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 | Anti-Flag / Rise Against / Against Me!live in Phoenix2003 live show   Review by: boldredletters See others by this writer Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on November 11th 2003 Regardless of your feelings on Anti-Flag, they've put together one hell of a lineup for their fall/winter tour. For the stop in Phoenix, they chose to play a 1500 person or so capacity venue in Tempe known as The Marquee. Opening the night was The Vacancy from Pittsburgh, PA. I'm fairly sure that this band is on A-F Records. The first song was terrible - it sounded like any of the other 6,000 mall-emo-with-screaming-background-vocals. Throughout the set they kind of grew on me a little bit. While currently I wouldn't mind never hearing another one of their songs again, they played with energy and might develop into something good in years to come. Next up was None More Black. The vocalist (the name escapes me) in the band is from Kid Dynamite. He also plays guitar. I happen to think he has one of the best voices in punk in recent years, and with NMB he applied it to midtempo melodic punk that was not wholly unoriginal. I can also see how this band could develop into something great in the future; for now, however, they are a band with great vocals, a few great songs, and a lot of mediocre ones. The crowd started off with a pit to the first song, but gradually just dissolved into bobbing heads as the set went on. Definitely a band worth checking out live - although I can see now why the vocalist had to take a break after Kid Dynamite. I imagined he'd have a high pitched voice, but instead he must just really tear his throat up. Against Me! was next on the bill. If you have yet to see this band, you are missing out on one of the acts people will talk about in 20 years, in the sense that they will wonder what it would have been like to see such an amazing band live. I'm fortunate enough to have this be my third time seeing them, and while it was weird seeing them on a stage, behind barriers, the energy in the music and the passion in the performance was undeniable. The set list:
"Walking is Still Honest" "Cliche Guevera" "Pints of Guiness..." "Those Anarcho Punks..." "Sink, Florida, Sink" "Mutiny on the Electronic Bay" "The Disco Before the Breakdown" "Rice and Bread" "Re-inventing Axl Rose" "Turn Those Clapping Hands Into Angry Balled Fists"
Might've messed up the order a bit, but yeah. Against Me! is a band you need to see; their songs need to be heard, and their words need to be spoken. I have to say in all the shows I've been to, this was the first where the crowd demanded an encore of one of the openers; unfortunately, they could not comply. Rise Against was next. This is a band that was built up to a great degree before I had a chance to witness them live, and for the most part they lived up to those expectations. Anthemic melodic hardcore in the vein of maybe an edgier early Dag Nasty. The crowd really got into it; there were circle pits aplenty and raised fists during every song. A good band to check out if you are into old school hardcore punk. Next, the band a lot of people love to hate, Anti-Flag. I've never been a huge fan of their rhetorical style of delivery, or their fans, but I must admit, they put on a decent live show. Lots of energy, and the crowd sang along to every word. And for as much shit as gets talked about Anti-Flag crowds, not one fight was started, and not one kid was hurt in the pit. I had trepidations before going to this show, mostly about the crowd. And to some extent, they were true. I hear Anti-Flag normally asks noone to smoke; they didn't have to at this show, because of the approxamately 7 people over 18, I don't think one of us were smokers. And it is definitely an adjustment seeing punk behind barriers. The music, however, is more than worth the price of admission.
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two words: anti flag. Those shows in canada will rip because New Mexican Disaster Squad is going to be opening them up. They school the rest of those A-F bands that are opening that tour. Yea, can't wait for next Tues. NMB should play longer than 25 mins and i also hope Jay doesn't lose his voice before the 18th. Depending on how burned out and in need of a drink i am, i might stay to see some A-F. im seeing this in january, it will be nice to see none more black, against me and rise against especially, i would see any of them on their own, so im excited.. I cant wiat to catch this show on 11-17-03 in SLC er nevermind. "Wed. Jan 21 in Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix Theater 7:00 $16.50/$20 CDN This tour is doing around a week's worth of dates in canada, give or take. From what I've heard New Mexican Disaster Squad will be opening all of them, which is a big plus for you oldschool punk fans. i was also at the show in SD. altho i spent to much time driniking at home becuz i really only wanted to see Rise Against(im old and i have no time) but fourtuatley i arrived early enough to catch half of Against Me's set. i enjoyed their set, but they did seem to ramble between songs. but sice i didnt need any rise against merch, i bought an Against me cd, a very good diecision. anyways, rise against rocked and it seemed like there were a lot more people there and into them then from when i saw them back in july. as for anti flag, i dont care for them so i took off. but a good thing about this show is that there was a Fat sampler that was free fro the taking that had a new descendents song. which reminded me that they have a new record coming and with a new record comes a few tours... mmmmm and the descendents live are something to be cherished. good christ motherfuckers i dont think any of these bands suck that bad, why are they on tour if they do? fucking chill Went to this show when it passed through San Diego this past Saturday night and thought Id give my impressions. It was an amazing lineup. I enjoyed every band in some way although I didnt like The Vacancy that much and have never been a fan of Anti-flag(still have to admit they put on a great show). Was disappointed that None More Black only played for about 25 minutes and wanted to hear more. It was my first time hearing Against Me live. Very interesting sound that is dfferent than anything else I listen to(too much talking in between songs was an annoyance to me though). I was pleasantly surprised Rise Against played a pretty long set even though they werent considered the headliners(and just didnt expect a long set because of the quality of all the bands). This was the 3rd time I've seen them this year, somewhat altered the setlist from what I had heard before which was a pleasantly surprised. Decided Id give Antiflag a chance(although I was feeling like crap this night) and listened to them roll off 9 high energy songs in about 30 minutes before taking off and they were better than I remembered. All in all one of the better shows Ive seen this year, especially when I think about the fact that Id have gone to a show with just one of the fours "name" bands that comprised this tour. This review was okay, but here's how I'd make it better.... Saw the show a few days ago, it was really fun. Against Me! was great. And I don't care what anyone says, Anti-Flag owns. Good review. I'm going to be seeing this show tonight in SF. Now I know what to expect. "Against Me! blow. Anarcho-punks? Fuckin' jokes." nmds is a lot better than the vacancy, that sounds like a great show. Wed. Jan 21 in Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix Theater 7:00 $16.50/$20 CDN Against Me! said that this tour was coming to Canada in january when they played in toronto recently Just die instead. oh please let it be true.. Against Me! is more overrated now, than Thrice, and Good Charlotte. Are the rumors about this tour coming to Canada true? Please say they are. Sounds like an amazing show, but I still haven't heard a None More Black song that isn't fucking amazing. awful review...how'd you give 4.5 stars when your scores added up to less than 3.5... The only thing I'm Against this tour about is it not doing more east coast dates. The score is for how amazing it would be to attend this. None More Black...Rise Against...AM!...A-F...it gives me shivers. first! and against me! is amazing! |
