"Tooth & Nail Day" went down really well. Besides a couple dozen T&N bands playing on Encore 1 & 2 Stages, there was the two or three dozen generator stages (I haven't bothered to count the total number yet) sporting bands all day long. Besides an untold number of death metal core bands screaming and growling I saw a melodic rock band that really stood out. They were called Dear Future, and they've got it going on. In their last song of the set I saw the lead singer was repeating a refrain of: "...we are more than the sum of our urges..." followed by something like "...we need to have control." I like this band and have a feeling that I'll be hearing more from them in the future.
On a brief once-around of the grounds, I was fortunate enough to come by the Anchor Stage while Neocracy was playing. They're one of our "Pick of the Litter" bands for this issue. I'm glad to find out that they're really good live. They bring the metal and energy in a fresh way. They had the audience break up and perform a "wall of death," which was probably the first of a few for this year's fest. It's crazy to see that pulled off.
Ivoryline was very jovial and hospitipal during their show. It was interesting to see how their live show and the loud mix emphasized their identity as a rock band. Their drummer stood out as a basher. It was a slight surprise departure from the prominent melody of their fine debut album, but it still translated pretty well.
By chance I got to see Jimmy Ryan's new band, Trenches. He informed us that they were signed to a "mystery label" and would have an album out in September. He made some reference to liking Kat Jones' music, but not being as cute as her. Maybe a veiled reference to her label? Who knows. Besides a few self-effacing remarks about his weight (and some air guitar moves performed with his belly fold), the most noticable thing about this band was the large amount of raw power they weilded onstage. Almost taking a deconstructionist angle with their music, their bassist was madly torturing his 5-string bass like he was trying to score points with the amount of different notes he could hit. The guitarist on stage right was slicing away at invisible heads of lettuce with each accent and chord change, it seemed, which was many. Their drummer was a monster. The stage volume and sheer power was immense. It was at times a chaotic train wreck and at others a progressive but trackable with the ears work of beauty. Fans of Frodus and Warlord should dig their music immediately.
Becoming The Archetype blazed some heavy tunage as expected. It was sad to know that this show and their midnight encore set the next day will be the last with Alex on guitar, who will be returning to Aletheian.
I "club hopped" over to the Anchor Stage to see another Tyler, Texas band play -- Luminate. They've really kept improving and gelling as a band. They were really tight and brought the rock in the first three songs I saw. I was reminded of Delirious a bit with some of the chorus melodies and Sam Hancock's melodic vocals. There's still a little ways to go before this band hits its stride, but during the orchestrated accents where the band all came together was one of the first moments of the fest where I felt like a band was "bringing it" with that added element of "magic."
Showbread had the packed crowd in their back pocket, who sang as loud as the sound system during "Dead by Dawn." They brought it and made many an invitation to come see them play the next night on the HM Magazine Stage.
I didn't overdose on music this day, but I liked what I heard.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at July 2, 2008 11:06 AM