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Stretch Arm Strong / Comeback Kid / Evergreen Terrace

live in Huntington
2004
live show

Review by: Fuzzy
See others by this writer

Cornzine Productions (link)

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Published on February 10th 2004

After recently moving back home to West (by god!) Virginia from the armpit of the nation, New Jersey, I was in deep need of something to cheer me up. Along came Cornzine and it's listings of shows in the southern WV area. Listed for the next show was Evergreen Terrace, Comeback Kid, Stretch Armstrong, and Beloved. After finding out that Beloved had canceled and was playing with some other, crappier bands out in California, I debated whether or not my presence at this show was needed, but my desperate need for non-family interaction won me over, and thank god it did.

First off, the Huntington YWCA is a pretty awesome venue. For those who have been to the First Unitarian Church in Philly, imagine that, only well lit. The sound was decent the entire night, and overall it was a good time. On to the bands!

Out of Nowhere opened us up. I wouldn't go as far as saying they were great, but they were pretty entertaining. It was your standard straight ahead punk, with occassional double bass and some softer parts thrown in. It wasn't really outstanding, but I enjoyed it.

Evergreen Terrace came up next. I was a little leary going into this, because of what I'd heard, I wasn't really a huge fan of ET, but I was soon taught wrong. They were intense. Powering through a set comprised of songs that I don't know the name of (except for their cover of Zero, by the Smashing Pumpkins), I really enjoyed them. There was a sense of intensity that I hadn't seen in a while, all the while whipping the kids in the pit into a frenzy of floor punches, windmills, and spin kicks.

Comeback Kid was described to me as "Bane, from Canada, with double bass". Well fuck, that description, while admirable and favorable, does them little justice. After ET's exhausting set, I awaited the Canucks, and they delivered. "Bringing the mosh" is one of the funniest phrases I've ever heard and it is the only accurate way to describe the set that CK delivered. The bass was pounding, the screams were epic, and the intensity was unmeasurable. Another awesome set.

Stretch Armstrong took the stage with a humbleness and grace that can only be won through years of being a mainstay and powerful voice in music. Stretch has proven themselves, even though their latest release was received with some less than ecstatic emotions. Anyways, their set was awesome. Opening up and immediately whipping the crowd into a floor punching frenzy, they started and never stopped. Actually, that's a lie. They stopped to remind us all to stay positive, to thank Out of Nowhere for opening, and to thank us all for "staying true" to hardcore and to positive music. It was awesome. I think that's about the only word for it. Ending with a massive sing-a-long, their set was fun and energetic the whole time.

To steal from the Cars, this show was just what I needed. I needed some positive, energetic music to dance and sing to. Hell, I didn't know the majority of the songs that night, but it was amazing anyways. I'm not sure if this is a traveling tour, if it's a one off shot, but I'd advise catching any of these bands any time you can.

As an addendum, I'd like to say thanks to Dana White and the Cornzine Productions crew for putting on this and other good shows for the WV kids.

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Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-02-15 13:55:28
My Score:

At least Laga isn't as bad as Nick's Fat City. Meh.

Posted by backupdork on 2004-02-15 12:56:59
My Score:

i've seen SAS 3 or 4 times, and they were kinda weak the last time i saw them, but maybe that's just 'cause it was in pittsburgh, and hardcore shows at Laga are kinda lame.

i did, however, get to see the comeback kid for a second time with evergreen terrace play at a house outside of pittsburgh with my friends' band. evergreen terrace was cool, but comeback kid was PHENOMENAL.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 15, 2004 at 2:24 AM (EST)
My Score:

"Fuck Comeback Kid!! They are a bunch of preachy Jesus Freaks on an even shittier Jesus freak label! The bible is a lie you dumbfucks!!"

dude, read their fucking lyrics, they dont preach about jesus at all. They aren't a full fledged jesus band (at least in my opinion) anyway, what's wrong with standing for what you believe in?

Posted by declinepunk on 2004-02-14 23:10:24
My Score:

dude....i think the bible is bullshit and all but shut the fuck up.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 12, 2004 at 8:16 PM (EST)
My Score:

Fuck Comeback Kid!! They are a bunch of preachy Jesus Freaks on an even shittier Jesus freak label! The bible is a lie you dumbfucks!!

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 12, 2004 at 2:42 PM (EST)
My Score:

man, i drove to nashville for this show, and it was totally worth it. Comeback Kid was so amazing live. Biggest sing along pile i've seen "on with my life!" fucking epic.

but yeah, i drove from KC to Nashville for a show... and it was totally worth every dollar i spent.

Posted by Fuzzy on 2004-02-12 09:10:46
My Score:

I really have no comeback. Your overwhelming argumentative skills have crushed me.

