Where's The Band? tour

[Evan]

I caught the kickoff date of the "Where's The Band" tour last night. Anthony Raneri from Bayside, Chris Conley from Saves The Day, Matt Pryor from The Get Up Kids/The New Amsterdams, and Dustin Kensrue from Thrice. Absolutely fucking unbelievable.

I'm not super familiar with Bayside, and Anthony didn't play the three songs of theirs I do know, but he did a pretty stellar cover of "If You Had A Bad Time" by Alkaline Trio, and "Megan" by Smoking Popes.

The four Saves The Day songs I wanted to hear more than anything ("This Is Not An Exit," "Sell My Old Clothes," "Driving In The Dark" and "Nightingale") were the first songs Conley played. And he went on to remind me why I love every Saves The Day album so damn much--the man doesn't write bad songs.

Matt Pryor did NOT want to play any Get Up Kids material. Most of his songs were from his new solo album, and sounded great.
Heckler: "This next song better be a Get Up Kids song!"
Matt: "You'd...better be disappointed!"
(later...)
Matt: "How many emo kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Fuck 'em, let 'em cry in the dark!"

I think Thrice is one of the most innovative and interesting bands currently producing music; that said, I haven't listened to their stuff in awile. Dustin's set blew me away. He's got such a phenomenal voice, either for the edgy performances of Thrice songs scattered throughout, his own folkified, rootsy originals, or his inspired covers (the Boss's "Atlantic City" and "Round Here" by Counting Crows, among others). Whatever your opinions on his band, check out his solo EP, "Please Come Home"--totally different, not trying to be innovative or original, just heartfelt acoustic music.


Jan 21 - The House Cafe DeKalb, IL
Jan 22 - Union Ballroom East Lansing, MI
Jan 23 - The Basement Columbus, OH
Jan 24 - Mr. Smalls Pittsburgh, PA
Jan 25 - Grog Shop Cleveland, OH
Jan 27 - Hi-Tone Cafe Memphis, TN
Jan 28 - Rocketown Nashville, TN
Jan 29 - The Mad Hatter Covington, KY
Jan 30 - Pike Room @ the Crofoot Pontiac, MI
Jan 31 - Subterranean Chicago, IL

[Matt Jones]

I mean, I respect that Matt Pryor wants to move on and do new stuff, but really. The people aren't there to see just the new stuff, throw them a bone, play one or two TGUK songs. There has to be a couple he liked.

[parock]

I feel like I would have to shave my pubes before I went to this show.

[parock]

Sorry, I was very drunk when I posted that. I'm sure it was a nice show.

[stephanie]

The combination of the above two posts from PA has caused me to randomly burst out laughing for the last hour or so, after having snarfed coffee all over my laptop keyboard.

Kudos! Love!

Also, the only dude I have heard of on this tour is Matt Pryor. Does that make me old, or just out of the loop?

ETA: Seriously, I can't stop laughing. My face hurts.

[katieee]

haha PA.

That being said, I'm super bummed I won't be able to go to this. Those 4 bands are all huge for me. I would probably be really annoyed by Matt not playing TGUK songs. I haven't actually heard his solo stuff and I never really got into The New Amsterdams. Anthony Raneri is amazing. I actually like his solo shows better than full Bayside sets. His covers are great, especially "Megan." I could talk for days on end about how Chris Conely is amazing and perfect and Saves the Day is one of the best bands that have ever existed. and Thrice absolutely rule, I haven't seen them in probably 3/4 years.