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So there I was again; standing outside the Wedgewood Rooms, temperatures which would freeze the tits off a polar bear, townies in their crap adorned Novas trying to impress the line by doing burnouts at the lights and laughing like they'd just discovered a new way to tuck their socks into their trackies.

Yes ladies and gents, ye olde city of Portsmouth was about to play host to another menagerie of musical beasts, headlined by the Godzilla of Kleenex-rock themselves, Brand New. Backing them up would be 'the Canadian ones' Moneen and Straylight Run, comprising members from the former Taking Back Sunday.

In I went, for some reason they were playing some really weird country type crap while we waited for the sound guys to get everything together and the first act to hit the stage, this wasn't exactly rousing the crowd up much. Which was a shame, because when Moneen did come on, it was like deja vu of last Tuesday, everyone kinda stood around looking at the stage with folded arms and a sultry look, as if Timmy Mallet was up there trying to administer a wack-a-plaster on an unsuspecting victim. They did do a sweet set though, and the audience gave them a good reception after every song, kudos to Chris for having such insane dreads as well.

Soon after, Straylight Run took the stage and the eyes of the entire male population of the audience averted to Michelle (and I think all of the females' to John). I really didn't know what to expect from them, and I don't think most of the audience did either, I heard a few people in the queue earlier going 'umm yeah there's a couple of other bands... one's called like stray...run... light or something and the other's umm... maureen?'. So anyway they began, and everybody stood and listened in this sort of mesmerised state, whether or not they were just perving at their chosen band member I'm not sure, but I seem to remember myself half forgetting where I was from being sheerly encapsulated by their music, it was an awe-inspiring experience. I suggest you grab the stuff off their website like they told us to.

After being more than pleasantly surprised by the last set, it was comforting to know that something even better was still to come, something so good I think I was almost salivating at the prospect. And in a melee of noise that would wake Sleeping Beauty, Brand New entered.

No introduction, no 'hi we're so and so from blahdeblah', they knew you knew who they were, and instead went straight into 'Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't'. Now, have you ever watched those videos where there's a herd of wildebeest roaming the plains, and suddenly a leopard hurtles out of the undergrowth and flings them into a frenzied stampede? Well change the herd of wildebeest with a charged rock concert audience, and the leopard with the transition from the verse to the chorus in that song and you kinda have the image of what happened when Brand New took the stage last night.

The set continued, but the order was lost to me in a haze of moshing and shouting. 'Jaws Theme Swimming', 'I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light', 'The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot', 'The Quiet Things That No-one Ever Knows' and 'Guernica' were played in the first stint, in fact I think nearly all of Deja Entendu was played at some point, and some stuff off Your Favourite Weapon was chucked into the recipe for good measure, such as 'Mix Tape' and 'Jude Law And A Semester Abroad'.

After racking up a few bruises, half dehydrating from having only 1 drink all evening and sounding like Harvey Fierstein on a bad day, I joined in the chants of 'Brand New!' when they said thanks and left the stage. About five minutes later, Jesse came back out to play 'Soco Amaretto Lime', which pretty much everybody joined into, and finally the rest of the band came back out to finish with 'Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades'. Everyone went nuts and thus ended a damn good set, be seeing you next time guys.

Cracking show all round, all three bands gave it loads and hopefully felt they got it back off us, send more bands over to your 51st state pals please!






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    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 2, 2004 at 7:39 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Moneen is the only reason to see this show. They, along with turbonegro,counterfit and the layaway plan are single handidly saving rock n roll(in its current state).

    anyone that calls moneen generic emo, is retarded. plain and simple. if you want generic emo, listen to something corporate or something.

    -bryan styles

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 2, 2004 at 10:52 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    number one, i found the guy talking about fucking his dad to be hilarious. right on bro, fuck with the lil mall punk kids. secondly, brand new is a great band, but i think they get way too much credit. they want to be all artistic and different and it's just kind of boring after about half way through their CD (that being said, the 1st half of the CD rocks my face off).

    this sounded like and interesting show, and im sure it was cool. yay brand new.

    however, my score is for the guy who talked about finger his dad's ass. that was funny, and he is cooler than you all.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 1, 2004 at 2:29 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Any girl that calls a guy shallow for saying he likes attractive girls, is fat and unattractive.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 1, 2004 at 6:51 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    "what? its hard to type when your fingers are all slippery with your father's cum, so i'll just assume that was some sort of hideous typo."--how many times are you going to post this reply. having issues with what your dad did to you before he left you and your mom is no reason to be uncreative. nice attempt at humor though...the therapy is finally paying off.

