Punknews.org | Finch/Something Corporate/The Starting Line

Review Navigator

Features

Contests

Reviews

Finch / Something Corporate / The Starting Line

live in Seattle
2002
live show

Review by: FatTony
See others by this writer

Only registered users
can post comments

Published on July 26th 2002

Let me start off this thing by saying that I enjoy almost all of the bands on Drive-Thru Records, with the sole exception being Something Corporate. As a bit of background, this was also one of 107.7 The End's "penny pincher shows," meaning the price of admission was only $1.07 and it's a first come, first serve deal. Unfortunately, this also means that the line will wrap around the venue for several hours before the show is to start and this time was no exception. Fortunately, this time they decided to hold the concert at The Showbox, a venue with twice the capacity of the usual Graceland.

First up, the elusive Allister. I say elusive because every time I have tried to see this band live, something gets in the way. So, why should tonight be any different? My friend and I made it to the front of the line, only to be denied entrance. They sounded good from outside though. After about 20 or so minutes of communication between the bouncer and someone inside, the 25 remaining fans were let in.

As we entered, Home Grown had already begun their set. I had just seen them recently and felt they seriously needed a second guitar player to play the older songs, namely "Surfer Girl." Well, much to my surprise, there was a second guitar player on stage with them, and let me tell you, it made all the difference in the world. Toward the end of "Surfer Girl," however, they let their drummer come down and sing the last few lines and it was pretty awful. Almost ruined the song, but it was otherwise a great set.

Next up, The Starting Line. I don't know what to say about them that hasn't already been said. You either love them or hate them. They're good live and have great energy on stage, but some of their songs are pretty weak, especially a lot of the stuff on their new album. They were pretty well received and closed with "Leaving," probably my favorite song by them. All in all, I enjoyed their set and would definitely see them again.

Then came Something Corporate. I honestly don't get what people see in this band, but to each their own. They were definitely out of place on the stage this evening. I already didn't like them going into the set, so I expected to like them even less after tonight, but their performance didn't shift my opinion either way. The lead singer had a lot of energy, which didn't really match their style of music, and he kept jumping on and sitting on the keys of his piano, which made already mediocre songs even worse. Several of the songs ("Punk Rock Princess" and "Drunk Girl" come to mind) made me cringe, they were so awful. They also played a slower song that seemed to last forever. I didn't catch the title, but it was a very boring song. It kept building up and doing nothing over and over again. They should definitely not play that song EVER. However, the rest of their set was at least tolerable, but I would not see this band again, given the chance.

Last but not least, Finch. They came out and plowed through 3 of the 5 songs that I like off their album (3 of the poppiest songs they have, as well) without even pausing inbetween songs. Unfortunately, the singer didn't sing about half of the lyrics in the first 2 songs. It almost seemed like he was out of breath, but he did fine for the rest of the set. Ken from The Starting Line came out and sang one song with the band. Someone from backstage came out to sing "Stay With Me" with the band as well. They are a very energetic band on stage and their bass player is really good at screaming. However, a lot of their songs are nothing more than generic cock-rock and are thus, not too enjoyable. They were also the only band to do an encore, but the song they played was pretty awful, if you could even call it a song. Overall, their set was pretty enjoyable and I would see them again.

For only $1.07, this was quite a show. Apparently, Drive-Thru tried to get the RxBandits on the bill, but were told they could only have 5 bands. I wish they would have dropped Something Corporate or even Finch off the bill for the bandits, but I digress. In the end (no pun intended), the value is what really made this show worthwhile. I would wholeheartedly recommend seeing Home Grown and The Starting Line (and possibly Allister, but may never know for sure).

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

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.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 at 4:07 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I was at that show. Got my tickets like a month before they were on sale (ticketswest used to have a problem of selling tix before they were supposed to be). Actually it was a week or so, but I bought tickets before the end even annoucned it...prettty funny eh. I saw 1.07 drive thru records showcase and figured one good band would be there. I'm a fan of all of the bands but the starting line. Missed allister, homegrown was good, starting line was allright. I don't know where you were at in the crowd but I was near the front and something corportate got a REAlly good resposne. But maybe that's because I was expecting no one to care (previous experience seeing them). They were no more out of place on the bill then finch was....(though in reality finch was the oddest band being the hardest and all) ANywho you are right, however, it was a buck o 7 so it was worth the cost of admisson; I personally would of paid ten bucks to see those bands together, but that's just me.

Posted by cawknocker on 2002-08-02 13:39:38
My Score:

calm down dork below me. yea he didnt make up cock rock. fuck deisal boy have an album called cock rock. it was a label for the late eighties hair metal critics gave it. it was probably made up then. and i said today's cock rock would be bands like creed and default. its not screaming htat makes cock rock, its that kind of flashy shove your crotch in teh camera, hump your guitar take your shirt off and do the 'wiht arms wide open!' creed embrace of the sky above. shit like that. yo we need more reviews i'm really bored of this shite!
finch isnt cock rock. they do scream. not alot.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 12:15 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I've heard a million other people call types of music "cock rock". Why are you claimimg to have made it up? I know why! Because you're a stupid silly fuckshit, and a loser!

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 11:42 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I don't know...but when I think of "generic cock rock," screaming of any sort doesn't come to mind.

Posted by FatTony on 2002-07-31 20:10:14
My Score:

Dude below me:
Sorry I can't give a glowing review to all the bands that I enjoy. Very few bands put on a perfect show or have a complete catalog of great songs. There's always a couple of stinkers for each band and they choose to play them live once in a while. Just thought I'd try to be a little more honest than most of the people on this site who only give reviews to things they like saying they're classics.

