Punknews.org | Strung Out / A Wilhelm Scream

Review Navigator

Features

Reviews

Strung Out / A Wilhelm Scream

live in Seattle
2007
live show

Review by: damnitsderek
See others by this writer

Only registered users
can post comments

Published on August 24th 2007

Oh, how I love visiting the luxurious venue that Seattle calls El Corazon.

Why the booking agents for Strung Out couldn’t land a place such as The Showbox (which actually was conveniently lacking a show on this day) mystifies me, but there could be worse things than visiting this airtight shithole. Listening to Cute Is What We Aim For’s “music” for an hour or so is only one thought that comes to mind.

Considering the circumstances, I was fairly fortunate to even attend this show. When you have no car, a pretty dismal amount of money to your name, and can’t figure out the Seattle metro routes worth shit, making the venture to downtown Seattle can be quite the pain in the ass. But hey, enough of my complaining already.

The show was scheduled to start at 8, and I ended up arriving sometime around 7:40, and joined about 40 people standing around waiting for the show to get rolling. At first, I was taken aback, seeing as I never would have guessed such a small crowd would show up for a Strung Out show, but then I remembered that I Am Ghost was opening. Seeing I Am Ghost play was far from a priority of mine, but I had no room to judge as I hadn’t seen them live before. To be frank, I’d prefer seeing I Am Ghost live to many other bands I’ve seen in the past (I’ll swallow my pride and admit to Matchbook Romance here). Despite this, that didn’t exactly make their performance enjoyable. Frontman Steve Juliano felt that it was necessary to explain how he severely sprained his ankle last time that he played here, but continued to play the show and didn’t cancel any shows following that. What a saint. They played a variety of songs including “We Are Always Searching,” “Pretty People Never Lie / Vampires Never Die” and an assortment of newer songs, including “Dark Carnival of the Immaculate.” While a select 10 or 15 fraternity-lookin’ fellas up front ate it up, it was mainly just killing time for Strung Out.

A Wilhelm Scream came out and kicked off their set around 8:45, with Nuno Pereira sporting a retro Shawn Kemp jersey, much to the appeal of us Seattleites…sort of. I had been anticipating seeing AWS more than Strung Out, so I was more than ecstatic when I noticed their set would be going until 9:30 rather than 9:15. Apparently I wasn’t the only one, seeing as how the population in the venue had come close to doubling since I Am Ghost left the stage and the atmosphere was completely different. Instead of having maybe 10 people moving, the entire floor was getting into it. While mostly playing tracks from Ruiner and Mute Print, they played “5 to 9” and “The Horse” from their upcoming release. “Killing It” was among the first songs they played, followed by “The Kids Can Eat a Bag of Dicks,” “The Soft Sell,” “Me vs. Morrissey…,” “William Blake Overdrive" (by request and much to my personal enjoyment), and more. They predictably closed out their set with “The King Is Dead,” but that made no difference to me, as I was still up front yelling the lyrics back in bassist Bri Robinson’s face.

After the closing of A Wilhelm Scream’s set, we were left with a half-hour of time to kill until Strung Out came on at 10. Once again, the populace of El Corazon was steadily growing and we were all quickly running out of elbow space. When 10 rolled around and Strung Out marched on stage, the crowd went absolutely nuts. After constantly reading that Strung Out’s live performances were immaculate and that they were basically just damn good at playing live, I had high expectations. Sitting here now, I can confidently say that those expectations were fully met. Between playing their chords near flawlessly and the constant crowd interaction by Jason Cruz, it was difficult to not be impressed. However, after getting yanked off the stage by a girl trying to kiss him and getting mobbed in the crowd, he may be a bit more hesitant to lean so far over next time. Regardless, he finished the song (from inside the crowd), took a breather, and kicked it back into gear. Hearing favorites like “No Voice of Mine,” “Matchbook” and “Angeldust” was nothing but fantastic, and other songs such as “The Exhumation of Virginia Madison” and “Bring Out Your Dead” have found a newfound appreciation from me after hearing the live renditions.

Afterwards, I was left wandering around Howell Street and Yale Avenue for a good hour or so before I finally found a way home, but seeing AWS and Strung Out for the first time (and with only so many weeks before I leave Seattle for school again) was easily worth being stranded downtown.

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

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 ashtraymonument on 2007-08-26 20:12:53

to the dude below me: don't be a douchebag

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 4:11 PM (EDT)

tell me about the show, not your life douchebag. do you think anyone cares if you know the lyrics and sing them back? no....no one cares.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 10:03 AM (EDT)

more like "damnyou'reawhineycunt"

Posted by pwfanatic37 on 2007-08-26 00:37:43

"It's all moot anyway, since The Showbox will likely not be on 1st this time 2 years from now. The owners bought The Premier and for the time being, the one on 1st is being called The Showbox At The Market and the other one will be The Showbox SoDo. But that stretch of 1st is likely to be turned into even more condos soon, so I wouldn't expect The Showbox At The Market to stick around."

i'm assuming this is pure speculation on your part right? the building that the showbox is now in has been around forever. i really don't see m them tearing that and the deja vu down for condos. those are two pike place institutions!

