Honda Civic Tour

Charlotte, NC. September 20, 2011.

by Alexis Schwallier

The last time I attended the Honda Civic Tour was in 2008. That year, the tour stopped at Amos Southend in Charlotte in the middle of a downpour. This year, I made my way to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater to see blink-182, My Chemical Romance, and Matt& Kim - the threat of rain clouds upon us once again. Luckily, there was no southern downpour this time, just good music, and a good time.  With a mix of bands, of course comes the mix of fans, and at such a big venue, always expect the unexpected. 

Matt and Kim is a band I am familiar with - they graced my computer speakers most of the summer, and clearly have worked their way from an obscure indie duo from Brooklyn, to grace the stage with acts like blink-182, and My Chem. While most of the crowd hadn’t filled the seats when 7 p.m. rolled around and the duo hit the stage, it was clear there were a noticeable few there for them. Opening with ‘Block After Block’, Matt and Kim made their presence known - if you were scratching your head about Matt and who, Kim and what? They quickly changed your mind. From the photo pit I could see people dancing in their seats, and of course moving their legs on the lawn. Even a few distinct voices singing along met my ears (especially during ‘Daylight’, the single that put them on the chart). And of course everyone knew their cover of Biz Markie’s, ‘Just a Friend’. When I say Matt and Kim brought it, I mean they brought it.  While I’ve seen other duos, like Mates of State, and sure, they aren’t as electronic, or dance punk, Matt and Kim showed them up. Kim on drums, Matt on keyboard - you would have thought they had a whole band behind them with the energy they delivered. The pair filled the Amphitheater, moving around, singing at the top of their lungs, and delivering an opening show to get everyone out of their seats and ready for what was to come. With just a short set, they gave it their all in every second of those thirty minuets, and if you weren’t a fan before - you better be one now. 

Next up, was My Chemical Romance. The last time I saw MCR was in 2005 when they toured on Green Day’s American Idiot tour. For me, seeing Green Day was incredible - they were legends in my mind. Funny how this go round they were with blink-182, another band that started it all. Since it had been six years, my expectations for MCR were up in the air. They’d always been a solid band, always bringing their everything - emotions, blood, sweat, tears - to their sets. But a lot can change in six years, especially with the split of  summer, Bob Bryar’s. But to my liking. The band rocked it. Ten years since their founding, and six since I had seen them on a stage, and they proved they still had it.  Frank Iero, walked on stage in a vampire cape, and a shirt that read Dracüla. But other than Frank being ready for an early Halloween, it seemed the band had ditched their more theatrical approach to their live performance -  matching uniforms absent. From their first album  I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, they played ‘Our Lady Of Sorrows.’ To my surprise, the majority of the crowd seemed to not know this song the way they did the likes of ‘Mama’ from The Black Parade, and of course ‘I’m Not Okay,’ from Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, the album that put them on the map.  Other songs were ‘Na Na Na,’  and ‘S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W’ from their most recent album, ‘Give ‘Em Hell’, ‘The Only Hope for Me is You’, ‘Teenagers’, and of course ‘Helena’.  Surprisingly, the band closed with ‘Cancer’ - many of the fans around me confused and a little disappointed by this choice.

Last but not least, blink-182. A band I have been listening to since the young age of ten. A band I had never seen live. To say this was a moment I had been waiting for would be an understatement. How could I not be excited? They started it all. Watching MTV to see ‘Nsync, and instead was given a trio of rather cute boys, nothing like Justin Timberlake, and a pop punk sound I’d never really heard - I was sold in an instant. Fourteen years later, I’m a music photographer, and writer - maybe it’s a little sentimental of me - but I can thank them. Blink-182 opened the door into the whole world of pop punk music, and all the other branches that come from the broad term of alternative. Certainly a long way off from ‘Nysnc.  The band opened with ‘Feeling This’ a song I’ve sung too many times at karaoke - but one that, despite not being from on of their better albums, everyone enjoys, everyone knows, and everyone loves to sing. It’s a high energy, loud, fun, song and was a great way to start the show. Doing this for years, and years, breaking up, getting back together - having side projects, children, and wives, the trio still seemed like seventeen year old kids - your mom jokes still funny. There was nothing disappointing about their set. Mark, Tom, and Travis were as solid as ever, each showing off their strengths as musicians and that, since their first time on the Honda Civic Tour in 2001, were still a force to be reckoned with.  They brought out all the epic songs, ‘I Miss You’, ‘The Rock Show’, ‘What’s My Age Again?’, and ‘First Date’. Several new songs were performed including, ‘Up All Night’ and ‘Heart’s All Gone’. It was hard not to be nostalgic during Blink’s performance. I grew up listening to them and desperately wanting to go one of their shows. Now that I had the chance - everything felt surreal.  Mark and Tom exchanged their typical banter - making you forget they aren’t little boys anymore, and Travis graced us all with a solo, reminding everyone that he’s still an incredible drummer. Blink-182 closed with ‘Carousel’ and ‘Dammit’ - two songs, out of their twenty song set, I was most excited to hear. 

