Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 


Reviews



Chin Up Chin Up and the Appleseed Cast probably don’t know what any of their audience members look like. Members of both bands kept their eyes shut for the majority of both sets, although the final effects were starkly contrasting.

Chin Up Chin Up’s singer Jeremy Bolan looked awkward, and Greg Sharp was the only member to attempt banter with the audience, safely seated behind the keyboard. Surrogate bassist Marc Young (borrowed from the Appleseed Cast) hung towards the back. Guitarist Nathan Snydacker appeared to enjoy “Falcons And Vulcans,” but the majority of Chin Up Chin Up’s set seemed to be spent in awkward darkness. Perhaps the venue’s setting was cause to the band’s distress. Lovely Recordings sponsored the show for a release of a new issue of 20/20 Proof, a local Pittsburgh zine, and the show therefore had more of a gala vibe then anonymous concert. Many people were there to be seen, not necessarily for the bands.

Regardless, the Appleseed Cast handled their set with finesse and dexterity.

More importantly, the Appleseed Cast is the new Taking Back Sunday.

Wait. Remember being a cheesy teenager, standing at your favorite post-hardcore show, absolutely positive that Band X knew your most intimate moments, including your every heartbreak as well as your every triumph? And they were singing about it. To you. That’s what the Appleseed Cast does now that you’ve outgrown your jelly bracelets and black hair dye.

At the risk of being cliché, their set emitted more emotion than LiveJournal. Christopher Crisci wailed the vocals, revealing maturity veiled on their albums. In fact, with their closed eyes, it was impossible to tell if, perhaps, they had become lost within their own music. But during “Innocent Vigilant Ordinary,” bassist Marc Young (now playing his second consecutive set of the night) cracked a smile as spotlights were raised on the band. He knew that we knew what they meant.

They also revealed some of their newer material, to be released on their future album, which will hopefully be completed early in 2006. The new song had a spacier feel, although with slightly whinier vocals and a dangerous attraction to the generic alternative-rock pole. However, drummer Josh Baruth kept the sound leveled with an intense massacre on a drum kit numbering 10+ pieces, including a tambourine permanently affixed to the high-hat.

Vocally, they ended with Two Conversation’s “Fight Song,” but they concluded their set with a new, all-instrumental track, which they described as “crazy.” Both Crisci and Aaron Pillar attached slides onto their guitars for this simply constructed orchestration including a fierce breakdown from Baruth. Although the sentiment and tone undoubtedly paid some homage to Explosions In The Sky, it was the most appropriate and effective way to end the powerfully cathartic set. No encore was played, and it was better kept that way as they left the audience feeling…that right feeling.

Although I’ve finally resolved that they aren’t actually reading my journal, and that yes, my heartbreak is just like every other Myspacer's heartbreak, it’s also viable that the Appleseed Cast has been there too. And they’re singing about it to you, with or without words.






Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 30, 2005 at 7:40 PM (EDT)

    you are a moron. For Chin up chinup, Greg Sharp was not even on the tour because of a heriated disc in his back. Marc Young is pretty much a fixture because the old bass player, Chris Saathoff, was hit by a car and killed last Valentines day.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 26, 2005 at 7:09 PM (EDT)

    the appleseed cast sounds nothing like tbs, at all, like even remotely. i hope the comment was purely assenine.

    Posted by Sally_Field on 2005-05-25 19:48:38

    Theory: Sally_Field invented this username to post reviews that wouldn't be followed by the fact that she gave The Starting Line 4 stars.

    For real, dude. If I was ashamed of thinking the CD was really good, I wouldn't have written the review, nor would I have let it be posted.

    Also, please note, if I was concerned about this, I would have submitted the Some Girls review under an alias as well.

    I care enough to reply to certain comments made regarding me and my reviews, but I don't care enough to create aliases on a punk news website so people don't think I'm TotALLy GaY.

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2005-05-25 19:29:33

    Holy shit, I forgot that Nate joined up with the Cast after Casket Lottery was done. That dude's probably my favorite drummer ever.

    I guess me, Brian, and the reviewer are the only people who got the Taking Back Sunday thing. Jesus christ on a crutch, you people amaze me sometimes. Thanks for reminding me that, while I'm not incredibly smart, I still use my brain more effectively than most people.

    Also, I for one thought this was a solid review.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 2:23 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I saw this show, I've seen appleseed cast 3 times before, and this was the absolute best they've ever played. The new drummer nate, from the casket lottery, was unbelievably nice and destroyed any fears i had about the josh leaving the band. The set was, for lack of a better word, magical. 45 minutes of my jaw on the floor, with drool pouring everywhere.

