|
Review Navigator   FeaturesReviews
 | AFI / The Explosion / The Blood Brotherslive in Chicago2003 live show  Review by: Minor Threat See others by this writer A Fire Inside (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on April 29th 2003
Ah, the welcome sight of the venue. Ah, the 2 block long line even before the doors opened. Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
For those of you that say "Oh AFI sold out!"----Grow up. You're too wrapped up in your "punk ideals" to realize that they are jsut trying to keep evolving and making something different. Isn't punk all about non-conformity in the first place. What the hell good is it to be a punk band if you have to follow certain rules. AFI jsut stays true to themselves and everything they have put out simply kicks ass (including Sing the Sorrow). ok first off... the guy talking about hardcroe dancing is right... afi isn't a bounce mosh band.. if you wanna bounce mosh stick to metal... afi is ever evolving, shit think about it, the difference between their beginnings in answer that/very proud of ya, to black sails, and even the changes in black sails to AOD. i think the fact that they actually put forth effort into growing as musicians makes them better than a lot of "punk/hardcore" bands liked by self righteous punk rock fuck nuts. and i cant think of any other band that has done what they have done lyrically and thematically with sing the sorrow and 336, (closest comparison is blood brothers and co&ca, but thats a lot different). so why dont you all get a fucking life, and review about your favorite never changing punk band, and let people who can actually make intellectual comments about AFI comment here "for the dumbass who actually thinks this record was written before the major label reading what has been said below, why should you care what Davey Havok looks like and if you dont like AFI keep it to your f*$king selves other people enjoy AFI's music and really dont care what Davey looks like, if you dont like AFI dont comment on them comment on some other band you like. dont waster our time I just think the album cover to sing the sorrow sucks goat balls just as much as i do...... which is a lot! Look, up until AFI signed to dreamworks I bet 90% of you who are bashing them were fans. I was at the Chicago show, and I felt that they tore shit up. I am not a big fan of the new album but you can not deny the sheer energy these guys have on stage. Also I love how people sit here and call Davey and asshole, and pretentious. I mean the man answers all of his fan mail by hand. Also the people who compare them to acts such as NFG and GC, nice try. Except structure is totaly different as well as style. Now I can understand people who don't like Davey's voice, I know I didn't when I first heard them. You guys have a legit excuse for not liking them. But all the lines about how their on MTV2. Grow the fuck up. So are The Rammones and The Clash. But I don't here any of you posting shit about them being sell outs. Hell London Calling has been in at least two movies this year. Lets face it, bands want to make their music, and sell albums. More power to them, it is the whiney ass 14 year old fucks that run around the scene screaming sell out that makes me embarassed to listen to punk. Yeah they are not The Virus but they do things on their own terms. As for the Misfit comparisons, christ, have you ever heard the Misfits, they and AFI only have aestetic similarities at this point. bunch of fuckin elitist pissants. punk now is like the word...crazy. the last thing afi is is new, they are this years blink 182 or h20. if you are an afi fan they just spit in your face by putting out this shit. there are 2 forms of punk that everyone gets confused , im not trying to start any fights here but the way i see it is you got the original punk bands, ramones sex pistols, kennedys, clash.... all that stuff which i dont mind but i could really care less about. those bands are gone and that form of "punk rock" is dead. then ian came along and started a little band called minor threat. they actually had something to say, and they didnt expect to get rich off of there ideas..that is what punk rock should be and is to this day, though 90 percent of the bands on this site dont fall into that category. i wish punk rock could survive in the mainstream but unfortunatley that is exactly where punk dies. lets face it, not everyone wants to hear intelligent lyrics or creative music, people would rather hear manufactured bands that lyrics are written by a committee striving to write catchy songs to sell records and if you ask me that is where afi falls. they are influenced by the old form of punk that died along time ago. no punk band has or will survive the mainstream. punk bands should realize that there message is not meant to be heard by the whole world because most people want to hear about money and naked girls or anything catchy that they can memorize the first time around and not have to think about. but this works