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Get Up Kids / Recover / Rocky Votolato

live in San Diego
2004
live show

Review by: Sheena
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Rocky Votolato Official Site (link)

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Published on April 2nd 2004

This was a sold out show, which was hard to believe when I arrived because there were only a handful of people outside. Unfortunately, this shows to me a lack of interest or possibly just knowledge of the opening acts.

And the opener: the still unheard of Rocky Votolato, formerly of Waxwing. He's so unheard of, his merch is still handmade. You can get a homemade wristband or fleece scarf, and none of them are the same. The fashion conscious hipsters can put their worries to rest with this merch. But to the music: I fell in love with his music a couple of years ago, and have made every effort to make it to most of the his appearences, but as far as everyone else is concerned, he's having trouble getting his name out. I could simply say he is a short guy with a guitar and a harmonica. My closest, although very bad comparison is Dashboard Confessional sans band and with more mature lyrics. His guitar playing is more intricate than Chris Carabba's as well. If you're even remotely into this kind of simple music, I say get your butt to the show early and catch this act.

By the time Recover went on, the venue was at least half full, with people continuing to roll in. I don't know much about Recover to give you a decent in depth detailed review. Recover is another one of those bands where if they haven't already, will soon be on the cover of AP Mag. They're not big yet, but seem to me like the kind of band that will be big next year because that's just the kind of music they are. Sort of like Brand Who? in 2002, Brand New in 2003. I wasn't into Recover, but a good sized group was. They were definitely the sore thumb in the line up though because they were just a little too fast for Rocky and a little too rough for The Get Up Kids. They just barely make it into this genre.

The Get Up Kids are one of those bands that tries the differnt sounds, hit it with some fans, lose it with others but can please everyone with their pop. After 2002's iffy (yet good) On a Wire, the Get Up Kids may be back in their game with Guilt Show. It's much more upbeat than Wire. The Get Up Kids have a sizeable discography but the CD that seems to remain on top with the crowd was "Something to Write Home About", as the majority of song titles screamed out were from that album. There were some kids though that thought they were being funny or cool be knowing and screaming out GUK side projects.

Band frontman Matthew Pryor showed his respect for the venue by reminding the crowd to behave. I applaud him for taking charge of the crowd rather than leaving it to the venue employees. It says a lot about the manners of the band. The band played a great set and the thing I liked best was that they played a little something from pretty much every CD they have (excluding compilations). Some of the songs played (in no particular order): I'm a Loner Dottie, A Rebel, Anne Arbour, Mass Pike, Red Letter Day, I'll Catch you, Action & Action, Paul Westerburg's Beer For Breakfast, and of course a few songs off the newly released Guilt Show. The show ended on 3 song encore with the last song being 10 Minutes.

The performaces of the bands were well worth my time, I have nothing hateful to say about this show and for that, I would recommend this show to you.

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Posted by some1 on 2004-04-09 02:52:36
My Score:

it doesn't matter if Recover is better than your band, if they suck, they suck.

that's like saying, Hitler was a way better leader than you, so you can't say he sucks.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 7, 2004 at 4:17 PM (EDT)
My Score:

if carrabba is the only guy you could possiblly compare rocky to, then your immediate knowledge is at best limited friend. now don't go surfing the next to find out more; it's academic. maybe go ask some of the scene kids in san diego who claim more scene than the rest of the united states for help. chances are they won't know either because they're too busy with acquiring the next cool pair of shoes or trying to discover the next in thing. so go ahead, talk.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 at 9:54 AM (EDT)
My Score:

3 lame bands on a record...oh man

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 5, 2004 at 11:26 PM (EDT)
My Score:

The guy who judges a band by their attire must be into "fashioncore". Recover is better than your band, so shut the fuck up!

-bemused-

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 5, 2004 at 9:30 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Vaux is a poor man's thrice thats for sure.

Barkley

Posted by poopypants on 2004-04-05 15:40:26
My Score:

recover fucking suck, all hype, no substance. a poor mans thrice...or even a poor mans vaux. fuck them. this review reads like a homeless mans mumblings

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 5, 2004 at 12:59 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Recover RULES! Seriously, i saw them on the Take Over tour last year and they were amazing. I can't wait to hear how they've developed over the past year or so. They are the definition of ROCK by my standards.

