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Reggie and The Full Effect / Midtown

live in Philadelphia
2003
live show

Review by: benz
See others by this writer

Better For You.....than meeee (link)

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Published on August 22nd 2003

I got the tickets to this show for free, so I really wouldn't have cared if this show sucked. But it didn't....well, kinda.

We went through the security checks where they informed us that there was no smoking or crowd surfing at the Trocadero. We went inside looked at some merch and stopped to see who was playing. I didn't know much about the non-Reggie bands playing, so I was curious as to what they would sound like. Apparently Finch was the first band, and they just changed their name to Senses Failed or something. Whoever they were they weren't memorable at all, in that they sound like every other power-pop with screaming band out there.

Up next was My Chemical Romance, who seemed to have a large number of fans in the building. I know a bunch of people who like them so I was hopeful that they would bring on the rock.

My Chemical Romance isn't that good at all. Their songs made no impression on me. The only exception is one song they played that sounded like Rush. It had 80's style duelling guitars and a sweet rolling drum thing going on - that was cool.

My friends and I started to work our way towards the front. I never had anything against Midtown, I just think they are an OK band. I gotta say though, if you are a fan of Midtown, you should see them live, they put on a good show. I wasn't really into most of their songs, but they really do like to rock out. If I liked their sound more I definetly would have been digging their set. They did a lot of guitar tricks, throwing them around and holding them up in the air. I actually really enjoyed the last song they played.

So then it came time for the only band I was really there to see, Reggie and The Full Effect....in FUCKIN' full effect! The entire band, wearing red suit coats, ties, mostaches, and long haired wigs took the stage. Hungry Bear, fully dressed in a bear costume, came out holding up a microphone. James a.k.a. Reggie a.k.a. Paco thanked the audience for showing up that night. Immediately Hungry Bear a.k.a. Sean from Coalesce threw himself forward screaming "LET'S GET IT OOOOOOONNNN!!!!" starting off one of the most fun/wacky/entertaining musical performances I have ever seen. The first song, "Apocalypse WOW!", set the stage for the songs that would follow. This band is a great group of performers. The guitarists and bassist were all over these awesome and funny "gods of rock" poses. James kept coming down into the audience and singing along with the kids. He also let the crowd carry some of the vocals, but he didn't over-do it *coughdashboardcoughtakingbacksundaycough*. The whole set was spectacular. Highlights included the performance of "Better For You", the sweet ass keyboard solo in "What's Wrong?", Hungry Bear constantly crowd surfing (despite Trocadero rules, ha ha take that Trocadero!) and running around in the audience, the cover of the Slayer song "Raining Blood", James' hilarious explaination of how he came up with "Paco" (it involves Pizza delivery and a lonely middle aged woman), and the final Reggie song of the night "Something I'm Not", which left Hungry Bear screaming for about a minute. A couple minutes later James came out wearing a powdered wig, shiny clothing, and roller blades. He then performed two Fluxuation songs and also mooned the crowd when his pants started falling off. Then, about 10 minutes after Fluxuation, the band came out in full gothic get up. They then performed two Common Denominators songs. Their set ended with James standing in the middle of the stage in his underpants, wearing a pentagram necklace, chest covered in blood, and repeatedly throwing a gong at the ground. If you ever want to be vastly entertained, see Reggie and the Full Effect live.

I was gonna give this a 10, but since I gotta rate the show as a whole and the other bands weren't really that good, it gets a 9.

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 5:16 PM (EDT)
My Score:

"OK BSD, I'll meet you halfway on the Clash comment, but their worst material far surpassed most 80's garbage."

That's totally true, but I really wouldn't consider them an 80's band by any stretch of the imagination. Mick Jones quit in 1983, and their album after that sucked... Sandanista! has some great tracks, and Combat Rock is okayish/borderline bad, but Cut the Crap is just shit... No Mick= No Clash.

-BSD

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 1:26 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Reggie at K-fest was pure entertainment. This score is for them, and Shawn..

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 9:25 AM (EDT)
My Score:

OK BSD, I'll meet you halfway on the Clash comment, but their worst material far surpassed most 80's garbage.

And don't talk smack on Rev. Run.