out nicely for afi because they never had a message to begin with so the mainstream is where they belong. punk is alive and well and it is not the 3 chords in a garage that i have heard people describe it as 1000 times. if you are still under the impression that it is you might want to check out fugazi, or frodus, jtb.... bands that are just as if not more talented than any band or any musician that has ever lived, and they have a message worth listening to. Obviously AFI has punk rock roots. They haven't altered their core structure from the begining to the latest installment. You don't have to label them as punk, but you have to respect that punk is a very much a part of their music. oh dear. you stupid american, close minded morons. Why does everything have to be about being "punk?" ok, so maybe Davey is a little pretentious, and maybe most of the songs on the new album have the same structure, but it's good music fullstop. whether it's punk, rock or pop music, does anyone care? its people like you who retard the evolution of punk, by forming half-assed imitation bands, banging out three chords in your parents garage. Afi have the balls to try something new, and its good to see they were playing with the blood brothers, who are also not afraid to change the face of punk rock. What you see as punk is so stale. give it a few years (say past your 18th birthday) and i guarantee you will not be listening to the same generic crap you are now. open your minds!! I'm assuming most of these people are 13 years old since they still use the word "fag". Makeup on guys shitty pop music = gay it was worth the cost just to see The Blood Brothers, besides, i like the Explosion, so it was fun. AFI sucks... Explosion are mediocre... Sounds like a very crappy show. I saw them play in St. Louis not too long ago. To the guy who asked about "A Single Second", they did play that. I think they even played a song off of Very Proud of Ya if I remember right. I thought I had heard they weren't going back that far but they did which was cool. like that song Dude looks like a lady *wispers* "...I think shes a dude" That girl who sings for AFI is hot. I hate merch at concerts. I always wait until a band comes on to check it out, except that I really hate buying stuff in the first place...but anyway.. did they play 'a single second'? or do they stay away from their old shit and still call themselves hardcore? The Blood Brothers sound too much like the Marshall Tucker Band for my taste. AFI IS GOOD.... The Blood Brothers own you all, and AFI is good, poopheads. Honestly who wouldn't sell out. I would then I'd just make sure to stay away from fan comment boards. Remember when AFI was good...yeah those were the days. Also, remember when they weren't on MTV2 every god damned hour. Kudos to them for selling out like pros. Actually, I met Davey at Krazyfest last year, he stayed in our hotel. He was apretty nice. He wasn't down for hanging out and patrying like Lou from SOIA or Nick 13, but he was very nice to all the kids asking to get pictures with him and shit. davey does sound like a real self-righteous asshole. for the dumbass who actually thinks this record was written before the major label I nominate myself "King of Punk" kinda like King of Mardi Gras. Basically I assume the title since I called it first (see the shotgun front seat rule of 1982). I will be issuing what I like to call "punk points" for comments I deam very punk to slightly punk. You can then tally your points and show your fellow classmates just how punk you are. Later my bitches Give me a break, if you don't like this website: stop saying the word punk, this website has nothing at all to do with punk. afi is the furthest possible thing from punk. i agree with the guy below me, a moshpit full of barneys and spongebobs would be more dangerous than an afi moshpit. afis moshpits are dangerous? they are to worried about messing up their makeup and their pink hair. pop punk sucks and you are all fags. Great AFI performance, stupid fucking review. Lets review the show, not the guests. Idiot. Nitro sucks now anyways, who cares.... As far as AFI leaving Nitro for more money, it was Dexter Holland who went to the band and told them that they should seek a major label because he felt Nitro could not give them the support they deserved. And if you think the new album was a major label doing you're wrong. This whole album was written before they left Nitro, and the band was under the full impression Nitro was going to do it since they still had one more record to do in their deal. I agree with the guy talking about the punk community being so hypocritical. Seems everyone likes to rip on everything. Like 2 posts down making fun of pop punk bands. If you don't like it don't fucking listen to it...period. Yet everyone in the punk world is obsessed with putting down everything. No wonder punk rock has a bad conotation associated with it. Nitro $$$? You have a real misconception of the record industry if you think AFI was getting paid