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Streetlight Manifesto / MU330 / Plunket

live in Chicago
2005
live show

Review by: primeevil7
See others by this writer

Ska is Dead website (link)

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Published on February 1st 2005

Ska is Dead 2 was announced way back when, and immediately I was excited, hearing Streelight Manifesto and the Voodoo Glow Skulls were on the tour. Well, technically I was more exicted for Streetlight than VGS, but whatever.

Opening the Chicago stop, and the tour was Downers Grove own Plunket. They weren't a ska band per se, (sure they used a trombone now and again) but they were enjoyable, so your time would not be wasted seeing them. For a young group, they're quite talented, and perhaps worth your time.

MU330 was next and...ummm...well...they were weird. However, they projected their own brand of energy very well onstage, kept the crowd enthusiastic and into it, skanking the set away. One of their trombone players wore 3-D glasses, took both his shirts off and announced a new song called "Dirty Rotten Ass," which, contrary to its name, sounded lighthearted and soothing on the ears. Go see them if you get the opportunity.

At 7:55 I figured between sets I'd go down and check out the merch booth. The line couldn't possibly be that long, and I'd be back in time to catch the Voodoo Glow Skulls. I bought my Streetlight Manifesto t-shirt at 8:45.

By the time I got back upstairs, VGS were signing off. Sorry.

I can't do justice to how good Streetlight Manifesto is live, so I'll put down the setlist. They added in a lot of solos for the horn section in the songs, and most of the intros to the songs were much lengthened by such jamming. As soon as SM stepped on stage the crowd roared and got into it, turning the floor of the Metro into a joyous pit with the kids pushing each other around. After the concert, the trumpet player noted that the auidence was really loud. The performers were all smiles, enjoying themselves, and their energy was infectious.

Streelight Manifesto was extremely coy about their upcoming CD, only saying that "you'll like it when you hear it."

Set List (not in order):
color-coded quotes (opener)
everything went numb
a moment of silence
a moment of violence
keasbey nights
here's to life
failing, flailing
point/counterpoint
a ska song of which I am not aware
a better place, a better time
big sleep (last song before encore)
dear sergio (encore)

Oddities:

Streetlight Manifesto t-shirts are mildly expensive, but the long sleeve is 30 dollars, in stark contrast to the much lower prices that the other groups had.
Brendan from the Lawrence Arms probably is working at the Metro now.
Victory Records were passing out magazines which had interviews with all their groups in it.
eMusic and Rolling Stone were offering free trial subscriptions to their magazines, including 26 free issues to Rolling Stone. Apparently, those offers are included in the price of the ticket to the Metro.

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 21, 2005 at 7:24 AM (EDT)

if you like sm, youl love filaments

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 21, 2005 at 7:21 AM (EDT)

can't wait to see streetlight in england- i'll b the crazy girl on stage. vgs are nothing compared to sm. keep on skanking!

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 6, 2005 at 2:18 PM (EST)
My Score:

i was at the buffalo show

all i can say is that it was incredible

mu330 really surprised me, i hadnt heard much of them before the show but i heard good things.
they turned out to be really good

although im not much of a vgs fan, they put on an amazing live show, theres just so much energy, and i couldnt help but skank like crazy when they played charlie brown

streetlight manifesto was too good for words
all i have to say is when they interrupted point/cointerpoint to play keasby nights, it was one of the best moments ive ever experienced at a show

dear sergio and hey ska as the encore songs were pleasant surprises as well

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 5, 2005 at 7:54 PM (EST)
My Score:

The show was freaking awesome. The energy there was amazing. The crowd was psycho. The Streetlight site said that 1100 people were there. I missed the majority of Mu330's set because I was standing in the damn merch line. I think the Voodoo Glow Skulls are pretty repetitive but everyone was getting into it.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 5, 2005 at 1:49 PM (EST)
My Score:

They played "Hey Ska" in Buffalo last night too which was amazing... especially fitting because the Suicide Machines refuse to play that song anymore...