-sickboi
("there is none higher")

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 12:45 AM (EDT)
My Score:

i don't know where to put this, but junior senior is fucking catchy ass dance music. holy shit.
-benz

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 11:38 PM (EDT)
My Score:

i like 80's music, and yes i remember it. but i understand where a lot of people come from when they say they don't like R&TFE. i just happen to love them. great performers.
-benz

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 4:29 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Uhhhh... SicBoi, your memory mustn't be too good, because the Clash were at their crappiest in the 80s and Run DMC... Oh well I know that's a joke.

-BSD

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 12:26 PM (EDT)
My Score:

I watched Reggie at Kfest, and honestly, I do not know what the hell you kids see in that crap. Take it from someone that remembers music from the 80's, most of it sucked ass, we do not need a crappy revival.

-sickboi
(the Clash and Run DMC saved the 80's)

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 25, 2003 at 11:16 PM (EDT)
My Score:

You are a pompous asshole. Get over yourself. The scene does not revolve around you. Jesus.

Posted by Poisonthesink on 2003-08-24 21:35:53
My Score:

The only way Mario Lemieux wins a scoring title this year is if the NHL allows him to bring a cane on to the ice this year. He should trade himself to the Red Wings, the like old people!

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 5:33 PM (EDT)
My Score:

i'm from the 'burgh. i ate at primanties today. god bless the stillers, god bless cower power, god bless mario, (scoring title this year beeyyyaaaaaaaaaatch!)
god bless america!!

Posted by KirbyPuckett on 2003-08-24 10:15:00
My Score:

"I saw the show in Pittsburgh as well. I thought MCR was the best band there..."

You didn't watch Reggie then...

""Scotty...If I said this comparison rubbed me the wrong way it would be an understatement...it's more like I spent the summer at Christian Campers Bible Camp, that's how much it rubbed me the wrong way. A lot of your comments have been on target..but I'm sorry, this dart is the furthest away from the bullseye you could be."

I downloaded some of their music and you're right, I'm wrong...I still don't like them though.

"Go Browns!"

Brown's fans are morons -- Thus you're a moron.

"I hope they win the super bowl this year though, so I never have to hear that "1 for the thumb!" bullshit again."

I hear you on that one...Ugh...

- Scott
http://www.local-felons.com/
(Myron Cope is Punk Rock)

Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-08-23 23:32:10
My Score:

I hate the Steelers, but I hate their fans even more. They come to Penguins games dressed in Steelers jerseys, get plastered, and scream "SHOOT THE PUCK!" or "get it to LEEEMMMIEEEUUXXXX!" even when he's on the bench. I hope they win the super bowl this year though, so I never have to hear that "1 for the thumb!" bullshit again.

Posted by Poisonthesink on 2003-08-23 23:24:56
My Score:

Steelers SUCK! Bill Cohwer should be put in a insane asylum.
Oh ya, Iron City Beer is a great beer..... for me to poop on......

Go Browns!

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 10:05 PM (EDT)
My Score:

I saw the show in Pittsburgh as well. I thought MCR was the best band there and I hadn't heard anything from them before. And you can't take it away from Senses Fail, I thought they put on an energetic set, especially for being an opening band. You can't deny that most opening bands struggle to get the crowd going, and those guys don't have a problem with it.

Posted by InaGreendase on 2003-08-23 22:04:46
My Score:

"My Chemical Romance, were Taking Back Sunday ripoffs "

Scotty...If I said this comparison rubbed me the wrong way it would be an understatement...it's more like I spent the summer at Christian Campers Bible Camp, that's how much it rubbed me the wrong way. A lot of your comments have been on target..but I'm sorry, this dart is the furthest away from the bullseye you could be.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 6:17 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Reggie and the Full Effect make for a boring band with boring music.