well on Nitro. I would've left after The Explosion. this is to the moron below me, do you honestly think that they were not getting paid well before. they were on NITRO records, owned by dexter fucking holland, i think he might have some cash to throw around. asking for anything more than what they were already getting is just a slap in the face to their fans. im not to worried about it because im not surprised....and to the dumbass who was sticking up for afis makeup obsession, there are some other people who would agree with you, marilyn manson and orgy, are they good musicians too? real punks are not hypocritical, you are just confused about what punk is. punk is alive and well, just not in the mainstream. punk will never really exist on your Mtv. bottom line, afi wants money, that is what they are after. kid dynamite had meaningful lyrics, they actually meant something and they just played 3 benefit shows. now when i saw afi at the avalon they were fucking pathetic, i cannot wait to see how they intend to pull off playing big venues. they will probably tour with simple plan, blink and other wicked punk pands that drive 2003 cadillac escalades. davey havok looks like madonna now. i think its ok to have long hair as long as it doesn't put the hanson effect on you. The truth is AFI could give 2 shits what everyone thinks. They're selling a buttload of records, finally getting paid decent, and are making music they like. Bands make music for themselves and hope people like it. If you think they make music for fans you're just ignorant. And for every old school fan who abandoned them there's 3 mainstream music fans who just got into their music. And that's probably better anyway because most people in the punk community are so hypocrytical are just love to tear down bands once they get the least bit of success. If I was AFI I'd be giving all you cynics a big middle finger, and then laugh all the way from playing my sold out show then to the bank. its funny that no one realizes yet how much potential AFI has to be the next "dark" new fnd glory. if you even still give this band two shits of a thought, well frankly you arent a sweet ass punk rocker. grow up, punk rock ethics are bullshit, how many times has someone posted on this site and been nothing more than a trendy ass kid attempting to talk shit. look like what you like and leave the rest for those you think less unfortunate, everyone has different opinions. yes some bands digress over time, but the good ones only get better or know when to call it quits out of respect for the fans. case in point AFI: i wont support them anymore but I definately respect the music that they USED to make. ps. if strike anywhere is generic, tell me why they opened up for kid dynamite's reunion show and some lame band like the blood brothers (who are supposedly cool to like if you are A Hip ass sophisticated well-seasoned HARDCORE scenester) didn't/ OH yeah and the kids in philly definately lost there4 shit to the good vibes. fuck you know it alls i saw the end of AFI's set at a warped tour it was cool i supposed for fucking make up posers, o wait thats the punk scene sorry... i saw AFI a few years back with rancid and i felt uncomfortable being in the same room as those guys. you have to wonder about guys that spend hours in front of the mirror applying make up to their faces and not realizing that maybe it isnt a good idea and then doing it again the next day. if they were not an incredibly shitty live band i wouldnt even mind, but when you think of all the time they spend on their pretty little faces, you have to ask yourself why they dont spend that time on writing some half decent music. my advice to AFI would be if you are going to try so fucking hard, work hard at writing good original music, not some poor misfit rip off and stop worrying how you look. no matter how ugly you are. the only thing that makeup is going to get you is fucked in the ass, but hey, maybe that is what you are going for. afi belongs in the mainstream version of "punk" along with good charrolette or whatever they call themselves, those guys are punk as fuck. oh yeah, to the people downtalking the explosion but listen to afi, you guys might want to check out avril lavigne, she be right up your alley. Who's the little bitch a couple down saying security should deny people with facial peircings access?! And you don't know who the Misfits are? At first I thought you were joking, but now I know that you must be the first of many idotic children who are still listening to Creed and N Sync records but heard AFI on the radio and liked it. Damn it's sickening. "davey havok could be the 6th member of Ymca" Great review. Who are the Misfits anyway? I think extra security is needed for these guys with lots of metal and chains cuz someone could get hurt in the slam dance pit if they run into them. There should be facial profiling at shows and if you look threating you should have to go home. Anyway great review makes me wanna go check out the merchandise line