... and to the dumbass, he wasn't saying Recover "sounds" like Brand New. That would be horrible. He's saying their reputation at this point in thier careers is similar to that of Brand New in 2002. dumbass! heh. it's all good. PEACE!

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 5, 2004 at 7:52 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Unless you've ever written a better review in your life and had it posted on a respectable website (which most of you haven't), get off this reviewer's back. bitches.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 4, 2004 at 11:15 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Recover= another band that not only sucks, but their fashion sense is both appaling and hysterical. These guys look like extras from the set of the Dukes Of Hazzard. Bushy fuckin hair, mustaches, tight, nut hugging jeans. I have a new name for the style of music bands like Recover and Anatomy of a Ghost play : EMO. That's right, EMO as in " Hey guys, I EMO vaseline on my dick so I can fuck you up the ass".

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 4, 2004 at 10:42 AM (EDT)
My Score:

jeez, have you fuckers got nuthin better to do than to try and keep punk rock elite? so what if it is a bad review? its a fucking review after all - if you don't like it, either start a fuckin band or a website, instead of tryin to act holier than thou cos you know who wrote a replacements song (who gives a fat fuck?? its a shite song) - get the fuck out of your bedroom and do something instead of sniping, you pricks

Posted by lieutenant on 2004-04-03 19:34:46
My Score:

This was badly written.

I thought I'd fruitlessly take the time of both of our days to point that out. Thanks!

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 3, 2004 at 2:19 PM (EST)
My Score:

"Is it me, or do all the reviews for San Diego shows suck balls?"

that's because they're all written by the same person

rocky votolato isn't really that unheard of...

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 3, 2004 at 2:02 PM (EST)
My Score:

recover is funny in Slowreader's "On that day" video

Posted by maverick on 2004-04-03 10:59:58
My Score:

She wasn't saying they did. She was saying that the band is due for a popularity boom like Brand New had last year.

-Scott

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 3, 2004 at 8:33 AM (EST)
My Score:

Recover don't sound like Brand New, you tool.

Posted by sheena on 2004-04-03 05:22:04
My Score:

Beer For Breakfast: "This song was written by Paul Westerburg, Copyright 1986 NAH Music @ ASACP. Originally performed by the Replacements."

Right out of "Eudora" by the Get Up Kids. Stinson may have helped write it, but his name is only there as "Replacements". I go by who wrote the song, and I used Eudora as my source.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 2, 2004 at 10:19 PM (EST)
My Score:

rockys not formally of waxwing. waxwing is still together. tehy just never have time to play. they will though.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 2, 2004 at 9:01 PM (EST)
My Score:

Is it me, or do all the reviews for San Diego shows suck balls?

Matt Pryor is such a crowd Nazi. It's his way or the highway. Someone needs to bust out The Safety Dance on that bitch.

"We can dance if we want to!"

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 2, 2004 at 4:56 PM (EST)
My Score:

Recover is truly underrated. They blow away most the bands that play that style of music.

Posted by sleepwalk on 2004-04-02 15:48:56
My Score:

On a Wire was "iffy (yet good)"? Why call it iffy at all then? Just to satisfy the scene-view that says it wasn't any good? I don't think it was iffy at all, I think it's great. It's also great when people want the same album over and over - diversity in sound? What a waste of time, a terrible idea!

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 2, 2004 at 3:03 PM (EST)
My Score:

Beer for Breakfast was a Replacements song, not a Paul Westerberg song, Stinson helped write it.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 2, 2004 at 2:53 PM (EST)
My Score:

weird review...

it reads like it was spewed out by a really illiterate robot.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 2, 2004 at 2:38 PM (EST)
My Score:

"The performaces of the bands were well worth my time, I have nothing hateful to say about this show and for that, I would recommend this show to you. "

Hateful? hahahahaha

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 2, 2004 at 2:35 PM (EST)
My Score:

That review was bad...who thought this was suitable for publication? You guys are totally fired.

Tyrone Biggums