Diffuser

Spitalfield / Silverstein / Diffuser: live in Wheatonlive in Wheaton (2004)
Victory Records

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: maverickScott
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Published on January 20th 2004This was Spitalfield's first Chicago area show in a few months, and their fans definitely let them know it. The venue, a quaint little mini-Metro called the Wheaton Grand Theater was bursting at the seams with pre-pubuscent boys and girls, accompanied by their frowning parents. Couple that with yo.

This was Spitalfield's first Chicago area show in a few months, and their fans definitely let them know it. The venue, a quaint little mini-Metro called the Wheaton Grand Theater was bursting at the seams with pre-pubuscent boys and girls, accompanied by their frowning parents. Couple that with your suburbanite high school skanks and your fashioncore kids, and it was one hell of a shitty crowd. I almost wish it would have been a 21-and-up show, but then I realized I would have been the only one in attendance.

First up were locals Crown The Rookie. They sounded like a really sloppy version of old Spitalfield. They covered an old Spitalfield song. The singer is Mark Rose of Spitalfield's brother. The end.

Up next was Eli. I opted not to watch their set, instead talking to about a half dozen 12 and 13 year olds about their musical tastes. Surprisingly, the kids knew their shit, and they were asking me to tell them more about their favorite bands, who begat whom, et cetera. I told them all to go buy The Shape Of Punk To Come and they wrote it down on their hands with permanent marker, presumably to be used for autographs later that night. I'd like to think I made a difference.

Finally, back to music. Long Island natives Diffuser were up next. Kicking their set off with "Karma," I had high hopes for a killer set of Injury Loves Melody-era material. Instead, I got 5 songs in a row off of their utterly disappointing sophomor[ic] effort Making The Grade, the best of which were "Don't Ask Me Why" and "She's All Mine," which featured Mark Rose coming out to take over lead vocals. The girls swooned when he came out. It was cute. Diffuser thankfully closed their half hour set with "Leaving With A California Tilt," showing that the band still has talent. Hopefully they rediscover it for their next album.

Silverstein was up next. Unfortunately, my shoe became untied and I bent over to tie it. By the time I finished, their set was over. Oh well.

Spitalfield took the stage to a sold-out crowd of pre-teens and teens screaming their hearts out, and kicked into their en-song set with "Five Days And Counting" off their new album Remember Right Now. They sounded much tighter musically than when I saw them at their record release show seven months ago; I guess the nonstop touring paid off.

The rest of their set was basically all the faster-paced songs off Remember..., each one being eaten up more heartily than the last by the rabid crowd. Surprises on the setlist included "Are We Still Here?" off their Cloak & Dagger Club EP, as well as a roaring cover of the Promise Ring's "Is This Thing On?", which left most kids in the audience scratching their heads in confusion, watching Rose sing about Delaware.

After obvious set closer "I Loved The Way She Said LA," the band left the stage to a tremendous ovation, only to return and give the crowd one last song - "Stolen From Some Great Writer" - before sending them on their merry way. It was nice to see the hometown boys really make it, and there's only bigger and better things ahead for them, no question.

DIFFUSER'S SETLIST
Karma
New High
She's Alright
Here's To You
Don't Ask Me Why
I Wonder
Leaving With A California Tilt

SPITALFIELD'S SETLIST
Five Days And Counting
Those Days You Felt Alive
Kill The Drama
Am I Ready?
Is This Thing On? [Promise Ring cover]
You Can't Stop
Fairweather Friend
Are We Still Here?
I Loved The Way She Said "L.A."
ENCORE
Stolen From Some Great Writer

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (January 27, 2004)

spitalfield were dead on at this show!

Anonymous (January 26, 2004)

This was a terrible review. The band that you missed Eli was incredible. Young kids who were extremely talented. It's too bad you want to be "influential" to kids eventhough u hated the fact that they were there.

Anonymous (January 26, 2004)

"when i was three i was taken to see Raffi. i am punk."

I still think Bryan Adams is more punk rock. 'Everything I Do...' is some hardcore shit, yo.

Anonymous (January 26, 2004)

"a quaint little mini-Metro called the Wheaton Grand Theater was bursting at the seams with pre-pubuscent boys and girls, accompanied by their frowning parents. Couple that with your suburbanite high school skanks and your fashioncore kids, and it was one hell of a shitty crowd."

Hey, that's every all ages show in Southern California, give or take a bit.
I guess that's not such a bad thing, it's just kind of annoying when you're towards the front of a packed show and you are trying not to squash kids that are barely 5 feet.

Anonymous (January 25, 2004)

when i was three i was taken to see Raffi. i am punk.

Anonymous (January 25, 2004)

When I was five I was taken to see Bryan Adams. I am more punk than anyone on this site.