Kind of dissapointing to see barely any of the kids at the show know the song either, it's not like the Machines are old or anything...

Posted by hubitcherkokov on 2005-02-05 03:36:18
My Score:

The "Hey Ska!" cover in Cleveland was unbelievable!

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 4, 2005 at 7:48 PM (EST)
My Score:

last night in Cleveland they played 'hey ska' by the suicide machines as part of the encore.

HA!

- Kirby

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 4, 2005 at 4:10 PM (EST)
My Score:

ugh, that was a terrible review.

MU330 is weird?? What??

All props to them, I like them a lot, but they are not a weird band. They style is straightforward and easily understood.

And, uh, yeah, that big guy with the glasses who tears his shirts and stuff...that's Gerry, as in Skankin' Pickle Gerry, and if you don't know that then you seriously are not qualified to review a ska/ska-punk show.

All of the above said with all due respect. I'm glad you are into some of the music, but to not recognize Gerry is a crime in my book.

Have a nice day!

Posted by niveK82 on 2005-02-03 13:48:42
My Score:

It sucked that i oculdnt go, bu for my suffereing here are some gmail invites

Gmail invite

Gmail invite

Gmail invite

Gmail invite

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 12:20 PM (EST)
My Score:

If I was at a gig and I wanted to see a band, I'd not bother buying a shirt and wait til the next opportunity arises. VGS are a cool live band as well.

Joe

Posted by kenjamin on 2005-02-03 11:56:45
My Score:

hobbitcore: you, anchors, and I should meet up and catch all the sweet screamo bands on this taste of chaos tour. I call dibs on catching bert's vomit in my mouth though!

Posted by hobbitcore on 2005-02-03 03:57:22
My Score:

...hahahahahahahahahaha

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at 11:59 PM (EST)
My Score:

Hey guys! Starting this weekend my promotion company, Poison Fingers Promo, will be giving away more than 200 tickets to various dates on the world famous Taste of Chaos Tour, featuring the best bands in punk, hardcore, and emo today - including, The Used, My Chemical Romance, Senses Fail, Killswitch Engage, and many more!!
The contest doesn't offically start until this weekend, but I wanted to give you guys a head start on getting entered. if you want more information hit me up on my AIM screenname ryanoconnorrules and I can give you all the details! A website featuring much more information will be up by this weekend! In the meantime keep your eyes on www.TasteofChaos.com for up to the minute updates on tour stops and happenings!
Again the SN is RYANOCONNORRULES

Posted by corpseofmymotivation on 2005-02-02 18:22:03
My Score:

"The song was suppose to be on there, and was written by Max and Jeremy but when they got kicked out they took the song with them. Its on the NearMiss album. pretty good actually. the drums are nuts. and yes interpunk should of updated their tracklisting."

What's NearMiss like? I love Bigwig.

Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-02-02 17:27:14
My Score:

Actually, my Novemer 2003 copy that my brother got me for Christmas of that year.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at 2:53 PM (EST)
My Score:

Did you also know that Bigwig has a song called "The Game" on Invitation To Tragedy?
------------------------------------------------

The song was suppose to be on there, and was written by Max and Jeremy but when they got kicked out they took the song with them. Its on the NearMiss album. pretty good actually. the drums are nuts. and yes interpunk should of updated their tracklisting.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at 2:27 PM (EST)
My Score:

"Color-Coded Quotes is what it says on my copy of "Everything Goes Numb"."
-----------------------------------------------
Yes, you're burned copy with the pen writing.

Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-02-02 14:19:12
My Score:

Color-Coded Quotes is what it says on my copy of "Everything Goes Numb".

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at 1:36 PM (EST)
My Score:

"i had no idea "color coded quotes" was a sm song. i think you're referring to "if and when we rise again"."
------------------------------------------------------- --

Well, when you burn a copy, then write down the tracklisting from lame-ass Interpunk.com, that's what you come up with.

