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Reel Big Fish / The Starting Line / Sugarcult

live in Glasgow (2003)
Sony Music Entertainment

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: C-T
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on February 14th 2003

REEL BIG FISH
Support: The Starting Line, SugarCult
Glasgow Barrowlands
Tuesday 4th February 2003

"You're The One", a perfect way to start what was to become a perfect show. The rotating support slot had SugarCult opening tonight, and in their half hour set they played the kind of songs that everyone will grow to love when they hear them. Pop-punk with a hint of 70s rock n roll is absolutely superb in my book, and SugarCult are prime examples of a band who do such music magnificently. This is a band who look, and sound very cool indeed, and everyone in the Barrowlands seemed to love them to bits. Their catchy as hell tunes struck a chord with a large section of the crowd. Songs such as "Daddy's Little Defect" and "Hate Every Beautiful Day" were simply stunning, and "Bouncing Off The Walls" literally had everyone bouncing (although not quite off the walls). Forthcoming single "Stuck In America" went down an absolute treat and they finished a spectacular set with a supreme slice of psychedelic punk rock in the shape of "Pretty Girl (The Way I Love You)". Not even the fact that Drummer Ben decided to play with just a sock covering his gonads could take anything away from a brilliant performance from one of America's most exciting bands.

Next up were young punks The Starting Line. And opening with "Given The Chance " they started as they meant to go on. They sound so much harder in the live environment (their debut album "Say It Like You Mean It" was slightly overproduced in my opinion) and they really do get their crowds worked up. The crowd here tonight loved them to bits, songs like "Left Coast Envy" and "Saddest Girl Story" were fantastic slabs of punk rock, and when they slowed it down for the acoustic "This Drama Summer" they still kept the crowd interested thanks to Kenny's insane stage antics! They finished their excellent half hour with the classic "Leaving" before playing the single "The Best of Me". Excellent set from these youngsters who we will be hearing a lot more of in the not to distant future.

"Everybody's doin' the fish, yeah yeah yeah", the opening of "Trendy" immediately sent the place absolutely mental, the song was superb, and for the next two hours the Fish didn't look back, playing an inch perfect set full of all the old favourites as well as a load of tracks from the new "Cheer Up" record. Aaron was looking his ever cool self in a white Puma tracksuit (!!) and Tyler now sports one of the greatest afros known to man. There aren't many bands who can play for two whole hours without slipping up once, or playing a bad song, but Reel Big Fish have proved themselves to be one of them. Every single song was fantastic, and they weren't short on them either. Old favourites such as "I Want Your Girlfriend To be My Girlfriend Too" and "Everything Sucks" sat along perfectly with new soon to be favourites as "Good Thing" and "Ban The Tube Top" in an almighty fusion of punk n ska. Set highlights included the superb "The Kids Don't Like It", "She Has A Girlfriend Now" and a brilliant run through "Valerie". The "Cheer Up" tracks stood up fabulously well next to the old standards, "Cheer Up" and the brass-now-included version of "Where Have You Been" being two of the night's best. The set wasn't short of two-tone ska numbers, "A Little Doubt Goes A Long Way", "You Don't Know" and "I'll Never Be" being just a few. The set wasn't short on humour either, Scott's hilarious high pitched singing during "She Has A Girlfriend Now" was great and the fact that the band stopped playing to watch a girl get her "firm titties" out in a window above the stage was another fantastically funny moment (It was met by a chorus of boos when a female bouncer decided that it was time for her to go!) The Tyler led singalong "Rock N Roll Is Bitchin'" was excellent, and the three final songs of the main set, the show stopping "She's Famous Now", the A-Ha cover "Take On Me" (one of the best cover versions ever.) and the insane "Sellout" nearly brought the house down. Then the lights came on, and quite a number of people left, but Reel Big Fish decided to come back on for some more. The marvellous cover of Sublime's "Boss DJ" was flawless, and the roof just about came off when they ripped through "Beer".

This was a simply fantastic show, all three bands were excellent, and Reel Big Fish, have just proved themselves as one of the best live acts on the planet.

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Anonymous (June 29, 2005)

i dearly love reel big fish, and i love ska. i also love mustard plug, less than jake, streetlight manifesto and countless other "ska-punk" and "ska" bands. but what does it matter if you say they're real punk or punk-pop or whatever. i don't like blink-182 or good charlotte,but i appreciate my chemical romance and race the sun. all that matters is if you like the music, not what kind of punk it is or if it's even punk.

PS: EUROPE RULES

Anonymous (March 6, 2005)

WALLS OF TEXT'D

Paragraphs. Use Paragraphs!

draftisbetterthanbottled (February 21, 2003)

no fuck you choclate chip is such a sell out flavour, call yourself an ice cream lover!

oh and your not punk :) ner!

evildeadalive (February 21, 2003)

Chocolate chip mint is the shizznit.

krowdsurf (February 20, 2003)

I'm starting a petition to change the name of this site to www.we_are_all_a_bunch_of_angry_hateful_bastards_who_will_punch_y ou_in_the_fucking_face_if_we_disagree_over_whats_the_best_flavor_ of_ice_cream_so_fuck_you.org

insinceredave (February 18, 2003)

Italian's, great people, wonderful culture.

insincere dave

DontBeSoDigital (February 17, 2003)

RBF is coming to my campus in April, I highly doubt I'll be going to that show.

