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H2O / This Is Hell / Fahrenheit 451

live in Philadelphia
2008
live show

Review by: Jelone
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Published on June 3rd 2008

A stacked NYC hardcore bill caught Philadelphia fans at the Trocadero off guard May 31. Boasting a lineup of H2O, This Is Hell, Fahrenheit 451, Stigma, and Crime in Stereo, the night wound being unfairly under-appreciated due to an early start time. While the Troc was packed by the time H2O hit the stage around 9:30 p.m., CiS opened the show for a bare crowd around 6:30.

In a way, though, I’m kind of glad so few caught the opener. I love Crime in Stereo something fierce, but the band was definitely having an off night. Vocalist Kristian Hallbert’s vocals seemed awfully low in the mix, forcing him to constantly strain to be heard. The result was a whole lot of off-key wailing, made all the worse by the band’s emphasis on playing the more melodic Crime in Stereo Is Dead material. Guitar troubles during set-ender “I, Stateside” further marred the band’s performance.

Crime in Stereo’s set aside, though, the show went smoothly, with each band performing to a larger and larger audience. Stigma, featuring Vinnie Stigma of Agnostic Front / Madball fame, brought `80s NYC hardcore to the Troc. It’s almost a shame that Vinnie spends most of his days behind a guitar; dude’s got some sweet moves. Dressed like a gangster in black, with a fedora to top it off, Stigma (the man) shuffled and jived while his band tore through its set. The music might have gotten stale after a while, but Stigma himself was always a classy cat, performing a mix of older songs and new tunes like “New York Blood,” the title song from his upcoming mob movie.

A reformed Fahrenheit 451 performed next, showcasing a mixture of funk/metal-tinged hardcore with crowd-baiting banter. Dressed in a black Purple Rain T-shirt, frontman Armando Bordas was quick witted throughout. Like Stigma, though, the group’s songs kind of blended together after a while.

After the “traditional” hardcore of Stigma and Fahrenheit 451, This Is Hell’s more modern sound was a welcome change. More grinding, abrasive, and just all around more intense, This Is Hell stirred the crowd into movement. Granted, this was just as much due to folks finally showing the heck up as the music itself, but you gotta give these guys credit. Unrelentingly dissonant yet throat-punchingly direct, This Is Hell is a prime band to watch in 2008. They barely dug into their album Misfortunes, but the older material soars live.

By the time This Is Hell ended, the crowd was so anxious for H2O that a small pit broke out for Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'.” Wonders never cease. The band started off its hour-long set with “1995,” the first track off of new album Nothing to Prove. Todd Morse’s guitar was way too low going into the song, though, making me wonder if H2O was going to be outrocked by friggin’ Journey. Luckily, the sound was quickly fixed, allowing the rest of the set to thoroughly satisfy.

The bands, unimpressed with the Troc’s barrier setup, created a small platform to bridge the gap and allow closer access to the audience. Nowhere was this better utilized than during H2O’s performance. Frontman Toby Morse was constantly sharing the mic with the crowd. Better yet, a cavalcade of fans climbed and dove off of the platform throughout. Luckily, it was a good crowd. Minus one kid who was kicked out by security during This Is Hell’s set, everyone was helping each other up off the floor and onto the stage.

Getting back to the band, H2O’s set list crossed the group’s entire discography. Even GO received some love, courtesy of “Role Model.” F.T.T.W. tunes like “Faster Than the World” and “One Life, One Chance” were also included, as well as Thicker Than Water songs like “Everready” and the title track. The new material got a strong response, too. “Nothing to Prove” and “Still Here” both sounded great live. Much to my bewilderment, new single “What Happened?” probably got the biggest reaction out of the new songs. A lot of hardcore kids dressed in hip-hop-inspired duds such as baggy shirts and flat-brimmed baseball caps also like to put passion before fashion, I guess.