Did you also know that Bigwig has a song called "The Game" on Invitation To Tragedy?

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at 1:08 PM (EST)
My Score:

i had no idea "color coded quotes" was a sm song. i think you're referring to "if and when we rise again".

Posted by CorpseOfMyMotivation on 2005-02-02 13:02:27
My Score:

http://www.nothingnice.com/comics/20020301.jpg

Posted by CorpseOfMyMotivation on 2005-02-02 12:42:35
My Score:

"This score is for the fact that Voodoo Glow Skulls opened for Streetlight Manifesto. VGS has been around since 1988. SM has been around since 2001. The influental Voodoo Glow Skulls should be the headliner."

I'd probably agree with you if VGS was a good band. I forced myself to get into them for a few weeks before my band opened for them last year, and it worked for awhile, but then I realized that all their songs are exactly the same. It'd be a bit more tolerable if Frank could actually sing.

Posted by The_Buse on 2005-02-02 11:11:24
My Score:

I went to the show at the Metro and had a blast (possibly since I was loaded), and decided to go see the tour in Milwaukee last night. Sweet Jesus, one of the worst clubs, worst sound, and the kids there! There must have been 200 people, none above 14 and every one of them horrible at skanking. After that show, I can see that ska really is dead and fucking should be if this is the new generation of fans. Score for SM at Metro.

Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-02-02 09:07:15
My Score:

Shit, Brendan has no idea who I am, and I doubt even more that he gives a fuck what people say about him on the internet. As for why I'd spend 50 minutes buying a tshirt, that was when the line was shortest.

If you got an idea of what the bands and concert were like, then I did my job.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 10:50 PM (EST)
My Score:

what a crappy review

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 10:25 PM (EST)
My Score:

Anyone seen Bren's wife before? Is she hot?

-nfgrawker

Posted by ThenightProwler on 2005-02-01 22:10:42
My Score:

Voodoo Glow Skulls are pretty average, I could never get into any of their albums. Their live show was ok but I enjoyed Plunket & MU330 far more than VGS.

The last time the VGS headlined The Metro, a few days before the show happened I got an email that would count as a free ticket to the show (I'm on the Metro's e-newsletter list) so my guess is that VGS either wanted to be really nice to the people on the Metro's newsletter list or that VGS had trouble selling tickets to the show and wanted to fill up the venue.

Posted by kenjamin on 2005-02-01 21:20:02
My Score:

I think Brendan would be embarassed to hear you praise him as a musical genius and why would you spend 50 minutes buying a fucking t-shirt?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 9:00 PM (EST)
My Score:

This score is for the fact that Voodoo Glow Skulls opened for Streetlight Manifesto. VGS has been around since 1988. SM has been around since 2001. The influental Voodoo Glow Skulls should be the headliner.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 6:58 PM (EST)
My Score:

Streetlight's new drummer Chris Thratcher is very good. He had a pretty good drum solo to open If And When We Rise instead of that slow opening. He can do the album justice and then some.

Posted by ThenightProwler on 2005-02-01 17:05:47
My Score:

At this show, Brendan looked like a French sailor with his green & brown striped sweater, the hat, and that silly mustache with a five o’clock shadow that he was sporting.

Oh yeah and MU330 were really good, I gotta buy one of their albums eventually.

Posted by fifteen on 2005-02-01 16:50:55
My Score:

thats so awsome that there playing some catch 22 stuff , cant wait till they hit phoenix

Posted by CorpseOfMyMotivation on 2005-02-01 16:20:34
My Score:

"Brendan Kelly is a fucking douchebag and half.

However much I do like the music he has written over the years, he is a fucking asshole.

Burn your Brendan affiliated garbage.

Fuck this man. Score is for him."

Some of my friends talked to him after a show and said he and Chris were really nice guys. He's a smartass though.