    If you have a chance to see these guys, go. seriously.

    even though it's been said before, fuck taking back sunday.

    -josh

    Posted by piratasmuertas on 2005-05-25 13:26:07
    My Score:

    Meant to give it max stars. Fuck.

    Posted by piratasmuertas on 2005-05-25 13:25:26
    My Score:

    Boba,
    If you like drugs, do yourself a favor and get Low Level Owl Vols. 1 & 2. Amazing. I would call it the definition of "ethereal", if thats your thing.

    Score is for the Cast. Fuck Taking Back Sunday. I don't wanna hear those two band names mentioned together ever again.

    Posted by boba_fett on 2005-05-25 09:28:39
    My Score:

    the end of the ring wars rocked. but thats the onlyone ive heard.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 7:18 AM (EDT)

    there went 2 minutes of my life i can never get back
    -TOBB

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 5:05 AM (EDT)

    the new Taking Back Sunday? whaddafuck? i didnt want the old one.

    Appleseed Cast, while being a fucking good band, are pretty boring live. I saw them in London and they droned on a bit.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-05-24 23:35:17

    Theory: Sally_Field invented this username to post reviews that wouldn't be followed by the fact that she gave The Starting Line 4 stars.

    Theory: You need to set goals in life that don't include making daily jabs at an online CD reviewer so that you can lather the stroke to your ego.

    I know the person who reviewed this show. It wasn't Sally_Field.

    Additionally, I'm glad to see no one in the forum took elementary school reading comprehension. The reviewer was clearly stating that Taking Back Sunday is the type of band you'd associate with your more pop-oriented youthful tastes, while Appleseed Cast is the band you'd appreciate upon music taste maturation.

    And voila! The result of utterly basic English classes, served fresh!

    Posted by Archangel on 2005-05-24 22:42:04

    Theory: Sally_Field invented this username to post reviews that wouldn't be followed by the fact that she gave The Starting Line 4 stars.

    It won't work!

    Posted by Archangel on 2005-05-24 22:40:50
    My Score:

    I couldn't finish reading this review. Horrible.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 at 4:41 PM (EDT)

    "More importantly, the Appleseed Cast is the new Taking Back Sunday"

    WHAAAT???
    i bet the guys at deep elm are pissed about that line!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 at 3:55 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    What a fucking dork.

    -sickboi

    Posted by Sally_Field on 2005-05-24 15:12:14

    where was this show?

    nobody promotes in this city anymore.

    Mr. Smalls

    Posted by Nietzsche on 2005-05-24 15:05:47

    ""More importantly, the Appleseed Cast is the new Taking Back Sunday."

    That is the single most asinine thing I have ever read."

    I second that. Appleseed Cast has been around for so much longer than TBS, and have never gained the amount of popularity that TBS has. And wouldn't that imply that Taking Back Sunday is old?

    gg.

    Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-05-24 14:12:37

    Terrible review.

    Posted by backupdork on 2005-05-24 13:21:55

    where was this show?

    nobody promotes in this city anymore.

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-05-24 12:58:19

    "More importantly, the Appleseed Cast is the new Taking Back Sunday."

    That is the single most asinine thing I have ever read.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 at 12:12 PM (EDT)

    my friend just went to NC to see them and apparently they don't play anything off of any of the older records (mare vitalis, end of the ring wars, lost songs) which is a bummer, because as far as i'm concerned, that's some of their best material. the new stuff is rad too, but i don't understand why there can't be a balance.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 at 10:31 AM (EDT)

    "More importantly, the Appleseed Cast is the new Taking Back Sunday. " - How fucking dare you.

    Not gonna lie, pretty awful review.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 at 8:50 AM (EDT)

    "Fight Song" is a good break-up song.

    Posted by shadydeals on 2005-05-24 08:29:10
    My Score:

    Dude, you should research your bands a little bit before you review them.

    Josh Baruth left the band quite a while ago and is no longer the drummer.

    They new drummer's name is Nate, and he did an awesome job on Cobra's parts (I just saw his show in Atlanta). He gives it a little more of a heavier ploddy rock feel, but still retains a lot of the finesse that Josh Cobra Baruth played.

    The score's for the show I saw in Atlanta.

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-05-24 08:12:53

    this review is kinda fucking dramatic

    © 1999-2009 Punknews.org • Terms of Use • Privacy • About • ISSN 1710-5366 • RSS RSS Icon