After their regular set, H2O came back out for a three-song encore that included “Guilty by Association” and “5 Year Plan.” The audience had been pretty active before, but these three songs kicked up activity even higher. People up front were buried left and right by flying bodies. And yet for all that force, the show maintained a positive vibe. Those who fell over were picked up, no one to my knowledge was knocked out, and no one got hurt, although I did see a Troc security guard with an iced knee the following day at Kaiju Big Battel.

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Posted by xkidxdynamitex on 2008-06-09 03:15:31

yo! adam blake. if you are reading this, H2O must come to minneapolis again.
havent had a H2O show since like 2004.

Posted by turdfurguesun on 2008-06-08 02:15:20

regardless of the douchery of mattramone. H2YO made me chuckle.

Posted by paulrulzdood on 2008-06-06 13:01:14

what are all you girls bickering about? Holy shit its like a sex and the city marathon in here.

That setlist looks awesome!

Is that a dude from H2O posting on here? Why the hell would anyone in a real band want to see what internet losers are saying about them? Shouldn't the dudes in bands be like banging hot chicks or eating steak or getting effed up or going to church or eating tofu or working out or something?

Paul

Posted by NewKid on 2008-06-06 09:56:47

Fuck comments being timed out.

Posted by lookbackandlaugh on 2008-06-06 00:44:16

Ugh, I wish every time H2O was mentioned it didn't become some sort of fight.

Posted by adamblakeh2o on 2008-06-05 19:09:59

Rusty is doing Skibas part in What Happened and doing a great job. His voice is right there in that range so he fills it perfectly. Paul is the voice over at the end of 1995, the into to NTP is Freddy from Madball.

Posted by telegraphrocks on 2008-06-05 18:04:20
My Score:

Uh..... back to H2O, I'm sure Adam could answer this:
When "What Happened?" is played live, who does Skiba's part?
Also, Sir Delaney, I just noticed you're on the new album as well. Is that you at the end of "1995" talking about being positive and such? Or the lead-in intro to "Nothing To Prove"?

Posted by adamblakeh2o on 2008-06-05 16:50:33

You have already made a few insulting comments, so don't think "heart of gold" will be interpreted in any way other than as sarcasm. You make it blatantly apparent that you don't like H2O, Madball or Hazen Street, and too be honest, that is your right. Its also your right to state as much on this website. Where you cross the line is when you begin insulting people and making it your mission to attack those bands at every given opportunity.

Posted by tentalonsdeep on 2008-06-05 16:45:43

STILL wont shut up.

Posted by MattRamone on 2008-06-05 16:41:06

I said he had a heart of gold! How is that a slur?

Posted by adamblakeh2o on 2008-06-05 16:33:42

The only reason I'm even posting on here is because you apparently can't resist slurring my band and those of my friends at every given opportunity. If you feel that is acceptable behaviour to insult and ridicule people on here, then don't be surprised when people fire back in a similar manner. Regardless, as I stated already, the only people who are involved in this are Ten Talons and myself and the fact that you drag Madball into this, shows that once again you are using any excuse to slur and insult a band that you obviously don't like.

Posted by MattRamone on 2008-06-05 16:20:31

I'm just saying that if you guys are going to pick on me for being fat, maybe you should be concerned about the feelings of the gentle giant with the heart of gold behind the four string.

Posted by adamblakeh2o on 2008-06-05 14:25:10

MattRamone....Why are you bringing Madball into this? To my knowledge, no one in that band has said one word to you on here yet you feel the need to bring them into this. I'm not hiding behind a fake name and you know very well who Ten Talons Deep is, so why don't we just keep the mudslinging between us guys and leave those who aren't involved out? Please remove your comments relating to Madball immediately.

Posted by mattramone on 2008-06-05 14:00:05

I'm just saying, if he really wants to send me a shirt, I'm all for it. I posted my address in the last H2YO thread.

Posted by tentalonsdeep on 2008-06-05 13:57:19

you really dont know when to stay quiet huh..
sad.

Posted by mattramone on 2008-06-05 13:54:18

if Adam really wanted to send me a Pitchfork shirt, tell him to send me one in the size that Hoya wears. I could really use some new curtains.

