. I can only just watch and listen. This is what Flickerstick did to me. And with an appearance of "The Naked Guy" their set could not have gone better.
Brandin,Cory,Rex,Fletcher, and Dominic are 5 guys that deserve every bit of the fame that follows the beautiful music they've blessed the world with, I just hope they don't let that fame get to their heads.
Next up, came a second dose (not to be confused with over-dose) of Bowling for Soup. Not really a whole lot more I can say about these guys but Rock On Honorable Ones.
Lit (the only non-local band at the show) followed BFS. They played such hit's "My Own Worst Enemy", "Miserable", and "Zip-Lock". I enjoy Lit's music, and I must say their performance was on-target. Compared to the last time I heard them (Lubbock, TX-1999) the band has improved 200%. My only qualm with their performance was the sound levels. Obviously their sound guy has seen Spinal Tap one too many times, and taken advantage of the PA system going "To 11".
Last but definately not least.
The Toadies (May they rest in peace, at least until the reunion tour). I must say, I've never been a huge fan of the Toadies. Granted, I like their music, but I haven't got all of their albums, and I haven't really listened to all of their music. Let me just say this: Things Change. I haven't felt a connection to a band like I do the Toadies in a long time, if ever. I shared with them, what 3000+ other fans (who probably feel the same way) shared with them. A Farewell. It wasn't just any run-o-the-mill "good-bye". It was an All out, in your face, stand up and FUCKING rock with US Good Bye, a Death Orgasm if you must. Let's just say, they went out on top in my book.
Oh My! How can I forget the girl that Stole the Show?
Kelsie (sp?), the 17 year old mega talent from Plano, sang her soon to be hit song After Today. Followed by the National Anthem. Might I just say that unlike some of the wanna be pop-divas out there, (ahem... Britney Spears) this young woman has some major talent. Not only a huge voice, but a knack for writing catchy/beautiful songs.
In conclusion, if you happened to make it to this show, I hope you feel as I do. I have a piece of history (although it may be local history) and wonderful memories to fill my thoughts for a long time to come. The only thing that could have made it better, would have been to add The Adventures of Jet, D.A.R.Y.L, The Deathray Davies, and of couse, another one of my personal favorites:Valve.
http://www.adventuresofjet.com
http://www.darylmusic.com
http://www.deathraydavies.com
http://www.valverocks.com