 Sugarcult |
 Simple Plan |
 MxPx |
Review and Photos of Simple Plan by Phil Bonyata
The clock starts and stops on all musical genres. Burning red hot one minute and flaming out the next. As in ecology, recycling renews what came before. New generations discover what appealed to their parents and make it their own. Usually never acknowledging their roots (that would be uncool, after all). As the dying gasps of nu-metal are thankfully exiting the spotlight - punk and garage now can see their long shadows. The styles have never shined brighter (on a commercial level at least). Original punk anger and rage have turned to something sunnier. This is not to say that nu-punks' message isn't as viable. Evolution is never linear. Values change. As does music, even if it seems to stay the same.
Photos of MxPx & Sugarcult by Karen Bondowski
Road hungry Sugarcult lead the assault on the Rave by beating the life out of "Stuck in America." Led by lead singer/guitarist Tim Pagnotta, sweat drenching his tight fitting flannel shirt, continued the raucous set with "She's the Blade" a tight fusion of sweet coating and fiery anthem. "Pretty Girl" and "Bouncing Off the Walls" found the entire band jump up and down like released criminals off of death row. Flaming the fires, Sugarcult fired off the 1-2-3 assault of "Daddy's Little Defect," "Drive All Day" and "You're the One." Vintage power pop fused with punk urgency. They bumped up the tempo and grind on "Saying Goodbye" and left the stage with their don't give-a-fuck attitude dripping on the Rave floor.
MxPx, the pop-punk trio from Washington, showed up with an attitude. Feeding off the strong performance of Sugarcult (and the primed audience) lead singer Mike Herrera and company ran down a solid set of "Play It Loud," Well Adjusted," My Life Story" and "Don't Walk Away." Drummer Yuri Ruley dominated the skins. With a three-piece band you have to have a solid drummer who can hold the foundation with authority while the simpler rhythms are able to flourish. On "Summer of '69" guitarist Tom Wisniewski's hopped up notes played nicely with Herrera's wild vocals. MxPx had the audience in a flurry as the swinging bass line of their smash "Chick Magnet" took on a life of it's own. Mike might have sung it many times before, but he and the audience still believe.
Closing the set with the power anthem "Punk Rawk Show" found the audience yelling back the fist-pumping lyrics - "there's no use in tv shows, radio or rodeos, I wanna get into the crowd, I wanna hear it played real loud."
The faithful in attendance got just what they asked for.
Canadians Simple Plan made no bones about it. It's a perfect night to play and their mommas never told them to play nice. MTV's TRL aside, the boys intensity carried out throughout the whole performance. Guitarists Jeff Stinco and Sebastien Lefebvre started the party out with the chingy-chingy chops of "Addicted" as lead singer Pierre Bouvier, appearing everywhere on stage in-the-blink-of-an-eye in shorts and a black t-shirt, chopped the lyrics up - put 'em in a blender - added some spice and let the vocals fall where they may. "Meet You There," Crash and Burn" and "Grow Up" had the quintet relishing each chop, each pick, each beat and every fan in attendance. Their energy never waned. Simple Plan has found success with their debut album No Pads No Helmets...Just Balls. These Fourth Generation punkers might have forgotten their roots, but still know how to put their balls on the table. Adolescent angst has as much merit as daddy's house payment-car in the shop-late bills-guilty about his mistress woes do.
"I'd Do Anything" put out it's shout-along-chorus, sugared-up harmonies and unfiltered hooks buffet style. First come - first serve. "Perfect" had the band check into the psychiatrists office with an open letter for kids who don't want to be exactly what their parents want them to be.
Times may change, but angst and emotional distress is for every generation. Whether we like it or not.
Simple Plan
Sugarcult
MxPx
MxPx
Sugarcult
Simple Plan
