August Premier

live in Chicago (2002)
Tours

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Woody
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on June 18th 2002

I saw the Showoff/Allister/August Premier/504plan at the Metro in Chicago, Illinois. This is the first show I've been looking forward to since Thursday a few months back. All the bands except for 504plan announced they were breaking up within the last two weeks or so.

The first band I saw was August Premier. I've had demos of their album since about November of last year I was pretty pumped to see them because I liked the album. However, I was completely disappointed, they were drunk as hell and when they weren't messing up their songs the bassist opted to ask the band repeatedly if they should break up or not. After about 40 min. they ended and the once excited crowd now could look forward to two steady performers.

Allister came out next and played a lot of hits off "Dead Ends and Girlfriends," some new stuff, and "Somewhere Down in Fullerton," which is on the Drive Thru comp. A notable song was about the radio, which will be on their next album. It was a great song and the crowd seemed pretty into it. Chris from August Premier who is going to be John's replacement filled in for John on the last song and John sang "Jacob." it would probably be the highlight of the night. If anyone in the crowd didn't know Allister they certainly did now.

Last up was Showoff, I hadn't seen them for about a year since they played with Juliana Theory. They hadn't come out with any official material but I heard some new stuff here and there. The most memorable song of the night was an acoustic rendition of "Unspoken Words" by Chris Envy. The few people in the crowd over the age of about 16 sang along since they had seen Showoff before, myself included. The set concluded with a few members of each band on the stage, Showoff talked about the time they put in and that they were breaking up (a topic all too familiar at the Metro tonight) and then headed off the stage.

All in all I'd say the top band of the night was Allister, their high energy and accuracy was great and it looked like they aimed to please. August Premier was a disappointment and Showoff was stellar as always. The crowd sucked and the show would've been a lot better if the average age wasn't about 14 years old but that seems to be a growing trend in pop-punk. It was sad to see three of Chicago's better bands leave the stage together for the last time. And if anyone in August Premier reads this...lay off the alcohol whenever you perform in the future.

Login to rate this album

Please login or register to post comments.What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (August 17, 2004)

dude... of course shes pregnant... im the father. the baby is a half asian/half white.

Anonymous (July 1, 2002)

um...john's girlfriend is not pregnant. he's actually a pretty nice guy. he does need a haircut though.

Anonymous (June 27, 2002)

Having all your information correct doesn't mean much when you still write like a third grader.

Anonymous (June 27, 2002)

Johnny from allister sucks. I am so happy he is gone. He in nothing but a no good @sshole. Atleast chris has talent. John just had squinty eyes, a big ego, and was in desperate need of a haircut. I hope he gets hit by a truck. He got his girlfriend pregnant, that's why he left. Not because he is going back to school. Which makes him a liar. Add that to the list. He is the biggest liar and backstabber i have ever met. F*ck you john

Anonymous (June 22, 2002)

My dog can write better lyrics than Allister.

Anonymous (June 22, 2002)

August Premier - good riddance, you sucked. You are a bad photocopy of every other band out there. Same pretty much goes for 504 plan. Why must every band sound the same?

Showoff - bunch of uptight assholes that don't even write thier own music.

Allister - should break up because the only decent thing in the band left. Johnny was cool, the rest are dicks and annoying on stage. I used to really like these guys until recently until I realized just how juvineile the songs were. Fullerton is a good song, and I wait to here more songs other that Stuck, because that song sucks.

And if you think this is the best of Chicago's bands, you have NO idea.

Anonymous (June 21, 2002)

This review sucks, Allister isnt breaking up and niether is August Premier. DO you smoke crack? you even said it yourself chris is replacing John.

Geetarchick (June 19, 2002)

Okay first of all, the review itself wasn't bad... but I do have to say this. Please, if you're going to review the show, review the WHOLE show. As in, all the bands... really, I personally am a fan of 504plan and I was really glad they finally got a metro show. And if you were just late, try to get there early. Keep in mind that all these bands were just as little as 504plan was at that show. So please, its not a big request.. but get there on time. I personally think its kinda rude to just go to a show for just the headlining band. Maybe you had your reasons for being late, fine, but I'm just saying that in general, people should take a look at the opening bands.
Okees, I was at this show and about August Premier being drunk onstage... they're almost never sober on stage.. thats just how their show is. heh. I've seen them many times and its usually like that. The way I see it, at least its not so boring. I agree though that Allister was the most energetic of the show. Showoff kind of disappointed me actually. It just didn't feel the same for some reason... maybe i've just seen them too many times.
Oh and Allister doesn't play a show at the metro every other week, its more like every other month... :)

Anonymous (June 19, 2002)

Boy you are really big into the chicago scene man. Fucking allister plays every other week at the metro, i dont understand why you were so stoked about this show when all these bands play every single weekend in chicago, they are all pretty much just shit pop/punk bands with very little talent that play chicago every weekend. and showoff, those guys really suck, i saw them like 4 years ago, and thats like when they put there first cd out, and since then they just tour chicago and play the same shit over and over, i think its great that they broek up, the were a pointless band to begin with. and august premier they have fliers all over looking for a new member so your a fuck head dude. you really dont know shit about music or the chicago scene so you can go eat a dick.

Anonymous (June 18, 2002)

To the dipshit reviewer, I am the guy who called you fucking stupid...go read what you wrote again! you said "it is sad to see three of chicago's finest bands leaving the stage," you also did state that the aug. premiere guy was taking over in Allister, but then again in the last paragraph you went ahead and said that they were all leaving again...

...and next time review 504 plan, jesus, but besides that I did like your review! Allister never said they were breaking up, get YOUR facts straight

Cali Chris

Fuzzy (June 18, 2002)

Woody-

he wouldnt be the cool kid who knew more than you then, Duh!

;)

Anonymous (June 18, 2002)

Hey genius, it's funny that you call me "fucking stupid" when if you look in the third paragraph of my review it says. "...Chris from August Premier who is going to be John's replacement filled in for John on the last song and John sang "Jacob.""
Apparently, I already had my facts straight knwoing that Chris will be John's replacement. Why don't you read the whole review before bashing it ok pal.

Anonymous (June 18, 2002)

i never really liked showoff, which is why i left during their second song. the only band breaking up is Showoff. August Premier will be playing shows once Chris gets back from warped tour with Allister. I wish Johnny didn't leave cuz hes freakin awesome...but i guess he has to do what he has to do, which is going back to school. also on a side note....i tried to ignore this fact but most the people there were aroud 14 years old....and whats the point of dressing up and looking good when your gonna get all hot and sweaty anyways?

Anonymous (June 18, 2002)

oh god, i'd punch myself in the face until i was unconcious before i would sit through that god awful show

Anonymous (June 18, 2002)

good review...but your fucking stupid......

Allister is NOT BREAKING UP, they are adding one of the members from August premiere into the band...get your facts straight.

Allister rocks big time, coolest band!