Posted by ashton on 2004-02-11 19:27:42
My Score:

"Ashton:

It would've been good if a song title was mentioned.
Sorry, as mentioned in there, I am not familiar with much of the work of these artists. I don't really think you need to know what songs were played to know whether or not it was a good show."

Yes, you're right, needless to say....JO GAT PONKT.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 at 5:44 PM (EST)
My Score:

at first i was really confused by your location. you said you moved west (but really you said west virginia) and then mentioned california, and the show took place in huntington (i thought you ment huntington beach) but i didn't recognize the venue.
wow, i'm lame

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 11:47 PM (EST)
My Score:

CBK absolutely owns. They just need to make a new cd, because they only had one to play off of...

ET was cool, a cover cd concept is kind of lame, but they did a great job covering Op Ivy...

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 9:45 PM (EST)
My Score:

I like ET and Comeback Kid, but I'm not sure I've ever bothered to hear Stretch. But what caught my eye with Comeback Kid was how AP described them, "Hardcore for kids who think XXX means porn"

And, they definitely don't use the double pedal that much, beause it doesn't bother me at all.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 7:00 PM (EST)
My Score:

I was at this show and I just want to say that ET did a kick ass job slamming considering thsat they were playing without thier bassist. And SAS has maintained a similar set list through the past couple years despite their new album.

Posted by Edgie on 2004-02-10 17:27:24
My Score:

Fuck you and your SAS review. I've loved them for years now and I keep getting screwed out of seeing them. Speaking of 'fuck you', fuck you Pennywise for selling out that fucking show. And fuck you NFG for bringing them to Tampa. I'm not paying $30 to see SAS.

Bah! Score is for the amount of sadness I feel for not having ever seen them. *emo sob*

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 5:25 PM (EST)
My Score:

"Anyway did Stretch play the Loft or at the Chance??"

They played the Chance, and it was definitely a blast. I was kinda dissapointed because not too many people showed up, and a lot left after Norma Jean played, so the place looked kinda empty when SAS came on, it might've felt more filled in the Loft. But SAS was still rocktastic, they had a load of energy, and were tight as hell.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 5:12 PM (EST)
My Score:

It's obvious you have no idea what you're talking about or you're confusing SAS with another band.

I have seen Stretch three times in Denver, in 99 with Diecast, 01 with Hope Conspiracy, and I saw them again last November and I didn't see a decline in their live show at all...

They still have all the energy and stage presence that they had in 99, and they still play all of their breakdowns with the same intensity...

SAS gets worse with every live show they play.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 5:05 PM (EST)
My Score:

haha, since when is west virginia any better than new jersey?

chicago is where its at

Posted by Fuzzy on 2004-02-10 17:04:24
My Score:

Ashton:
It would've been good if a song title was mentioned.
Sorry, as mentioned in there, I am not familiar with much of the work of these artists. I don't really think you need to know what songs were played to know whether or not it was a good show.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 4:15 PM (EST)
My Score:

SAS gets worse with every live show they play.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 4:01 PM (EST)
My Score:

Hey to the guy in Poughkeepsie, I saw Bigwig there last summer at the Loft. The show was supposed to be at the Chance Theater, but they changed the venue for some unknown reason.

Anyway did Stretch play the Loft or at the Chance??

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 3:58 PM (EST)
My Score:

Sickboi - I saw them twice last summer and they didn't play Angels or any cover song for that matter. I saw them a couple of years earlier and they played Melt With You. I wish they would play more covers live, I think they do the best cover of any band out there. My favorite cover of theirs is Express Yourself by NWA off of Engage...

Posted by notaclevername on 2004-02-10 15:32:38
My Score:

CBK is way better than Bane
don't ask me why, because they don't sound THAT different, but they just are

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 2:53 PM (EST)
My Score:

You've obviously never seen Soul Train.

-sickboi

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 1:59 PM (EST)
My Score:

fact or fiction: PA and NJ kids are the only good dancers in the US?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 1:11 PM (EST)
My Score:

"I've only seen SAS once, but have seen a few setlists. Do they ever play "Angels of the Silences"? That song is soooo not their style, but I fucking love it."

Sickboi, they played it as a one-song encore at the show I went to In Poughkeepsie, NY. It was pretty recent, a few weeks before Engage came out, but I don't know if the list has changed since then.

Posted by ashton on 2004-02-10 12:45:27
My Score:

It would've been good if a song title was mentioned.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 12:37 PM (EST)
My Score:

I've only seen SAS once, but have seen a few setlists. Do they ever play "Angels of the Silences"? That song is soooo not their style, but I fucking love it.

-sickboi