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WHFS Holiday Nutcracker

live in Washington, DC (2002)
Tours

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Chris
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on December 24th 2002

Where do I begin with what turned out to be one of the most horrible shows I have ever had the displeasure of attending? God, I'm cringing just typing about it.

It was supposed to be grand, I mean James Brown, soul-brother #1, backed up by one of the greatest ska groups, ever, DC's Pietasters? Not to mention Queens of the Stone Age, who may not be "punk", but sure as hell know how to rock it hard. The Distillers were also on the bill, which seemed cool, along with Coldplay, whom I am neutral on, and of course shit-pop-punk was represented deep with New Found Glory and Boxcar Racer.

I arrived 1 hour late. This is my fault, and take full credit. However, I managed in that 1 hour (well, more like 1 1/2 hours) to miss the Distillers, and Queens of the Stone Age. God damn it. I hate the MCI Center and its absurd location.

The stage was being prepared for James Brown and I was stoked. Beyond stoked, I felt like a juvenile, I have to admit, I was giddy. Suddenly, the horns come to life and my god.....the Pietasters are on stage in an arena! Shocking, yet soothing. And then he came, the hardest working man in show business came on stage and went right into "I Feel Good". On the floor, hundreds of teeny bopper mall-punks were dancing around, but oddly, I felt great. I didn't mind them, I was also smiling and dancing and having a blast. I guess it isn't the kids I truly despise, Its the generally shitty music they tend to listen to.

Anyways, next came an extended version of "Get Up" where during the breakdown Mr. Brown went into his trademark screaming fits, eccentrically yelling "GIVE IT UP FOR THE PIETASTERS!, COME ON YA'LL, GIVE UP IT, ITS THE PIETASTERS, OH YEAH, PIETASTERS!!!" And as the song came to a conclusion so did any fun I may have had for that evening. The set ended. 2 songs. 2 fucking songs.

New Found Glory came on stage and I was already in a rotten mood, so you can imagine my demeanor as these ass clowns began their set of prepubescent cock rock. I don't like them. I think this was my third time seeing them so don't give me the whole "you gotta see them in a club bro" bullshit. They have gotten progressively worse. Here's an idea of what they sound like: Remember the episode of the Simpsons where Bart, Millhouse, Ralph and Nelson become a boy-band that secretly is being used to increase naval enlistment? So they are performing on the battleship and suddenly the "studio magic" is pulled from them and all you hear is some kids singing that sound god-awful. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEW FOUND GLORY'S ALBUM, AND THEIR LIVE SHOW.

I think I heard 3 songs while waiting in line for a beer, chugged the beer and left. I didn't even stay for Boxcar Racer. Boo-hoo. Worst-show-ever. I did get to see James Brown and the Pietasters, and my ticket was free, so for the that 1 whole star.

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Anonymous (October 7, 2005)

how bout the 2003 nutcracker with korn, staind, chevelle, used, afi, hoobastank, offspring and blink 182.. or any of the hfstivals are just fucking sick.

etwiels88 (August 26, 2005)

"i don't like that people give nfg shit about that the kids can't start a moshipit.

when i went to one of their shows in the uk it was way more rough than american nightmare or converge.

only those with a deathwish entered the pit.

and yeah, i know that sounds silly."

HAHAHAHA.
You're fucking gay.

viceroymonarch (December 31, 2002)

I have a feeling that was kinda tongue-in-cheek as well, because Lars and Benji from good charlotte are buddy-buddy.

Anonymous (December 30, 2002)

at the warped in LA in 2001, it was tim that was mocking nfg, it was lars. he said something like "lets hear it for new found glory and good charlotte" and a few people cheered and lars said something like " no no no fuck that shit, thats nothing but crap, what do you guys really think?" and then came the boos.

TheOneTrueBill (December 30, 2002)

NFG introduced NOFX as No Use For a Name at the Chicago warped date this summer, and they went 10 minutes over on thier set time. fuckers made me wait for NOFX.

best James Brown song is "Livin' In America"

viceroymonarch (December 27, 2002)

I dunno cuz NFG didnt play east coast on that Warped, but it was probably a joke. This year though, NOFX played right after NFG and they were talking a LOT of shit about NFG, without mentioning them by name. Eh who cares, NOFX just tries to stir up controversy anyway.

Anonymous (December 27, 2002)

why would rancid make everyone boo nfg? correct me if i'm wrong, but wasn't tim in nfg's last video?

Anonymous (December 27, 2002)

you know.. i saw nfg at warped tour in 01, and i didnt think they sucked live.. i mean im am by no means a fan of theirs, but they played there shit good and it didnt sound bad, but maybe its just because i was in the pits for 5 hours with no water and i got kicked in the head by a crowdsurfer and i was a little woosy. that and the crowd was good, and the crowd will make or break a show. it was pretty rough tho, when rancid came on after them and made everyone boo them i thought it was great but i could barely stand up cuz nfg had the crowd going to hard.. oh well they still suck, but i had fun.

Anonymous (December 26, 2002)

hehe, i got in for free, but yea, these radio shows do usually suck.

TheBouncingSoul (December 26, 2002)

thats what you get for going to a radio show....honestly, have any of these ever ended up being anything less than horrible?

Anonymous (December 26, 2002)

mosh pits at these radio shows are everything and anything but a mosh pit. they're idiots and asshole jocks running around playing king of the hill, seeing how many people they can hurt, and display their manhood for all to see. i saw these 2 morons battle it out one-on-one like some fucking wrestling match. pathetic.

Melvyl (December 26, 2002)

i don't like that people give nfg shit about that the kids can't start a moshipit.

when i went to one of their shows in the uk it was way more rough than american nightmare or converge.

only those with a deathwish entered the pit.

and yeah, i know that sounds silly.

FatJustin (December 26, 2002)

Yeah, I went to that god awful show too. And I did stay long enough to hear Box Car Racer, which was one of the worst things I have ever heard.

And about those mall punks. When New Found Glory came on, they tried to start a mosh pit. But you could tell they've never been in one and it sucked.

Anonymous (December 25, 2002)

Do you know how to fucking read? Eh hem....

"I guess it isn't the kids I truly despise, Its the generally shitty music they tend to listen to."

-sickboi

Oh, Viceroymonarch, a chick bought my ticket.

WussEmoRock (December 25, 2002)

sickboi come on. Don't be like that. I understand you being annoying with kids if they are annoying, but not liking them because they have shitty taste in music is fucking stupid.

*****Wuss-Emo-Rock*****

viceroymonarch (December 24, 2002)

Sickboi how'd you get your free ticket? I got mine in a WHFS contest that I didn't even realize I'd signed up for.

Anonymous (December 24, 2002)

sickboi-that sucks. i got to see most of the show. distillers and queens were good. zwan was mediocre although i did finally get the chance to billy corgan. and the james brown experience was bittersweet. i've always wanted to see him but like you said, 2 measly songs. i left after that b/c nfg and box car willy were sure to give me a migraine (and i've seen them in clubs too and they are ass clowns).