Posted by Big_Guy on 2005-02-01 15:37:03
My Score:

Is Streetlight's newer drummer as good as the guy on Everything Goes Numb?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 3:33 PM (EST)
My Score:

This guy is lucky he missed the VGS because they sucked ass. The guitarist must think he is hot shit because he drowned everything out.

Score is for Streetlight Manifesto and MU330.

Posted by Crookedsuperhero on 2005-02-01 15:13:43
My Score:

In Britain its the name of a train system.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 3:03 PM (EST)
My Score:

In Canada, the Metro is the name of a grocery chain.

-Chinatown

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 2:48 PM (EST)
My Score:

This review sucks. Take some writing classes.

Posted by punkindrublic696 on 2005-02-01 14:34:22
My Score:

Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-02-01 14:27:12
My Score:

Brendan Kelly is a musical genius, love him or loathe him.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 1:49 PM (EST)
My Score:

This show deserves a better review.

This review sucked worse than the VGS set.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 1:21 PM (EST)
My Score:

I wish i saw him at the show, as i'd like to thank him for releasing such kickass music.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 12:58 PM (EST)
My Score:

Brendan Kelly is a fucking douchebag and half.

However much I do like the music he has written over the years, he is a fucking asshole.

Burn your Brendan affiliated garbage.

Fuck this man. Score is for him.

Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-02-01 12:40:32
My Score:

I tried to go to this but it was sold out. Since when do kids like ska again?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 11:10 AM (EST)
My Score:

what is this "ska" that everyone is talking about?

Posted by Crookedsuperhero on 2005-02-01 10:33:18
My Score:

Brendan works at The Metro? That's pretty awesome.

How in any way is that awesome?

Posted by CorpseOfMyMotivation on 2005-02-01 10:14:17
My Score:

Brendan works at The Metro? That's pretty awesome. I can't wait till Streetlight comes to AZ in March.

Posted by kirbypuckett on 2005-02-01 09:34:00
My Score:

I'll be seeing Streetlight in Cleveland on Thursday!

- Kirby

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 9:04 AM (EST)
My Score:

Good show
my Ratings

Plunckett - 7
Mu330 - 5
Voodoo Glow Skulls -2
Streetlight Manifesto - 9

Posted by veggieska on 2005-02-01 08:17:56
My Score:

Holy shit! They played a Mephiskapheles song??!!

This only multiplies their awesomeness by about 7000. Too bad I don't think I can make the drive to state college on the 15th to see this. I've never seen MU330, even though they were supposed to come to pittsburgh this summer. I never got a clear answer from anyone as to why their show got cancelled. Its just so damn sad....

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 2:48 AM (EST)
My Score:

Reiview sucked

MU330 IS AMAZING! Seriously, that band is the best.
How could you possibly miss VGS.... the mexicans love em' and you should too.
Catch 22 songs what?!!!

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 1:58 AM (EST)
My Score:

They covered Saba by the Mephiskaphleles!! It was amazing. Also Keasby nights was played in the middle point/counterpoint. Yeah, it was badass.

Posted by Jesse on 2005-02-01 01:29:20
My Score:

Dude, MU330 is amazing, and really the only ska band that deserves praise these days.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 12:23 AM (EST)
My Score:

Everyone on this messageboard open up that fuckin circle right now, anyone at the chicago show will know what i am talking about.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 12:16 AM (EST)
My Score:

wow keasby nights and dear sergio thats awsome. I cant wait until the 15th when it comes here.

~exploitedyouth~

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 12:15 AM (EST)
My Score:

first! its my birthday!
fags!
www.blacktiebombers.com

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 12:14 AM (EST)
My Score:

I saw this last night in Sauget, IL (St. Louis area) and damn, Streetlight Manifesto is super-boss. They played Point/Counterpoint and in the middle of it threw in Keasbey Nights and then went back to Point/Counterpoint in this amazing super badass song. They are the best ska band in the world.