Anonymous (January 25, 2004)

Hahahaha I like how many people here think "kids" shouldn't go to shows... Granted, I hate a lot of kids, but if people my age (16) and lower or slightly older didn't go to shows, no bands would ever come to town. You older people... Do you think we should get into punk in college, maybe go to our first show while getting our PhD?

Where do you want kids to start? Because not everyone is so dumb that they are oblivious of punk rock until college.

-BSD

Anonymous (January 25, 2004)

i think the same 20 jackasses post this negative stuff, and the re-read what they post and think to themselves "man oh man, i burned that band good".

if you don't like the band- don't comment so ignorantly on the review. you're allowed an opinion, that's a given, but mindless posts are just wasting everyone's time.

Anonymous (January 24, 2004)

You know what, I come here, I read these reviews- and I leave with nothing. Why do people fucking bother even reading these reviews if they don't like the bands?

Who the HELL cares if pre-teens and post toddlers are there? We all start somewhere.

Anonymous (January 23, 2004)

this score is for the guy who said silverstein was the best thing about the show.

i wasn't there, but there is no way that silverstein would ever be a positive aspect of a show.

Anonymous (January 23, 2004)

"Lifetime > Saves The Day > Spitalfield"

This score is for Lifetime. Saves The Day suck ass just as much as Spitalfield.

Anonymous (January 23, 2004)

shitty review dude.

ashton (January 23, 2004)

i remember over a year ago when sum 41 had just released their single and like 10 people (which probably were the same guy who was also a member of spitalfield) ranted about how sum 41 stole riffs from them.

if anything it's an offspring ripoff.

Anonymous (January 23, 2004)

'live in wheaton' ahahah that cracks me up.

Anonymous (January 22, 2004)

The review was pretty accurate, the concert was packed with pre-teens and post-toddlers. Diffuser was horrible, the only thing that made it tolerable was watching some girl flick them off after every song. Silverstein is the only thing that made the show worthwhile, much better then Spitalfield, who seemed like they played the same song over and over again. Silverstein gets the credit for pumping up the crowd, they got the mini moshes started, and a few people kicked out, good stuff.

Anonymous (January 22, 2004)

*-yossarian

Anonymous (January 22, 2004)

are you sure spitalfield knows who millencolin are?

-yosarian

Anonymous (January 22, 2004)

-c22

Anonymous (January 22, 2004)

Sure it isn't stolen, it just sounds alot like it, and is called "STOLEN from some great writer". But nah, its not even close to stolen. Damn emo kid.

Anonymous (January 22, 2004)

I'm pretty sure the song "stolen from some great writer" has nothing to do with Millencolin in any way.

also- there is NOTHING wrong with covering a Promise Ring song.

good review scott. i think spitalfield's next album is going to be the incredible.

Anonymous (January 22, 2004)

never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna turn around.and.desert you!

i love that old white dude that sings 80's songs.

Anonymous (January 22, 2004)

In this case it does.......

-c22

Rhythm (January 22, 2004)

just because it is new and original doesn't mean that it's good.

Anonymous (January 21, 2004)

When you(Spitalfield) end up covering a cover band, thats when you know you suck.

Lifetime > Saves The Day > Spitalfield

-c22

Anonymous (January 21, 2004)

dude, spitalfield are the most average saves the day cover band i have ever heard. i'd take falloutboy over these guys. tracks 1 and 3 are the only decent songs on the album. that "am i ready, yes you're ready" song not only sounds super faggy (go ahead sing along, and listen to yourself) but the lyrics are retarded and bland, just like the album. they arent cheesy adn they have talent on their instruments, but their music lacks any sort of claws or teeth at all. no sack. pussies.

oh yea, new saves the day owns this shit. at least that was a new direction and original.

Rhythm (January 21, 2004)

scores for how good it is knowing that i'm not the only one that likes spitalfield better than new saves the day.

Anonymous (January 21, 2004)

Yet I come here all the time and read news posts by him.

-BSD

Anonymous (January 21, 2004)

How is it not? It's obvious they stole it, look at the name of the song... They have no right playing it live.

-c22

ashton (January 21, 2004)

well, it sounds a bit like no cigar, but it's not really too much of a theft.

Anonymous (January 21, 2004)

Why dont you guys all just realize that Silverstein is the best band ever...... Ok i lied im sorry. i couldnt take taht joke any farther without having to punch myself for even trying to joke about that.

jheisel (January 21, 2004)

The Promise Ring hasn't been broken up long enough to justify doing a cover anywhere outside of practice. dorks.

Anonymous (January 21, 2004)

www.geocities.com/blacktiebombers

jacobe (January 20, 2004)

enjoying Spitalfield and makeing fun of Silversein is like being a big fan of Aids but not Cancer.