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Against Me! / Off with Their Heads

live in Knoxville
2009
live show

Review by: skankbook
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Published on May 1st 2009

After seeing the Bouncing Souls with the Gaslight Anthem last December, I couldn't think of a better representation of established bands putting on a show with a band that could be their equal within just a few years. Enter Against Me! playing some shows with Off with Their Heads. While I've never weighed more than 170 lbs, AM! has still been there through every shitty breakup, among other milestones in my life. Long story short, I was compelled to drive from Pennsylvania to Knoxville, TN to experience this firsthand.

I was shocked when I walked into the Cider House and discovered it was a relatively small venue, holding only a couple hundred people. Work conflicts always prevented me from seeing Against Me! at the Church in Philly before they released Searching for a Former Clarity, so I was excited to see them in a more natural environment.

The 76ers' comeback victory over the Magic completely distracted me from seeing/hearing/even acknowledging there was an opener. Shortly after I had made my celebratory phone calls, Minneapolis' Off with Their Heads took the stage. They opened with "I Am You," and then went on to play a number of other songs off From the Bottom. Ryan and the gang seemed to joke around and be more natural than they were when I saw them last November in Wilkes-Barre. After they closed with "Die Today," I couldn't help but get the feeling that these guys will one day be headlining their own major tour (If they feel like it, of course). After the show, I talked with their merch guy, and sorry folks, we'll be waiting a while for The '69 Sound, with no plans for its release in the immediate future.

Ever since the 2006 Warped Tour when I saw Against Me! play the majority of New Wave, I've gotten the impression they aren't afraid to play anything at their shows. When they took the Tennessee stage and opened with "White Crosses," I had a feeling we'd be in for a special night. Along with the opener, they played two songs I've never heard before, "Western World" (a mixed tempo number I could only compare to Weezer's "El Scorcho") and another song, marked "Bob D." on the setlist. "Anna Is a Stool Pigeon" and "Amputations" from Tom's solo EP were also pleasant surprises in the 16-song set. "Don't Lose Touch" was the only entry from SFAFC, while As the Eternal Cowboy received a nice representation with four songs. By the time the encore of "White People for Peace" into "Walking Is Still Honest" was complete, I knew my voyage had been worth it.

I'm excited to hear what the band has in store after this summer's Original Cowboy EP, anxious to see what steps Off with Their Heads will take in the future, and would love to see these guys tour together again.

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Posted by skankbook on 2009-05-03 13:23:25
My Score:

The setlist was pretty similar to the one posted below. I managed to get videos of "Until the Day," "Go On Git Now," and "Die Today" from OWTH's set and "Pints/Cliche," "Anna is a Stool Pigeon," and "Thrash Unreal" from AM!'s set,

http://www.youtube.com/user/skankbook

EasyD, I appreciate the criticism. If you're on this site, then you probably know from either personal experience or other reviews what Against Me! is like live. Trying something different.

Posted by crackpotdemagogue on 2009-05-03 10:42:08

strickland, it was an 'in-joke'... see: http://www.punknews.org/against_me_guy

Posted by strickland on 2009-05-03 09:08:30

I'm confused, why does it matter how much this guy weighs?

Posted by Chadreligion on 2009-05-03 01:16:41

Goldfinger is fucking horrible.

Posted by thegreatestmanalive on 2009-05-02 23:45:26

to the guy talking to eazyd2, he did right a review, its of goldfinger, its fanfuckingtastic

Posted by gotsmuch on 2009-05-02 22:17:13

the gaslight anthem will not "equal" the bouncing souls in just a few years time because the gaslight anthem is fucking boring and the bouncing souls are fun always.

Posted by BarleyPat on 2009-05-02 20:46:23
My Score:

Score is for the AgainstMeGuy reference.

Posted by MattRamonesucks on 2009-05-02 19:08:37

A ten for these two shitty, trendy orcore bands. Jesus Christ.

Posted by chrisafi on 2009-05-02 19:06:10

I agree, chatting shit about peoples reviews when you can't be bothered to step upto the review plate yourself smacks of...something..maybe sanctimony...not feeling my words today

Posted by crackpotdemagogue on 2009-05-02 18:37:47

easyd2, why don't you show him how it's done?

Posted by eazyd2 on 2009-05-02 17:01:51
My Score:

totally shitty review. people need to learn to write more about what the band is like rather than the lead up to the set. seriously.

Posted by GarrettIrish on 2009-05-02 16:38:25

Wow all the way from PA to Knoxville?I feel your pain,I grew up in Knoxville but live in Maryland.

I wish i was back in town at the time,they haven't played a small venue up here in ages.

Posted by crackpotdemagogue on 2009-05-02 16:27:46

OMG LOL WTF FTW 666 NO SETLIST ASL?

the 'bob d' song must've been 'bob dylan's dream 1253'... i remember reading about him playing that one solo. think you can view it on youtube.

Posted by FaceOnTheBarroomFloor on 2009-05-02 15:51:33

I posted it in another thread, but this is the setlist from the Wilmington NC show:
Pints of Guinness Make You Strong
I Still Love You Julie
Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious
Reinventing Axl Rose
Walking Is Still Honest
We Laugh At Danger and Break All The Rules
The Disco Before The Breakdown
T.S.R.
Cliche Guevara
Sink Florida Sink
Rice and Bread
Don't Lose Touch
New Wave
Thrash Unreal
New song (Teenage Anarchist?)
Western World (New Song)
Some other new song

Posted by SloaneDaley on 2009-05-02 15:07:12

the severe lack of Searching For A Former Clarity material disturbs me but I like the inclusion of Tom's solo stuff. I think I'll wait til they have another album out to see them though so I can hear a miniumum of New Wave material.