As for "generic cock rock," that was something I just kinda made up. It was late and described the way I felt about a lot of Finch's songs pretty well. They just scream too much and I'm starting to get a little sick of all the bands and their screaming, but whatever. That's just me. If Finch's music strikes a chord with you, then by all means listen to them. I just gave my opinion.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at 2:49 PM (EDT)
My Score:

You suck!!!!! How can you say you like most of the bands on Drivethru when you spent almost the entire time dissing them at least once. Please go learn what liking a band is.

Posted by cawknocker on 2002-07-29 14:21:04
My Score:

i guess generic cock rock would be like creed/nickleback/puddle fo mudd. i guess. i cant' see how finch sounds like this at all, except maybe that 'ender' song. i've never seen these bands live, but finch's cd is amazing. i'd call it pop punk w/ posthardcore leanings. new found glory crossed w/ glassjaw. but not as poppy as nfg, not as technical or crazy as glassjaw. SoCo i hear are amazing live and konstantine is a very good song, but most of their stuff sounds the same and gets old and is to drawn out. allister is a dime a dozen pop punk band. good energy. same w/ starting line and homegrown.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 29, 2002 at 9:52 AM (EDT)
My Score:

First of all I would like to know exactly what "generic cock-rock" is. What in the world does that mean? I consider Finch an emo band in the true sense of the genre. Very Glassjaw-esque and I definitley dont consider Glassjaw "cock-rock" whatever that hell that is. Second, Something Corporate may suck horrible but one thing is for sure Konstatine is a great fucking song. Cant say the same for the rest of the songs but I just feel that Konstatine is one of the greatest emotional-pop-rock songs I have ever heard. I would pay the $1.07 to just hear them play that. Third, what is the deal with Home Grown. Now that is a bad band... I cant stand that shit. That song on the Welcome to the Family comp is just disgusting... I wish it would just die. Forget another guitar player these guys need a new vocalist. And finally Allister kicks some major ass. I saw them at Skate and Surf Fest and they definitley put on a good show. I cant wait to see them again.-pat41

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 29, 2002 at 1:40 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Hey, well i think all the bands on the bill kick ass and i'd give anything to see all those bands at the same show. Reguardless of what you guys think about a band going mainstream or not, i think music's music and if its good you should like it and if its not you shouldnt, reguardless of what record label there on... personally i like all the drive thru bands, there all some of my favorites... so yeah, you guys should think about how gay it is to categorize everything so damn much.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 29, 2002 at 12:32 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I can't really agree with the reviewer that much since I really like Konstantine, but corporate does suck live now. I have seen them many times prior to the last album and they were very good. Since that album and what they did to the old songs the live show isn't the same.

Posted by evildeadalive on 2002-07-28 03:03:25
My Score:

This score is for Something Corporate. I saw them for the first time at the Warped Tour at the Gorge(the night after this I believe), and they were absolutely terrible. They were the third last band on the main stage, with only Bad Religion and Nofx left to play. Needless to say they had a crowd of thousands, maybe tens of thousands, standing in front of them, and with all of their energy managed to get about 8 people to dance. Absolute terrible band placement on the main stage is all I got to say. (NUFAN played at what, 2? Pathetic.) It's pretty bad when you play pop shit aimed at 13 year old girls, and even they don't like you.
And as for the Rx Bandits, they definately should have been allowed to play. One of the best bands at Warped if you ask me.
Uhhh.... Yeah.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 4:58 PM (EDT)
My Score:

finch is the only band worth listening to on drive - thru records. the rest are gay boy bands(the starting line, something corporate, new found glory).

Posted by lockdown59 on 2002-07-27 15:16:21
My Score:

To the reviewer:

Every now hates you. However, I am glad that you suport the RX bandits. Finch kicks ass too. I have found recently that the pop-punk world is no longer interesting. Maybe it's for the better.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 3:03 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Drive-Thru records/bands really suck! Something Corporate and Finch are shitty bands. Please, more hardcore or true punk. But please stop to talk about all these future MCA's bands.

Posted by zim_nation on 2002-07-27 12:32:31
My Score:

i don't think so, tim

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 12:06 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Now I remember why i stopped coming to this website because all you guys do is put down all the band if you dont like a band just dont say nothing give something corporate some credit i've seen them a couple times and everytime they play they just give it every thing they have. there a awsome band and great live so just fuck off.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 10:54 AM (EDT)
My Score:

If you think these bands are good, you DESPERATELY need some taste in music.

Posted by FatTony on 2002-07-27 07:52:32
My Score:

How exactly did I do the same thing with SoCo??? I didn't entirely realize I'd done it with Finch, but I also didn't make it sound like I would jump at the chance to see them again. Their songs that I like were performed pretty well and alone would warrant me seeing them again, but whatever.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 5:23 AM (EDT)
My Score:

"However, a lot of their songs are nothing more than generic cock-rock and are thus, not too enjoyable. Overall, their set was pretty enjoyable and I would see them again."
-Who the hell would talk that much shit then say "oh, I'd DEFINATLY see them again..." Fucking retard.

Did the same thing with something corporate too. Fuck man, fuck.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 3:03 AM (EDT)
My Score:

prisoners should be forced to listen to homegrown. that shit is terrible.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 2:11 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Rock on bro! I'm glad to see your support for Rx Bandits! They are by far the best DTR band and deserve way more credit than they receive...word.
-ryan
animeska1@aol.com

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 1:19 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I love those bands and wish I was there.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 26, 2002 at 11:31 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Haha, ten bucks says that SoCo song was "Konstantine", and you're right, it is way too long for it's own good.

And Finch sucks too.