Strung Out / Evergreen Terrace

live in New York (2007)
Fat Wreck Chords

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Brian
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on October 9th 2007

Only three days after watching their tour van be driven out of a hotel parking lot in Philadelphia by some stranger, along with their trailer and every personal item brought with them on tour, Strung Out hit the Knitting Factory for their New York City stop. In recent years their NY date would find them playing Irving Plaza, but not on this fateful tour, perhaps the first unfortunate sign of a dwindling fanbase. Funny enough, this same night Minus the Bear was taking up residence at that very venue, Irving Plaza.

I never realized that Evergreen Terrace are only a few musical steps away from Atreyu. They tend to get lumped in with mildly heavier acts, like the bulk of their former labelmates at Eulogy, or even the roster at Trustkill Records, but they practically mirror Atreyu's growled verse / sung chorus stride, wrapped up in a metalcore package with the occasional fast tempo and stupid horror chord (see: any five seconds of Norma Jean's Bless the Martyr, Kiss the Child). I want to say they sounded awfully contrived and often silly encouraging their fans to "push-mosh, hardcore dance, whatever!," but the way they've helped Strung Out continue on tour by providing transportation with them in one likely cramped van is admirable. Plus, their 39-minute performance was tight, if nothing else, including "Burned Alive by Time," "Wolfbiker," and "Chaney Can't Quite Riff Like Helmet's Page Hamilton" among others. I would've loved to have A Wilhelm Scream on our leg, but oh well. Maybe these guys are a little more sincere than they seem to come off.

During the transition between sets, the Knitting Factory main space slowly started to fill until the room was cramped with anxious, impatient fans. An involved chant of the band's name broke out, and soon the quintet took the stage in matching atom logo tees. They then immediately broke into the title track off their new, divisive album; no matter critic or fan reaction to it, the band were clearly playing their hearts out and the audience responded to that -- at least half the room went absolutely batshit, an energy that seemed to carry itself through the entire set. It seemed Strung Out weren't even looking for sympathy, though; I can't even remember whether or not they mentioned the theft altogether.

With Necro playing later that night in the same space, the band kept their set to a tight, fluid 17 songs and 58 minutes. Maybe they would've played longer in different circumstances, but this was definitely a case of quality over quantity. The set list seemed fairly imbalanced (2 off Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues, 6 - Twisted by Design, 1 - Element of Sonic Defiance EP, 3 - An American Paradox, 1 - Exile in Oblivion, 4 - Blackhawks Over Los Angeles), but the band threw in a lot of fan favorites as well as my personal number one, "Velvet Alley," managing to give it a nice fluidity. There were flawless transitions between songs from completely different eras and everything seemed accurately placed.

After coming off what has to be a devastating loss, Strung Out put on a passionate display over the course of that hour, and I think their fans were able to see that clearly.

Set list (8:57-9:55):

Blackhawks Over Los Angeles
Ultimate Devotion
Too Close to See
Solitaire
Mind of My Own
Firecracker
Deville
Scarecrow
Razor Sex
Calling
Mission Statement
Cult of the Subterranean
Blueprint of the Fall
King Alvarez
Velvet Alley
Diver
Matchbook

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

eastern_waste (October 10, 2007)

yeah brian i didnt write a review, but good shit. i'm pretty sure they played more or less the same set in philly.

rugget (October 10, 2007)

Show some respect. Strung Out has killed way longer then Minus the Bear.

cpp_ (October 10, 2007)

Not necessarily, they change up the setlists generally. You'd be surprised with what they'd play... if you want to hear something besides Velvet Alley, maybe just talk to the guys beforehand?
I've tried that with other bands and they usually say that they have already made their setlist, and would love to play the song that I mention but they had made their setlist before hand and it can't change. Thanks though, I would like to see them do unkoil live, that would be intense.

punk_rawk_show (October 10, 2007)

Ive always wanted to hear them play Velvet Alley, hopefully they do in a couple of months

hubitcherkokov (October 9, 2007)

I think "Blawkhawks" replaces "Element" as my all-time favorite Strung Out release. I like Ryan Green's production a bit more on "Element," but, man, is "Blackhawks" a great album from beginning to end. I am constantly finding new stuff to like about it and new favorite songs.

Anthony_A (October 9, 2007)

Definitely my favorite Strung Out show. There were more people at the Philly show and they played for longer, but this show was really intense. I would much rather see them play a sold out Knitting Factory than a 3/4 full Irving Plaza like in 2004.

bassthoven (October 9, 2007)

Blachhawks over LA was very disappointing. I prefer Exile in Oblivion.

onegirlarmy (October 9, 2007)

I hate to say it, but I was going through my strung out collection today because I am going to see them this sunday. Anyways I pick up An American Paradox, and give it a listen for the first time in like 5 years, and it was a really solid album. There was allot of favorites on there that I completely forgot about. Sucks that they won't play more then one song off of it but oh well. Just ranting here.

Not necessarily, they change up the setlists generally. You'd be surprised with what they'd play... if you want to hear something besides Velvet Alley, maybe just talk to the guys beforehand?

cpp_ (October 9, 2007)

inagreendase (October 9, 2007)

Yo, MINI BEAR DICKS? You're sick, bro.

facetofacereunion08 (October 9, 2007)

minus, that is

facetofacereunion08 (October 9, 2007)

scott just loves sucking minis the bear's dicks

bfkane (October 9, 2007)

one of the best strung out shows i've been a part of. these guys are still going strong and with, i think, their best album to date. SO rules the fucking planet. everyone else is just blah in my opinion.

thirtyseconds (October 9, 2007)

Yeah, when I saw them with Crime In Stereo, Jordan looked fookin' ancient. But still smoked.

punkinohio (October 9, 2007)

I've never seen them play King Alvarez and would be so pumped if they played it on my leg of the tour.

damnitsderek (October 9, 2007)

Matchbook is such a fantastic song to hear live. Sounds like it was a quality show.

inagreendase (October 9, 2007)

Although one mistake from this review, Strung Out didn't play Unkoil, It was actually Scarecrow off Element, a song I've NEVER seen them play live out of all the times I've seen them. the setlist was a bit random if you ask me but still quite incredible.

Ah, hence the question mark. I'll fix it, thanks.

onegirlarmy (October 9, 2007)

To Scott's comment... pssssh. While I too love me some Minus the Bear and they are indeed amazing live, this was an amazing show. easily one of the best times I've seen Strung Out.

Also ditto to Brian's commentary to Evergreen Terrace: I used to really like them back during my brief metalcore phase of 2002-2003, now I really don't listen to them anymore. But they really are very nice people and agreed, the way they've been helping SO on this tour is quite admirable, so I can't hate them even if I don't like them musically anymore.

Although one mistake from this review, Strung Out didn't play Unkoil, It was actually Scarecrow off Element, a song I've NEVER seen them play live out of all the times I've seen them. the setlist was a bit random if you ask me but still quite incredible.

Despite whatever your feelings may be on this band, and I know a lot of 'Org-ers hate them and consistantly talk shit, the band and fans were in full force at this show. screw the haters.

inagreendase (October 9, 2007)

I actually like Minus the Bear a little more than Strung Out.

But...last saw the Bear a year ago at Irving, and still haven't heard Planet of Ice. They'll be around for a while.

Last saw Strung Out almost 3 years ago, also at Irving. Not that I've heard anything, but I just don't see them sticking around much longer.

maverick (October 9, 2007)

Dude, you should've gone to Minus The Bear instead. Wrong 'em, boyo.

-Scott