Posted by tentalonsdeep on 2008-06-05 13:50:52

FattRamone

Posted by mattramone on 2008-06-05 13:24:07

And why not? It's just words. If you don't like it, ignore me.

Also, all the fat jokes are made all the funnier by this: http://www.ugo.com/channels/music/features/bandsondemand/images/M etal/artist/madball.jpg

Posted by tentalonsdeep on 2008-06-05 11:50:47
My Score:

right. so pretentious wanna be "punk" kids like yourself, should just continuously talk shit on the internet. no strings attatched, and then when confronted, take the "ohhh youre violent and wish harm on me, youre a bad person" route. such a typical piece of shit move. youre a fucking loser. you laugh at this and just try to be witty. one day you'll learn.

Posted by mattramone on 2008-06-05 00:35:03

*in a faux Brit accent* I do so love being labeled a jerk by the very same gentleman who wishes physical harm upon my person. I think it speaks volumes of his character.

Posted by thomas7155 on 2008-06-04 19:31:11

yeah fuck you mattramone.

Posted by telegraphrocks on 2008-06-04 17:43:02
My Score:

Stoked for their show in Chicago next month. I haven't seen these guys since 2002.

Posted by tentalonsdeep on 2008-06-04 17:15:08

MattRamone is DEFINATELY a jerk.
if anyone didnt notice.

Posted by outofstep81 on 2008-06-04 13:25:46
My Score:

HOISTDATRAG, it seemed like they played the same set in Boston, except maybe for Role Model (don't recall hearing that). Def notice CiS having some minor trouble at the beginning but it all seemed fine by the end (in Boston). Pretty awesome show all around.

Posted by mattramone on 2008-06-04 10:57:18

Jelone: I like it when everything sounds the same

Posted by Jelone on 2008-06-04 10:24:52

mattramone: I'm totally entitled to expect variation regardless of genre.

mattramone: Wellllll.... I mean, it took the crowd a really long time to pick up. The Troc didn't really fill out until around This is Hell. So you had decent movement for TiH and then a ton of activity during H2O. But if you asked any of the opening bands, they'd prolly tell you that the audience sucked.

Posted by necktattoo on 2008-06-04 10:16:53

a good crowd at a philly show? i don't believe it.

Posted by NotPatriotic on 2008-06-04 01:08:29

"cheesy pop punks who act like they're in a hardcore band (see also: New Found Glory).

You say this like it's a bad thing."

It definitely IS a bad thing.

Posted by HOISTDATRAG on 2008-06-03 20:04:56
My Score:

Great show, but H2O played a significantly shorter set in Boston and I knew that this show could never top the Cambridge Elks show last year..

Posted by inagreendase on 2008-06-03 17:45:52

cheesy pop punks who act like they're in a hardcore band (see also: New Found Glory).

You say this like it's a bad thing.

Posted by mattramone on 2008-06-03 16:35:57

"though, the group’s songs kind of blended together after a while."

What do you expect, it's a hardcore show. Except for h20, who are cheesy pop punks who act like they're in a hardcore band (see also: New Found Glory).

Posted by JValo on 2008-06-03 16:20:15

Here's the setlist from this show if anyone is interested....Amazing!

1. 1995
2. Everready
3. Scene Report
4. No More Tears
5. Still Here
6. I See It In Us
7. FTTW
8. Empty Pockets
9. Role Model
10. Nothing To Prove
11. Spirit Of ‘84
12. Friend
13. This Time
14. Sunday
15. Thicker Than Water
16. Universal Language
17. What Happened?
18. One Life One Chance
-Encore-
Family Tree
Guilty By Association
5 Year Plan

Posted by paulrulzdood on 2008-06-03 15:24:39

"A lot of hardcore kids dressed in hip-hop-inspired duds such as baggy shirts and flat-brimmed baseball caps also like to put passion before fashion, I guess."

Hahaha, pretty funny

Posted by bxbomber on 2008-06-03 14:57:28
My Score:

This show was amazing the night before in nyc. I've seen h2o a million times, but this had to be one of the best.
CIS also had the same problem, ive seen them play alot better.