The need for an Amphitheater was apparent by the end of the night. Almost every seat was filled, and the lawn covered with fans. I left with a smile on my face and the satisfaction of seeing such a great line up. If the tour hasn’t come near you yet, I highly suggest spending the money on a ticket, even if it’s from the lawn, and going. You won’t regret it. 

Fueled By Ramen 15th Anniversary Show Review

In case you couldn’t make it out to the second night of the FBR15 shows, we’ve got a review/recap for you right here!

VersaEmerge

VersaEmerge started the night off strong.  Though their set was unfortunately quite short, they managed to fit a large amount of performance into a short amount of time.  Sierra Kusterbeck’s high energy and genuine feeling behind her vocals made it easy for members of the crowd who didn’t know their songs to get involved in their set.  By the end, VersaEmerge’s dedicated Vultures and new fans alike were sad to see them leave the stage.

A Rocket to the Moon

Though A Rocket to the Moon used to be a one man band comprised solely of singer Nick Santino, you’d never guess it based on the easy sense of camaraderie between him, guitarist Justin Richards, bassist Eric Halvorsen, and drummer Andrew Cook.  The foursome played a fun set of the kind of songs you can’t help but sing along to - even throwing in the Fueled By Ramen Holiday Sale jingle (which is STILL stuck in my head).

The Academy Is…

The Academy Is… was next to take the stage.  Singer William Beckett, guitarist Mike Carden, and bassist Adam T Siska were joined by guitarist Jamie Reed and former TAI drummer Andy Mrotek (aka The Butcher).  They played their first album, Almost Here, in its entirety (joined onstage by Gabe Saporta during Classifieds), followed by Big Mess off their second album, Santi.  Though former guitarist Michael Guy Chislett was surely missed, Jamie Reed did an outstanding job in his place.  Beckett’s strong vocals and showmanship accompanied by the technical skill of Carden, Siska, Mrotek, and Reed brought many fans in the crowd to tears, and certainly stirred up a wide range of emotions.

Gym Class Heroes

It was truly wonderful to see Travis McCoy rejoin his bandmates in Gym Class Heroes after the wild success he had with his solo album Lazarus last year.  The foursome played together flawlessly, their setlist including songs from all of their albums, as well as their recent single Stereo Hearts.  To the crowd’s surprise, they also performed Travie’s solo hit Billionaire.  At the end of the song when Travie held out his microphone to the crowd to sing along, it would have been difficult to find a single person not joining in.  Feeling that connection flow throughout the entire crowd was such a special (and chill inducing) moment.

Cobra Starship

In the moments before Cobra Starship took the stage, it was easy to feel the mounting excitement throughout the room.  Singer Gabe Saporta, guitarist Ryland Blackinton, keytarist Victoria Asher, bassist Alex Suarez, and drummer Nate Novarro have a stage presence and chemistry like no other band, and certainly showed it the minute they took the stage.  They played quite a few songs from their older albums, including some slower songs (The World Has It’s Shine), in addition to their high energy dance songs.  In celebration of the band’s new album Night Shades, sunglasses were thrown out to the crowd and Saporta requested that everyone put them on to help break the Guinness World Record for most people wearing sunglasses in a dark place.  Sabi then joined them onstage to perform their current hit You Make Me Feel.

Afterwards the band left the stage, but the crowd was not fooled by the fake-out and began chanting “one more song,” which before long changed to “Snakes on a Plane” (the band’s well known collaboration with William Beckett, Travis McCoy, and Maja Ivarsson for the movie Snakes on a Plane).  Cobra Starship returned to the stage to perform Pleasure Ryland, after which Saporta paused for a moment to ask the crowd “Hold on, guys, wait.  Let me ask you a serious question right now.  Do you honestly think we’re not going to play that with all our brothers here?”  The crowd responded with a loud “NO!” to which Saporta replied “Okay, so don’t you want to hear Guilty Pleasure first?” and the crowd cheered.  After a rousing rendition of Guilty Pleasure, during which the crowd joined in doing the signature dance, Cobra Starship was joined onstage by William Beckett and Travis McCoy to close the show with Snakes on a Plane, an obvious crowd favorite.  The electric feeling that hovered in the air throughout the night exploded during this last song.

The entire night was completely flawless and magical.  I would definitely recommend going to see all of these bands the next time they tour near you, and next time Fueled By Ramen has an anniversary show, BE THERE!

Also make sure to check out our FBR15 Photo Gallery!