Anonymous (February 17, 2003)

Ok John, call me crazy, but I think that guy talking about the beatles was joking.

WussEmoRock (February 17, 2003)

1) don't fuck with John the Ska father

2) Don't ever mess with RBF

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

Anonymous (February 17, 2003)

I've seen Sugar Cult and the Starting Line when they've played with ReelBigFish in Philadelphia.

I wouldn't exactly call the starting line punk, and I wouldn't say that SugarCult was one of americas most exciting bands either.

What about the moldy peaches for petes sake?

Anyway, I guess the taste isn't there in my mouth for some easy listening sugar cult and starting line. Never the less, at least you had a good time.

Jon_the_Skafather (February 16, 2003)

"this guy below me is just as bad as people who go to see Reel Big Fish and Sugarcult. he thinks he's fuckin smart. fuck him. he fuckin thinks that cuz he's "himself". fuck him and fuck the rest of you little fucks who listen to Good Charlotte, Mest, Sum41, Blink 182, New Found Glory, and the rest of that fucking shit. people who take pride in not refering to themselzes as "punk" are just as bad as the fucking people who think they're punk as fuck. go fuckin listen to Something Corporate and Dashboard you stupid twats."

doooooooooood!!! we have a celebrity in our midsts! it's jay from jay and silent bob!!! the only person who'd curse that much....but why do you have that stupid twang of calling ppl twats?

and please, if you associate me with people, at least name bands that i like. i'll give you a head start: reel big fish, mu330, catch 22, bad religion, mr t experience, the queers, skankin' pickle, discount, mad caddies, nofx, less than jake, the impossibles.

ah well, i'm sure you probably meant it to sound hardcore and important....while....me? i'm just having fun with this. have fun trying to proove yourself some more. ;)

Anonymous (February 16, 2003)

this guy below me is just as bad as people who go to see Reel Big Fish and Sugarcult. he thinks he's fuckin smart. fuck him. he fuckin thinks that cuz he's "himself". fuck him and fuck the rest of you little fucks who listen to Good Charlotte, Mest, Sum41, Blink 182, New Found Glory, and the rest of that fucking shit. people who take pride in not refering to themselzes as "punk" are just as bad as the fucking people who think they're punk as fuck. go fuckin listen to Something Corporate and Dashboard you stupid twats

Jon_the_Skafather (February 16, 2003)

"god who really cares what style RBF is, im gonna call them two-tone ska because it pissed that oen guy off, and i think the starting line is fucking hardcore and sugarcult is better then elvis, the beatles, the clash, the ramones, black flag, and the descendents in talent, writing, muscianship, and above all else "punkiness" there that outa piss everyone off. fuckers..."

hahahahahaha, i don't think i've laughed that hard....seeing someone call the starting line hardcore, that's like calling river city rebels ska.

well, i'm not "punk" i'm just myself and i'll correct you if i want cause if you're gonna use a label, use it properly you ignorant little piss. as far as saying whoever is better than whatever, that's your call buddy, people have different tastes, that's the point of reviewing, to express your opinion. but if you use a term, use it correctly.

Anonymous (February 16, 2003)

god who really cares what style RBF is, im gonna call them two-tone ska because it pissed that oen guy off, and i think the starting line is fucking hardcore and sugarcult is better then elvis, the beatles, the clash, the ramones, black flag, and the descendents in talent, writing, muscianship, and above all else "punkiness" there that outa piss everyone off. fuckers...

Anonymous (February 16, 2003)

You!

WussEmoRock (February 16, 2003)

what's wrong with Italians?

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

Anonymous (February 16, 2003)

"Italians rock" is the douche bag comment of the month.

Jon_the_Skafather (February 16, 2003)

it doesn't matter if you only use the terms of suck and non-suck...this person used many more terms and had no idea of how to apply them correctly, i'm simply pointing that out so next time they won't make the same mistake.

Anonymous (February 16, 2003)

why does everyone worry about these terms and classifications? to me, there are two real categories of music: Suck and Non-Suck. all that shouldmatter is the music itself and whether you enjoy it.

Jon_the_Skafather (February 16, 2003)

a little tip to the person who posted this review....know what you're talking about before you review a show in concert......or at least have an understanding of the terms you're gonna use.

first of all, rbf aren't punk....i think their last punk song was why do all girls think they're fat or nothin'. they do rock songs, not punk.

second, reel big fish do not have any two tone style ska songs all their songs have third wave sound to them. and while a song may have a more traditional sound to it, it isn't two tone, it's traditional and the only really tradition song rbf does that i can think of is rock it with i or when they go into dance with me in the middle of she has a girlfriend now.

reel big fish is my all time favorite band but your review wasn't that great......and yes i will write a review of them as soon as they get within 100 miles of me again.(which doesn't seem like it'll be anytime soon)

as far as aaron wearing puma goes.....he has a sponsorship from puma, of course he's gonna be wearing it, he has to! not to mention i'd rather bring free clothes on the road rather than a shirt or jacket that i actually care about.

but other than that......it's great you reviewed rbf, please be more knowledgable next time. and it's always a pleasure to see that there's someone else in the world who likes rbf.