Sara( no h)

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 1:59 AM (EDT)
My Score:

i saw this show at Irving Plaza in NYC the other night. It was just MCR, Midtown and Reggie, and i guess i enjoyed MCR but their lead singer thought he was from some sort of gothic metal band and im sure the others thought they were too, but at least the singer was very nice(got to talk to him a little) , and midtown does fuckin suck so i don't want to discuss that shit, and reggie tore it up. That lead singer fuck from TBS was at this show with his little emo purse and cute hairstyle, i was praying he was going to trip over something but he didn't, oh well. Overall the show was better than I thought it would be, and 2 fights broke out in the crowd which was pretty cool, but whatever, if I had it my way Alk3 would have played instead of Midtown, but you can't always get what you want i guess.- Monkey Man

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 1:08 AM (EDT)
My Score:

if moneen was there this show would have easily gotten a 10. i would trade moneen for senses failed any day of the fuckin week. moneen is an incredible band.
-benz

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 11:34 PM (EDT)
My Score:

i didn't think it was a brutal review. well maybe the "Senses Fail is Finch" reference was a bit below the belt, but I thought it was pretty fair.

Posted by at_the_drive_in_21 on 2003-08-22 23:32:39
My Score:

Just bought my tickets for this show today (Its on monday in Toronto) and I have to say I'm more stoked to see Moneen than any of the other acts. Moneen rocks the shit - shame you guys got Senses Fail instead.
Zero stars until I see the bands monday.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 8:17 PM (EDT)
My Score:

"p.s. i am a third grader."

I'm in 2nd and my daddy can whoop on your daddy...Oh hold up Teenage is Mutant Ninja Turtles is on...

- Scott
http://www.local-felons.com/
(Nostalgia)

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 7:21 PM (EDT)
My Score:

That is a fucking brutal review. My Chemical Romance compared to some of those bands isn't even close, Midtown sucks seriously.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 4:07 PM (EDT)
My Score:

"P.S. - The Steelers are better than the Eagles."

*gasp*
.........oh....yeah...
-benz

p.s. i am a third grader.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 3:53 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Well I was going to review the Pittsburgh version of this show, but this guy pretty much knew exactly what I was going to say about the first three bands and then define exactly how much Reggie & The Full Effect 'pwnd' the crowd (Sorry, I wanted to use a cool "gamer" term).

Senses Fail, I thought they were more like Thursday clones than Finch. It just seems they ripped off everything Thursday did, including the breakdowns. About two songs into their set, the lead singer took his pants off and finished things in his boxers -- That's fucked up.

My Chemical Romance, were Taking Back Sunday ripoffs and I don't even like TBS -- Well they do put on a good live show and MCR doesn't.

Midtown is sort of my guilty pleasure. I've just liked these guys from the get go when the first played here in Pittsburgh before being signed to Drive-Thru and I've followed them ever since. They did a pretty good job playing a very fair mixture of songs, 3 brand new, three from "Save the World, Lose the Girl," and another three from "Living Well is the Best Revenge." The new songs didn't do much for me, I thought they lacked a lot of "rock" and the passion that I felt Midtown always put into their music. Everything else was great though, as they do put on a good set. By the way, the last song you heard from them buddy was probably "Faulty Foundations."

FINALLY REGGIE!

I've read review after review of the guys performing live and everyone just being blown away at how great of a performance these guys drop -- it was just that. The reviewer basically stated everything about these guys that I can. The set lists were identical and all the gimmicks were the same. To me though, it seemed like the crowd was more into the previous bands than the latter, eh. Unlike the reviewer I am giving this show a '10' because Reggie rocked me enough to forget about how terrible the first two bands were.

P.S. - The Steelers are better than the Eagles.

- Scott
http://www.local-felons.com/
(Maybe I should do some work here at CompUSA)

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 3:11 PM (EDT)
My Score:

I think this was a pretty weak review. It reminded me of something you'd read from a third grader

"And then this happend, and this, then..."

Brake up the paragraphs, do something.

It was a pretty good show. I was surprised.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 12:38 PM (EDT)
My Score:

yea, i think it's great that bands let the audience sing. but not when they let the audience sing the entire song alone.
-benz

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 12:33 PM (EDT)
My Score:

dude, beleive it or not, many bands let the crowd sing and give them the microphone before tbs and dashboard.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 12:32 PM (EDT)
My Score:

you suck, you suck, your review sucks, i dont like you because you have different music tastes than i do, i will gain scene points by dissing your favorite bands.