    Posted by maverick on 2004-01-31 22:32:33
    My Score:

    Portsmouth, UK.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 31, 2004 at 10:15 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Is this Portsmouth, NH??

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 31, 2004 at 5:10 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    5th grade was the last time i felt comfortable talking about it. then i learned about my special places and was too embarrassed to talk about it. but now with the anonymity of the internet, i can open up about fucking my dad.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 31, 2004 at 3:23 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    yeah. I bet he really gives his dad hand jobs. That's fucking retard. I heard comments like that at the lunch table in 5th grade. This score is for you.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 30, 2004 at 3:07 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    *VOMIT!*

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 30, 2004 at 2:55 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    If your fingers get that slippery, all you need to do is start finger-banging Pops. The fecal residue that would accumulate of your fingers will act like chalk- soaking up the moisture and giving you some much needed grip.

    After that, you can type away without worrying about slippery fingered typos that are the result of Dad-Splooge.

    Good luck.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 10:31 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    what? its hard to type when your fingers are all slippery with your father's cum, so i'll just assume that was some sort of hideous typo.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 7:16 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    refused sucks
    brand new rox
    nuff sed.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 4:52 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    refused-the shape of punk to come

    Posted by 2punk4u182 on 2004-01-29 16:48:56
    My Score:

    wahhhhh cwanky kirk why don't you stop crying..

    ;)

    Posted by sleepy on 2004-01-29 16:41:20
    My Score:

    the straylight run site looks similar to emogame becuase it's by the company/guy that did the emogame. starvingeyes.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 4:10 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    scores for scott stealing the moneen signing to vagrant news from tate.

    -chris march

    chris grow up stop suckin tate off

    Posted by Since94 on 2004-01-29 15:14:49
    My Score:

    The straylight hottie can tongue my bung anyday!!....The website looks the same design as emogame.

    Posted by Rhythm on 2004-01-29 15:05:38
    My Score:

    scores for the word "hater".

    Posted by krankykirk on 2004-01-29 14:24:09
    My Score:

    i love how this tour pulled the hater card on cleveland. the scores for what couldve been.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 11:28 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    scores for sickboi.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 10:27 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    If they put on the most intense live show you have ever seen, you should get out more.

    -sickboi

    Posted by tsunami_boy on 2004-01-29 10:16:07
    My Score:

    Moneen puts on the most intense live show i have ever seen. they kick ass, everyone should go buy are we really happy with who we are right now.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 6:36 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Score's for that hottie Michelle. As I recall, the chick from the now-defunct Anniversary is way hot too, but she has a mole or beauty mark or some such thing on her face. It scared me, that thing had arms and legs. On a side note, I saw Digger and My Hotel Year tonight, and talked to Digger frontman Chris for a while after. Nice guy, and both were great bands live. No hot chicks in either band, but still.

    - Fatty Arbuckle

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 4:31 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I could not find a good enough picture to be able to tell if the girl in The Anniversary is good looking or not. The chicks from Eisley are pretty damn cute. Too bad they weren't older..the oldest one is 21.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 1:57 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Wow, Straylight Run have an amazing looking website. Thumbs up for their web designer.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 11:16 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "Michelle" is not that hot. She's cute but she is NOT Gorgeous. I'd say that Adrian from the Anniversary is way hotter and two of the chicks from Eisley would make her look like me and im a really ugly guy. Brand New kicks ass live and any other way, Moneen is alright and Straylight Run is boring.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 10:12 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    she really is gorgeous. it's a shame that band is pretty mediocre.

    moneen and brand new, however, are both amazing. moneen is one of the best live bands i've evern seen.

    Posted by Sureshot on 2004-01-28 19:03:08
    My Score:

    John and Michelle both do guitar/keyboard/vocals, they swapped between guitar and keyboard for certain songs during the set.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 5:33 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Damn, she is hot. What does she play? My guess is bass, thats what hot chicks usually play.

    Posted by mrwaffles on 2004-01-28 15:50:17
    My Score:

    Wow. She is really hot. go to http://www.straylightrun.com/ and you'll see what I mean

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 3:29 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this whole punknews vs. tate shit is ridiculous- don't you two get it, whoever acts like the bigger man and moves on looks better in the end- jesus, you guys whine more than my little sister- move on

    Posted by maverick on 2004-01-28 15:00:48
    My Score:

    Rrrrrrrright. You keep thinking that.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 11:39 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    scores for scott stealing the moneen signing to vagrant news from tate.