at my next show. I saw the lead singer of the Explosion making out with some dude by the bar area. He was in a fierce liplock with tongues and everything. It was obvious he was the bitch and the other dude was the butch. Now homosexuals are getting a bad rap because of this guy. Bands like The Explosion and Strike Anywhere make me wish there were no such thing as opening bands. They musta seen Up In Smoke and taken it to heart about punk rock not needing any talent, cuz there's a shit load of you mother fuckers who buy into it. Blood Brothers had a video on MTV2 a week ago during a show called Bands that Rock. I agree D Explosion sounds shitty! I saw The Explosion a few months back and they were fucking great, except for the fact the band couldn't really keep time, the singer has no vocal range, and they have no originality. Other than though they rule. If you like The Explosion check out these kids on 12th and Tucker. These guys play plastic buckets with drum sticks and have bottle caps on their shoes. I think The Explosion may open for them next week. Are they seriously still refered to as East bay hardcore? i love how this fuck gives credit to the drummer for speeding up and slowing down at the right times. hahahaha. AFI are glam whores and davey havok's voice sounds like he's been washing that vegetarian diet down with a few shots of semen. Don't worry about LTJ. They are on Capitol Records. I see nothing but positivity in their future. Sigh...Less Than Jake. Capitol is a major label... have you heard the new nofx song, "mattersville", about the old punk retirement home? they mention davey havoc in that. He does not seem out of place in that song, as cutting edge as rolling stone says their new sound is. "Oh, they've been around for ten years but we've never paid any attention to them before. They're used to be on the guy from the offspring's label? The offspring are cool". Fuck, it sucks that they're blowing up now, especially seeing ltj are too. Not that the bands are similar, but they're both coming out on a major label this year. And don't say that LTJ have been on a major label before, Capitol Records is not that big. grealy you can find me.....in da club Oh yeah and that "The best part of seeing big bands" comment below is fucking hilarious cause it's true. That pretty much describes the last couple of times I saw LTJ perfectly. Seeing AFI would be nice, but since they released the new album (meh) and I started listening to more of The Explosion (wow!) I have to say that I would be far more excited about seeing the Explosion. Anyway, no FL dates pretty much makes that a moot point. I'm not gonna bag on the kid's review like everyone else but I have to disagree strongly. Hey just wondering if anyone one else thinks this review sucks as much as the blood brothers "i got bruisEz all over my legs" "What the hell were you on that AFI pit was weak it was little 16 year old kids running around moshing. You dont mosh at a AFI concert you hardcore dance and punch the ground and do kicks and flips. To all you people going to see this tour I suggest that you leave after the explosion play. They put on one of the best sets I have seen in sometime. And for AFI, they should be opening for the explosion. Someone really needs to tell them that there new songs suck and that only their old material should be played. Like the guy on the bottom said: "Tarantulas Attack. " AFI was the best conncert iv been to yet, that crowd was fuckin crazy and i got bruisEz all over my legs, im sick of water being so FUCKING expensive, GOD DAMNIT REVIERA, PLEASE GIVE OUT FREE WATER!!! it could be getto water, i dun care. anyways, i think someone peed on me! AFI sure knows how to pleasure there fans.. "Haha, those little punkers didn't know WHAT to think about the Blood Brothers. Morons." the best part about shows with big bands are: Hey reviewer, i have to disagree with you about the Blood Brothers. You said that everyone was just standing around looking confused, or something along those lines. That was completly false. There was a huge hardcore pit. I would know, i was in it getting my ass kicked. I am still getting used to those kinds of pits. Also, What AFI pit? For AFI, there really wasn't a pit. It was more like everyone wanted to get as close to the stage as possible. I croudsurfed around the whole damn venue, (or atleast the part where therw was people to hold me up) and i didnot see a real pit. This score is for your review it looks ridiculous when kids wear shirts of the band playing. i went to the taking back sunday/fata/recover show in charlotte and i'd say an honest 20% of the kids there were wearing the exact same taking back sunday shirt that somebody said you can only buy at hot topic. and not suprisingly at least 85% of the kids wearing that shirt were 17 and under. not that anybody cares, nor it pertains to this review, but along the same line as people commenting to new school AFI fans, Adam Lazzara took just about every oppurtunity between songs to basically