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Bouncing Souls / Strike Anywhere

live in Halifax
2007
live show

Review by: clampdown17
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Published on April 24th 2007

Living in Atlantic Canada means living with a severe lack of top quality punk shows. In the eyes of most touring bands Canada officially ends in Montreal, so when a tour as good as this comes around it's a pretty big deal. The Bouncing Souls have long been one of my favourite bands, and their presence alone would have been more than enough to justify booking time off and paying the ridiculous bus fare to travel from buttfuck nowhere to the Mecca that is Halifax, but add Strike Anywhere and the Loved Ones and it becomes unmissable.

Opening the show was Static Radio NJ, a band that I was previously unfamiliar with, but was pleasantly surprised by. They were very energetic, despite having a pretty small crowd to perform to, and seemed to be genuinely appreciative of the few fans that did participate. Thier set was short and to the point, with a heavy dose of Kid Dynamite. Unfortunately I can't remember any songs they played, but they definitely left a good impression.

Up next was Fat Wreck's own Loved Ones. Their debut full-length Keep Your Heart was easily my favourite album of 2006, so I was eager to hear how it translated live. The band opened with a killer version of "100K," and proceeded to crank out nine others from the album. The crowd was much better this time around; obviously the Fat Wreck exposure has paid off for them as a good amount of fans were singing along to every word, even the ones the clearly intoxicated Dave Hause failed to sing himself. Highlights for me were "100K," "Player Hater Anthem," "Jane" and my favourite from the album, "Breathe In."

Strike Anywhere were up next, and they lived up to thier rep as being an outstanding live band. From the opening riffs of "Refusal" and on, the band delivered an extremely passionate set, pausing only briefly between songs for Thomas to add some political banter and to comment on how surprised they were to be so well-recieved by the Halifax crowd. I think they were caught off guard by the fact that everyone in the first row, myself included, were screaming out nearly every word to each of the 12 songs they played. The set was fairly balanced between each of thier three full-lengths, with only one song from the Chorus of One EP making the cut. Given the short amount of time they had they can't really be faulted though.

As the Souls set up, the floor of the Attic filled and tension grew. The crowd started up the "ole!" chant and handclaps. It was obvious that most of the people in attendance were here to see the Bouncing Souls, and for good reason. I had never seen them live before, but I've heard a lot of mixed comments about thier live show. Although people always seem to have a good time at Souls shows, they have a reputation of sometimes not being totally "into it," Greg especially. This was not one of those times.

They kicked it off with the opening track to the newest record, "The Gold Song," and followed with a set that drew heavily from The Gold Record, How I Spent My Summer Vacation and Maniacal Laughter. Having so many fan favourites to draw from, there were some songs I would have liked to see, but I can't really complain too much with the choice of songs represented. Highlights for me were "The Gold Song," the Avoid One Thing cover of "Lean on Sheena," "True Believers," "Johnny X," "Argyle" and "Freaks, Nerds & Romantics." For the encore Greg came out to do a solo accoustic rendition of "Say Anything," then the rest of the band joined in for two more songs to close out the show.

This was easily the most fun I've ever had at a show, and I highly recommend anyone that has a chance to catch this tour to go.

Set lists, in order:

The Loved Ones

100K
Suture Self
Breathe In
Player Hater Anthem
Hurry Up and Wait
Sickening
Benson & Hedges
Jane
Living Will (Get You Dead)

Strike Anywhere

Refusal
Sedition
Infared
Laughter in a Police State
Hollywood Cemetary
Amplify/Blaze
Detonation
Chorus of One
Prisoner Echoes
To the World
Instinct
Sunset on 23rd

Bouncing Souls

The Gold Song
Private Radio
That Song
Hopeless Romantic
Lean on Sheena
The Something Special
ECFU
No Rule
Better Things
Kate Is Great
True Believers
Moon Over Asbury
The Ballad of Johnny X
Sing Along Forever
Argyle
Fight to LIve
The Pizza Song
The Freaks, Nerds & Romantics
Gone
Say Anything (acoustic)
Kids & Heroes
For All the Unheard

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Posted by daved4 on 2007-04-27 00:56:31

im seeing this show in 15ish hours

sweet

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 26, 2007 at 9:47 AM (EDT)

Best part about my last comment was spelling caught cought.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 26, 2007 at 9:45 AM (EDT)

Best thing about this tour: The Souls spelled Ottawa "Ottowo" on the back of their tour t-shirts. I cought this show last night in Hamilton, great sets all around, and I'm going to catch this tour three more times this week. Can't wait.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 8:57 PM (EDT)

anyone know where/how/if even possible to get tickets for the toronto show this friday?

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 11:14 AM (EDT)

Wow, that Souls set is AMAZiNG.

Posted by ejaculine on 2007-04-25 10:55:04
My Score:

I just saw this show in Ottawa and it was amazing! Plus there was an afterparty and the Loved Ones played again and actually played Arsenic. They're very cool guys. Best show of the year candidate.

Posted by misterspike on 2007-04-25 01:07:05

"So Jersey" is far and away the best song on The Gold Record .... I'm glad I at least got to see them play it live on Warped last Summer.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 12:37 AM (EDT)

This show was glorious this eveniing in the nations capitol all loves and no hate missed most of Static Radio NJ's set but from what I caught they were leaps and bounds better live than recorded The Loved Ones were up and running and just giving her Strike Anywhere was rediculous bodies all over the place, and what an really be said about the souls singing Hopeless Romantic with Greg as part of a pile on of your closest friends and closest strangers was amazing.