    -chris march

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 10:17 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    8=======lD (___o(____)

    scores for jesse taking it from john nolan.

    Posted by Sureshot on 2004-01-28 10:06:49
    My Score:

    'The Canadian ones' is how they introduced themselves, wasn't having a dig or anything :P

    Posted by Rhythm on 2004-01-28 09:05:30
    My Score:

    score's for the comment below me.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 5:16 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    "wow. how shallow is this guy below me."

    Oh, pardon me. Sorry about being honest. Please forgive me for my general dislike of unhealthy, obese, trendy girls with arms as thick as my upper leg and shirts tighter than John Nolan's jeans. I know it's a shame that I'd find someone attractive who is healthy-looking and beautiful over the dumpy, goofy emo/hardcore fat bitch with the ugly haircut that spends 14 hours in front of a computer on her blog at live journal bitching about how x.sad.x and x.depressed.x her life is.

    By the way: Eat my ass, nerds.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 3:22 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    ha ha, good comment about the shallowness.

    On this bill, Moneen are not just "the Canadian ones" but "the only good ones".

    Baaaaaaaaaaaaam!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 2:18 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    wow. how shallow is this guy below me.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 1:42 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Michelle is very hot.

    It's about time the "scene" has a hot looking women. I'm sick of seeing dozens of fat fuck, lip-ring wearing fat bitches with jet black hair, dashboard confessional shirts and nerdy glasses (complete with button-plastered messenger bag) at shows. Fuck that shit.

    This score is for Michelle.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 1:15 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    'michelle is beautiful, when they toured with the new ams i was in lust at first sight.'

    yea. I'd smack her ass.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 11:47 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    score is for michelle's tits.

    Posted by 8dollarclarinetsolo on 2004-01-27 22:26:58
    My Score:

    that may have been exactly what they played here. has their set list been any different in the past 6 months or so?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 7:29 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    michelle is beautiful, when they toured with the new ams i was in lust at first sight.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 7:03 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    moneen is generic emo at its finest

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 6:28 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i saw this show in Leeds. I missed Moneen cos I was eating paella but thought Stray light run were boring and the dude really cant sing and needs to be told. Brand New were ruling in a moderate way.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 6:25 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i think epitaph released deja entendu in europe

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 6:10 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Damn emo bands....

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 6:05 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I hope there are more reviews for Brand New shows commin, lord knows we need 'em.

    I heard that Brand New signed with Epitaph, is it true?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 4:22 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "fucking cock sucking tit head."

    Nominated for most laughable insult ever.

    Posted by PetroBPettson on 2004-01-27 16:19:42
    My Score:

    Moneen.....MAN alive do they ever suck ass!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 3:47 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i thought the interview was good and interesting

    Posted by mikeinflames on 2004-01-27 15:21:24
    My Score:

    moneen brand new = sux
    Remember this simple formula and you'll all get through life okay

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 3:11 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    scores for britian.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 3:10 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I can predict the opening of every live show review anymore.

    - Kirby

    Posted by Sureshot on 2004-01-27 14:55:16
    My Score:

    Mr. Anonymous 2 posts down: thanks for the intelligent comments.

    And 1 post down, perhaps you're right, but then I can't help being British :P

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 1:43 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    One of the most confusing reviews I've ever read. I'm not one for cultural imperialism, but could you maybe try to write in a style that non-Brits could understand?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 1:22 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    to the guy that wrote the review:

    fuck you buddy. :-)

    fucking cock sucking tit head.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 1:21 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    moneen is too excellent. seen em twice. better and better.

    Posted by Sureshot on 2004-01-27 11:34:05
    My Score:

    It's a review of the show, I'm not doing an album review here.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 11:30 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I would ruin my fucking scrotum fucking michelle...over and over and over...fuck brand new...fuck straylight run. But fuck michelle, oh yeah!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 11:26 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I finish the review and still have no idea what the bands sound like. NO idea. Well, there seems to be a girl in one band...I dunno.

    Were you reviewing the crowd or the preformers? I'm confused

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 11:25 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    moneen owns brand new live

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 10:46 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    scores for jesse lacey.

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