talk shit about most of the kids there, saying how he thinks it is funny that they were too cool for his band 2 months ago i saw the explosion with dkm and they rule,check them out So many misfits shirts at the pitts AFI show... so many. Afi puts on a good show. I am so glad i got to see A.F.I. before they blew up,this was when hardore kids actually went to their shows not mall punks. they played wit death by stereo and Rise against it was amazing. who the fuck wrote this a twelve year old. jesus every show review on this site blows becuase it's always some kids first punk show and he just pretends he's being informative. fucking write about setlists not rancid punks getting detained for 45 minutes. you mean the village people. YMCA was a popular song by the village people. i hate stupid idiots who dont know the village people from a bowl of salad, tossed lightly. I saw AFI/Explosion in St. Louis a week and a half ago. AFI's set consisted 2/3rds of newer material either off Sing the Sorrow or Art of Drowning. They put on one of the best shows I've seen in a while, lots of energy, sounded great, made me appreciate the new album more than I did before. I disagree with the statement the vocals are "lazy." You may not like the new direction but as far as punk goes Davey has obviously expanded his range and sharpened his technique. I can't think of many hardcore singers who can't hit highs and drop to the mellow lows like he does on the newer material. davey havok could be the 6th member of Ymca Anyone who can not at least appreciate the Explosion doesn't know ass about punkrock. Plain and simple. I'm not saying you have to like them, but they are FAR from mediocre. I can admit that about many bands I may not like. I stopped reading after you said the Explosion were medicore. I mean, you're entitled to your oppinion and all, but that doesn't mean I have to respect it. i remember a time when they had trouble selling out the Metro and it saddens me that i couldn't go to this. welp.. glad i didn't go. "i find it funny how the guy down there comments on tarantulas, even though they've barely released anything" What the hell were you on that AFI pit was weak it was little 16 year old kids running around moshing. You dont mosh at a AFI concert you hardcore dance and punch the ground and do kicks and flips. Yes, this is exactly what you want in a review. You want the reviewer to tell you how long he was in the merch line. Don't bother putting the setlist in the review, as the gentleman below me stated, go to the site & get the setlist. It's not like it should be in the review anyway. I mean what would you rather hear about, how much time some Tim Armstrong look alike got detained by security or what songs the band played? I think the answer is obvious. This was the single greatest review I've ever read. Hey retards, go check out www.afireinside.net and to their msg board, they have all the set lists for their whole fucking tour listen there by board members. Stop bitching and go look. "autographs by their favorite East Bay Hardcore group"Am I the only one amused by this? This review shouldn't have made it past the editing table. Here i was at work hoping to read an AFI review that gave me some inkling of what new tracks they played....I was largely disappointed. Can ANYONE who was there tell me what they played? AFI blows. The Blood Brothers are the jam. blood brothers own AFI. by far. Haha, those little punkers didn't know WHAT to think about the Blood Brothers. Morons. DAVEY HAVOK IS A WOMAN! sorry buddy, i was thoroughly disappointed by this review. i'm seeing afi next thursday at roseland and i really would've appreciated knowing what afi's set list is like nowadays (post-major label debut). YOU DIDNT NAME ONE FUCKING SONG...wait let me check back...ok NO YOU DIDN'T. it's ok to tell actually tell us what they played and less how some rancid gutter punk got kicked out. thanks for the pit warning, but jesus i would've dropped it just to name drop some goddamn song titles. to the dumb fuck who made the dk's remark down below : they are from san francisco (west bay) not from berkeley or oakland (east bay)... I found that they played spectacular energy, and a compulsion to play the best they possibly could. ahhahahahahahhaah i find it funny how the guy down there comments on tarantulas, even though they've barely released anything. I know..."There were a lot of people there" should be a sufficient description of that stuff. im kind of tired of seeing show reviews that comment on what you did (ie how u got to the show, what you ate for dinner, what u were wearing) i wanna hear about the bands' sets, and commenting on the crowd is part of that but dont make it most of ur review...this one isnt as bad as some others but still, whats so hard about giving an objective review of the performance rather than what their merch line was like... you should avoid dissin the xplsn. tarantulas are a force to be reckoned with.. my favorite east bay hardcore group is the dead kennedys. |