Posted by ozmanx on 2007-04-24 21:37:59
My Score:

Now that is quite the show. Can't go wrong with the Souls.

Posted by mynameisbud on 2007-04-24 20:48:56

saw em in Montreal two nights ago, was great... strike anywhere were insane and Bouncing souls too, the setlist was about the same as the one in the review except for a couple of songs notably Born to lose :D which was great

Posted by moneenerd on 2007-04-24 15:32:16
My Score:

I was at this show, and have never seen a drunker audience in my life. Souls were fuckin SO good. Best show Ive seen this year.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 2:23 PM (EDT)

driving from buffalo to toronto to see this on friday

CANT WAIT!

Posted by PatThetic on 2007-04-24 14:18:25
My Score:

score is for quick check girl

Posted by misterspike on 2007-04-24 14:04:46

"they have a reputation of sometimes not being totally "into it," " ... I've seen the Souls several times and have never seen them half-ass it. Call me lucky.

Wish this tour were more far reaching ... what a great bill.

Posted by Torgo on 2007-04-24 12:31:56

..and just to try and and make you all jealous of the set they played in NJ for The Gold Tour...

The Gold Song
Private Radio
Hopeless Romantic
Kid
Lean On Sheena
No Rules
The Something Special
East Coast! Fuck You!
Better Things
Kate is Great
True Believers
--
Moon Over Asbury
So Jersey
Sing Along Forever
Neurotic
That Song
The Pizza Song
Fight To Live
Born Free
Here We Go
Argyle
Letter From Iraq
Gone
--
Say Anything (acoustic)
Kids And Heroes
Lamar Vannoy
For All The Unheard

Posted by Torgo on 2007-04-24 12:24:33

The Gold Record might be my favorite Souls album, but I'm upset they put For All The Unhead in for NIght On Earth's place.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 12:06 PM (EDT)

who won the contest? they never revealed and I am getting pissed.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 11:26 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I'm so glad the Bouncing Souls started playing No Rules again regularly in the past couple years. It's such an awesome live song.

and it's also pretty cool that while you can see they generally try and lean towards the new stuff as much as they can, they never leave out a bunch of tracks from Maniacal. It's good to see a band that still really loves one of their old records.

now if only they'd start playing the right songs off of Anchors Aweigh.

Posted by Dante3000 on 2007-04-24 10:42:21

Dude, I really don't think The Loved Ones play "Arsenic", sure they say they're going to...but it's a lie. I remember asking Dave why they didn't play it in Santa Cruz and he said, "Oh, come to the show tomorrow night and we'll play it". No Offense but I'm not driving four hours to Bakersfield for one song...God willing I'll never have to drive to Bakersfield for anything, but certainly not one song.
-Dante

Posted by clampdown17 on 2007-04-24 10:31:52

There were several songs that I would have liked to see played, especially "Kid", "Joe Lies", "Cracked", "Night on Earth", "The Guest", "Lamar Vannoy" and "Quick Check Girl".

However, there's no way they could fit every fan favourite song into every set and not get sick of always playing the exact same show, so they're forgiven for leaving out a few.

Posted by clampdown17 on 2007-04-24 10:12:42

WarIsPeace - The Loved Ones actually had Arsenic on thier setlist but cut it due to time constrictions.

Posted by motagirl on 2007-04-24 09:23:38

Between this show on Friday....and Lifetime last Friday this is like the best 2 weeks ever!

Posted by Ben_Conoley on 2007-04-24 09:16:00

I saw this show in Moncton the next night and it was easily the best show I've seen since moving to New Brunswick six years ago. I saw the Souls play Toronto in 1995 and the venue then was bigger than the venue they played here - I can't imagine how much fun the Attic must have been in Halifax. Chalk up one more good thing about this part of the world.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 9:15 AM (EDT)
My Score:

STOKED for this on friday. I only really know Maniacal Laughter & The Gold Record though from the Souls.

- APK

Posted by WarIsPeace on 2007-04-24 09:13:09

Damn, this show sounded stellar. Though, I'd be a bit disappointed by the lack of Anchors Aweigh material (including the actual song). Also, I defintely agree with the comment below about Say Anything - should always be played full band.

Anyone know why the Loved Ones never play Arsenic live? I think it's by far their best song.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 7:44 AM (EDT)

I'm sick of that accoustic version of "Say Anything". That song has so much energy to it...it deserves to be played in its original form.

Posted by damo on 2007-04-24 05:02:57

almost identical Souls setlist when i saw them in Leeds in Feb.

you make a good point about Greg - seen the Souls 3 times, 1st one he was proper into it yet the last 2 he couldn't be arsed/was totally bladdered.

Cracking line up for a gig tho!

Posted by MikeStupid on 2007-04-24 01:09:51
My Score:

Goddamn, this sounds like one of the best shows ever. Wish I could've been there!

Posted by Torgo on 2007-04-24 01:01:54
My Score:

Yes, score is for The Gold Tour in Jersey. Souls playing for 90 minutes??? 29 songs??? Too much rock.

Posted by mashole on 2007-04-24 00:43:25

awesome.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 12:41 AM (EDT)
My Score:

No kid? That is the greatest Bouncing Souls song and when I saw them with Street Dogs the place went crazy when they played it. Score is for the Bouncing Souls/ Street Dogs show.