Punknews.org | Streetlight Manifesto / Suburban Legends

Review Navigator

Features

Reviews

Streetlight Manifesto / Suburban Legends

live in Buffalo
2007
live show

Review by: thebigtakeover
See others by this writer

Only registered users
can post comments

Published on November 16th 2007

There's this little band called Streetlight Manifesto -- you may have heard of 'em -- that played on November 8, 2007 in Buffalo.

A local Buffalo band called And Many More opened the show. They were wonderful. I may be saying this because one of their trumpet players is a friend of mine from Geneseo, but they were great. Everyone could tell that they really love what they do. I'm pretty sure they've been around for a long time (since high school), and it showed in the way that they fed off each other very well. All in all, they were a perfect opening act.

I didn't really pay attention to the Stitch Up. I was watching the Sabres beat the Bruins while they were on stage -- go Sabres! Eat it, Boston. However, I digress.

Suburban Legends. What can I say about Suburban Legends? They were absurdly over the top. They had choreographed dance moves and the guitarist had a fan blowing his hair just to make him look hawt. They were ridiculous. It seems as if they're trying to make ska marketable by wearing the "uniform" (girl pants and shirts, professional haircuts, etc.) and singing songs about DJs spinning their fave tracks. No joke, these were some of their lyrics: "Hey hey DJ / Come on spin the record ‘round / I know that I've got the moves to bring this disco down / Hey hey DJ / Come on play the record I like / Ain't no stoppin’ body rockin’ / ‘Til the morning light." What? Sorry, I know they had cred before, but they're just trying so hard to sell their personas. I have to give them credit, however. They were incredible showmen that love what they do. I just happen to hate what they do. (Oh, they do a killer cover of "Under the Sea" from "The Little Mermaid" though, so they're not all bad.)

When I had last seen Streetlight Manifesto, suffice it to say I was not impressed. I got the feeling that they were trying too hard to be the hardest possible version of themselves, not to mention hardly playing any of their more major key songs. However, I shall not live in the past for this review. Streetlight Manifesto opened with "Would You Be Impressed" from their new album, Somewhere in the Between. It was a perfect choice for an opening song, replete with their characteristic high-energy horns and sing-alongs. Even though most people in the crowd didn't know the lyrics, the band had everyone yelling "It's not my fault!" at the top of their lungs by the end. Throughout the night, the band hardly spoke at all, furiously going through almost their entire discography (two CDs, but it's still a lot of songs). They even did a medley of "Point/Counterpoint" and "Keasbey Nights" per the usual, a fan favorite that I feel is just going to be played more often. Even though they played a lot of songs from their new album that most people failed to know unless they managed to get their hands on the leaked copy circulating through this here Internet, they somehow managed to get the crowd into all the new songs they played -- truly a feat. There was a perfect mixture of new and old here, and even a little BOTAR action thrown in, which i managed to slow-dance to, something I never thought I would do at a show such as this. I can tell that they're trying to get more intricate with their horn lines and melodies, which is tough to do without sounding like pompous pricks. They pull it off perfectly, mixing complicated lines with simple guitar parts in every song.

I do not have the set list, unfortunately. Just trust me that all their good stuff was played.

Let me close by saying that I realized something looking through the crowd that night. Streetlight Manifesto has an incredibly universal appeal. Everyone from fifteen-year-old kids in Hollister shorts to aging rude boys showed up and got along. Streetlight Manifesto is unintentionally reaching out to everyone by playing great, but still accessible music.

Oh, and my goofy, 6'-6" ass crowd-surfed at the show. If anyone got kicked in the head by my size 16s, my apologies.

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 theotherniraj on 2007-11-20 02:14:11

Bills taking down Pats this weekend

Haha.

I heard Streetlight were kind of pissed that people downloaded the cd at the first show, but it didn't seem like they cared in Buffalo. I don't think they come off as arrogant, but then again I've never been able to talk to them after a show. SL and the Stitch-up were really cool to talk to after though.

I saw the girl in her underwear too. Kind of hard to miss if you ask me.

Posted by neffernin on 2007-11-20 02:03:51

Their apparent secrecy still kind of confuses me... its like they are trying their hardest to not become popular, not once have I seen them try to get any publicity other than from their fans or Victory Records. No street team, no blogs or anything really (unless you want to consider once every 3 months a blog); they tour constantly I suppose.

It all makes me wonder if they are trying to avoid the mainstream...

SITB
On Amazon:
#5 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Punk

If this is what they accomplish trying to stay low, it makes me wonder where they'd be at if they went all out with advertising?