Posted by fattony on 2007-08-25 20:50:48

The Showbox: Large, two bars, hipster haven. I've seen Colin Meloy, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mogwai, and Ben Gibbard there.

El Corazon: Tiny, stage you can step onto, dark, room on the floor for frenzied movement while opportunity to stand on another level to watch. I've seen Every Time I Die, Converge, Bear vs. Shark, Thursday, and soon to be Lifetime there.

If you really cannot see how El Corazon is a better venue for a punk show than The Showbox, then I... well I have no idea what else I can say.

El Corazon also has two bars, and The Showbox also has an elevated area to stand and watch. Really, the only difference between the two is the size (and The Showbox has a superior sound system, IMO).

Your reasoning for The Showbox being a hipster haven is dictated by the bands you choose to see there. I saw Anti-Flag there a few months back and it was relatively hipster-free.

It's all moot anyway, since The Showbox will likely not be on 1st this time 2 years from now. The owners bought The Premier and for the time being, the one on 1st is being called The Showbox At The Market and the other one will be The Showbox SoDo. But that stretch of 1st is likely to be turned into even more condos soon, so I wouldn't expect The Showbox At The Market to stick around.

Posted by damnitsderek on 2007-08-25 18:25:51

The Showbox: Large, two bars, hipster haven. I've seen Colin Meloy, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mogwai, and Ben Gibbard there.

El Corazon: Tiny, stage you can step onto, dark, room on the floor for frenzied movement while opportunity to stand on another level to watch. I've seen Every Time I Die, Converge, Bear vs. Shark, Thursday, and soon to be Lifetime there.

If you really cannot see how El Corazon is a better venue for a punk show than The Showbox, then I... well I have no idea what else I can say.

You have your points, but that still can't prevent the Showbox from being a place to have a good time at a show. My only shitty experience there was when I got stuck going to the Take Action tour last year because I bought tickets for my then-girlfriend.

Oh well. If the Larry Arms tour touches Seattle this fall, I might as well hope for El Corazon anyway. Cheaper ticket prices and whatnot.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 25, 2007 at 5:19 PM (EDT)

Archangel you don't go to many shows, do you? There have been so many good shows at the El Corazon in this past year and the ones you listed were not good. Angry Samoans anyone?

Posted by ThoughtriotAF578 on 2007-08-25 15:43:54

Scott, i had the excact same thing happen to me at the smoke or fire show in clifton park new york. it was an awesome setlist, but an awful crowd. frat boys and 12 year old scenesters everywhere

Posted by Archangel on 2007-08-25 14:22:07

"And how is the Showbox the wrong atmosphere? I saw The Lawrence Arms at the showbox and I have no complaints. Sorry it's not punk enough for you, asshole."

The Showbox: Large, two bars, hipster haven. I've seen Colin Meloy, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mogwai, and Ben Gibbard there.

El Corazon: Tiny, stage you can step onto, dark, room on the floor for frenzied movement while opportunity to stand on another level to watch. I've seen Every Time I Die, Converge, Bear vs. Shark, Thursday, and soon to be Lifetime there.

If you really cannot see how El Corazon is a better venue for a punk show than The Showbox, then I... well I have no idea what else I can say.

Posted by hubitcherkokov on 2007-08-25 13:41:45

What songs did they play off of "Blackhawks?" After nearly three months, I still listen to that record a few times a week and I can't wait to see how the songs translate live.

Posted by Jay3313 on 2007-08-25 11:14:47

At the Calgary show of this tour, A Wilhelm Scream played William Blake Overdrive also, so it wasn't a request, it was on their set list for the entire tour.

Nevertheless, they were amazing, I Am Ghost was a joke, and Strung Out was plagued by a soundman who didn't know what the fuck he was doing.

Good review.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 25, 2007 at 10:53 AM (EDT)
My Score:

This tour should have had someone else other than I am Ghost. AWS and Strung Out were so good. The only thing that dissapointed me was no Never Speak Again, Cemetary, and Her Name in Blood were never played in Calgary. I thought at least one of them would've been played.

Posted by damnitsderek on 2007-08-25 07:06:53

I was totally at this show! There was an oddly high number of fratty dudes "protecting" their skank girlfriends up front at the beginning of AWS. Once I infiltrated their ranks and got them outta there, their set was MUCH more enjoyable. I think I must have been pretty close to the reviewer (I was wearing a Suicide Machines shirt).

Also, next time you should use the Metro trip planner. You're welcome.

I was near the front right side for the AWS set in a Draft shirt. Not totally sure if I remember seeing a Suicide Machines shirt, but I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to anything outside of AWS at that point. And thanks for the planner link, I'll be sure to use that next time I don't have a ride.

Posted by damnitsderek on 2007-08-25 07:02:08

Whoops, fucked up my html.

You couldn't figure out Seattle metro routes? What the hell is wrong with you? You were STRANDED downtown -- are you fucking kidding? Holy shit, King County Metro is one of the most readable public transit services I've seen.
And El Corazon is airtight and hot, but if you want to get in the pit and have fun, it's where you want to be. Why would you want to go to the Showbox? Wrong atmosphere. My God, you are so stupid. Where are you going to school?

I've used the King County Metro about twice in the last six years. On top of that, I didn't write down the times of the 70 and the 132, simply because I forgot.

And how is the Showbox the wrong atmosphere? I saw The Lawrence Arms at the showbox and I have no complaints. Sorry it's not punk enough for you, asshole.

Posted by damnitsderek on 2007-08-25 07:01:04

You couldn't figure out Seattle metro routes? What the hell is wrong with you? You were STRANDED downtown -- are you fucking kidding? Holy shit, King County Metro is one of the most readable public transit services I've seen.
And El Corazon is airtight and hot, but if you want to get in the pit and have fun, it's where you want to be. Why would you want to go to the Showbox? Wrong atmosphere. My God, you are so stupid. Where are you going to school?

I've used the King County Metro about twice in the last six years. On top of that, I didn't write down the times of the 70 and the 132, simply because I forgot.

And how is the Showbox the wrong atmosphere? I saw The Lawrence Arms at the showbox and I have no complaints. Sorry it's not punk enough for you, asshole.

Posted by onegirlarmy on 2007-08-24 23:08:23

Really wish NYC was getting AWS over ET.

Ditto.

Posted by punk_rawk_show on 2007-08-24 21:50:01

Sounds like an awsome show. As expected. Cant wait for Bad Religion/Strung Out in Australia. Ive seen Strung out once before and they were really good.

Yeh if you in the pit then you must expect to get bumped and stuff. It just pissed me off though when there is a huge circle for the pit, but yet the cunts still manage to hit everybody on the outside of the pit. Id rather watch the bands than worry about some dick muncher fly kicking me. (This relates more to hardcore shows than punk shows)

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 24, 2007 at 7:03 PM (EDT)

wannabe goth
wannabe metal
eyeliner
nail polish
bland vocals

strung out or aiden? you decide!

Posted by pwfanatic37 on 2007-08-24 18:59:51

seattle metro is so easy to find...plus if you are downtown you can walk to the el corazon in less than half an hour.

and if you think strung out could sell-out the showbox you are woefully wrong. they didn't even sell out the el corazon.

and the showbox is the worst place ot see punk shows. no initmacy.

Posted by usversusthem on 2007-08-24 18:30:13

I agree. If you're in the pit, you should expect there to be movement. There's plenty of space to cuddle and be a couple that's not in the heat of the action. Also: I'm super pissed that AWS isn't on the leg of this tour that passes through Montreal. Thanks a lot, guys.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 24, 2007 at 6:09 PM (EDT)

"If you get elbowed for being a jackass, deal with it.......or don't touch people."

You are a dumbass. Have you actually been to a punk show?

Posted by jason32411 on 2007-08-24 17:15:58

Dammit! How the hell did I not know A Wilhelm Scream and Strung Out were in Seattle.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 24, 2007 at 4:38 PM (EDT)

What?

No songs about riding bitches to hell?

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 24, 2007 at 4:04 PM (EDT)

If you get elbowed for being a jackass, deal with it.......or don't touch people.

Posted by Archangel on 2007-08-24 16:02:20

Posted by inagreendase on 2007-08-24 15:24:54

Really wish NYC was getting AWS over ET.

Posted by maverick on 2007-08-24 14:59:29

There was an oddly high number of fratty dudes "protecting" their skank girlfriends up front at the beginning of AWS.

God, this was the same thing at the Rise Against show I went to on Wednesday. When Smoke Or Fire started playing, no one moved whatsoever, so P Fresh and I headed on down to the floor to sing along and get the energy up. This backwards-hat dude and his shovel-faced whale of a girlfriend were FREAKING THE FUCK OUT because we were singing along/fingerpointing/generally being stoked on life. Every time I accidentally brushed against either of their shoulders, the dude would elbow me hard. Douche.

-Scott

Posted by fattony on 2007-08-24 14:06:14

I was totally at this show! There was an oddly high number of fratty dudes "protecting" their skank girlfriends up front at the beginning of AWS. Once I infiltrated their ranks and got them outta there, their set was MUCH more enjoyable. I think I must have been pretty close to the reviewer (I was wearing a Suicide Machines shirt).

I was only able to stick around for the first few songs from Strung Out (I hate having a "real" job), but they were solid. El Corazon may be a bit of a shithole, but I still love it.

Also, next time you should use the Metro trip planner. You're welcome.

Posted by Booker_Pee on 2007-08-24 13:54:04
My Score:

man, watching i am ghost's set on this tour was so hilarious for so many reasons...chief among which is i've never seen an opening band bring along their own fog machine. these guys are supreme rock stars in all of the most cliched ways. the bastards were even playing playstation of xbox or something in the closed-off balcony of the venue i saw them at DURING THE ENTIRE A WILHELM SCREAM AND STRUNG OUT sets. fuck you very much, i am ghost.

oh, and "the horse" might be the best song i've hearrd this year. a wilhelm scream can do no wrong, aside from not having copies of the diver 7" at the show i went to.

Posted by facetofacereunion08 on 2007-08-24 13:53:11

up the mufuckin punks