For once, it appears people are preferring quality over popularity.

Posted by Neill_Cawley on 2007-11-17 19:33:45

I apologize, you said they didn't play that. You're correct, but I'm pretty sure they played What A Wicked Gang We Are.

Posted by Neill_Cawley on 2007-11-17 19:32:16

They did not play One Foot On The Gas. The set list as far as I know was:

We Will Fall Together
Somewhere in the Between
Would You Be Impressed
What A Wicked Gang We Are
Watch it Crash
Down Down Down to Mephisto's Cafe
Forty Days

Keasbey Nights

Point Counterpoint
That'll Be The Day
We Are The Few
Everything Went Numb
The Big Sleep
A Better Place A Better Time

They Provide The Paint For The Picture Perfect Masterpiece That You Will Paint On The Inside Of Your Eyelids
Here's To Life
It's A Wonderful Life

As for them being "arrogant pricks," I was a little harsh. I'm sure they are sweet dudes, but from a music stand point they seem somewhat arrogant. But I'm only basing that on their secretive nature regarding everything, the re-release of Keasbey, and lack of communication with their fan base.

Posted by skamanifesto on 2007-11-16 21:50:58

as far as a set list goes, I don't recall what they played from Numb, except that it was most of it. they played everything except One Foot On the Gas, and the last 3 songs of SITB. And as far as BOTAR goes, they played What a Wonderful Life, and We Provide the Paint.

Posted by skamanifesto on 2007-11-16 21:47:52
My Score:

score is for the review. Are you sure you were even at the show?? They opened with We Will Fall Together. and actually, the entire crowd was singing along - it was quite obvious almost every one had downloaded the album before the show.

and no mention of the cute girl moshing around in her undies? you should be ashamed.

Posted by neffernin on 2007-11-16 21:04:16

Streetlight Manifesto are hardly ignorant pricks... I had the fortune of hanging out with them for a couple of shows and the whole group were very laid back down to earth guys

Posted by Neill_Cawley on 2007-11-16 14:59:28

Didn't they open with We Will Fall Together? I could have sworn they did, but now I'm not sure.

I think it is worth noting that, while I love Streetlight, they can be real arrogant pricks, but it was really nice to hear Kalnoky ask for the crowd to sing along to the new songs if they knew them. Not that he should support downloading his leaked CD, but it was something I wouldn't expect from him.

Posted by KungPowza on 2007-11-16 12:55:43

Too bad I had class till 7 that night, otherwise I definitely would have been at this show.

Posted by cuffer on 2007-11-16 12:39:08

Baseball, me too man, I had no idea they would sell out. Streetlight is superstars now I guess.

Posted by baseball on 2007-11-16 12:07:47

i'm bummed, i was going to see this tour tonight but the show sold out :(

it's been a little while since i've seen Streetlight, i had no idea they were big enough to sell out a 750 capacity venue before the day of the show nowadays

Posted by SumWon on 2007-11-16 12:07:32

I have to choose between going to this show or watching the season finale of heroes.

C'mon, what kind of a dilemma is that? You'll be able to watch the season finale of Heroes anytime for the rest of your life, while Streetlight will only be touring in support of this album for 4 or 5 more years.

That had to be done. But seriously, this album is pretty much perfect.

Posted by punkengineer on 2007-11-16 11:53:35

I have to choose between going to this show or watching the season finale of heroes.

Posted by necktattoo on 2007-11-16 11:17:09

Bills taking down Pats this weekend

Posted by theotherniraj on 2007-11-16 01:47:35
My Score:

"The opener kicked ass because I know them." Come on man.

I was at that show too (Did you also get those girls who kept randomly pinching guys in the ass?). I missed the opener because I got there late. The Stitch-Up was ok, not what I was expecting, but nothing they played really stuck with me. I dont think people realize that a lot of what Suburban Legends does is a huge joke and they're mostly mocking that stuff. Did you hear them play "High Fives"?

"Everybody come on / I got a raised truck that’s totally bomb / When you’re hangin’ with the bros it’s guaranteed / Sex at the prom"

Anyways, Streetlight was sweet. It was funny hearing kids singing along to songs that weren't even out yet. Wish you posted a setlist, but the new cd isn't out yet so I can't hold it against you.

Oh, and the Sabres can suck it (Sorry, obligatory because I'm from Boston. I don't even watch hockey).

Posted by telegraphrocks on 2007-11-16 00:20:26
My Score:

I wish they were playing Chicago on this tour.

The closest I've come to seeing them was Catch 22 in '98 with Tomas in a parking lot.
Give me my scene points!!!