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Emeritus
Reviews 300
Approval 96%
Soundoffs 209
News Articles 250
Band Edits + Tags 353
Album Edits 368
Album Ratings 2015
Objectivity 80%
Last Active 11-16-18 8:49 am
Joined 03-06-08
Review Comments 22,500
| DaveyBoy's Counter Revolution 2011
An offshoot of the annual SoundWave Festival, it's fair to state that Australia's Counter Revolution mini-festival was lucky to go ahead. The original full festival was cancelled when an un-named headliner (rumored to be Van Halen) pulled out & a deal could not get done with an intended replacement (rumored to be Aerosmith). Narrowed down to a 20 band clash-less mini-festival, The Pretty Reckless then pulled out & Melbourne's show was shifted from an outdoors venue to Festival Hall. Things on the day of September-30 also did not get off to a great start with disorganization outside meaning that practically nobody was inside for the beginning of the event! Thankfully, after all that, the day was ultimately a success with a good time had by all & excellent value for money ($5.50 per band). These are the bands I saw in the order they played: | | 1 | We Are The Ocean
As explained above, I wasn't able to see the full set from the promising English band, but was lucky enough to catch 3 full songs. Even that almost did not occur since Dan Brown just happened to be in the mosh pit as I was heading towards the stage & I was almost clotheslined by his mic cable that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Even from the 3 tunes that I heard, I could tell that We Are The Ocean are a handy live outfit. Brown's attention-seeking energy is obviously a selling point, but Liam Cromby's superlative voice was clearly the highlight (especially on 'Confessions' & 'The Waiting Room'). Cue the countdown for his solo career... | | 2 | Terrible Things
Just like the trio's debut album, the best word to describe the live show of Terrible Things is "accomplished". In fact, the whole half hour mirrored their LP, since it was just good old-fashioned straight-ahead rock that was far from groundbreaking, but contained enough interesting variety to make it entertaining. If there was one positive that I did take from the set it was that Fred Mascherino has some serious talent... His voice was a nice combination of gravelly & smooth, while the guy can seriously shred. Definitely Taking Back Sunday's loss. | | 3 | The Swellers
One of the bands I was most looking forward to, The Swellers did not disappoint. Playing their usual brand of blue-collar punk-rock, the Michigan quartet unleashed a barrage of driving rhythms (the low end was mixed to the fore) & soaring guitar lines. It meant that lead vocalist Nick Diener had to strive further to get the band's detailed songwriting across to the audience, meaning he sounded even more passionate than usual. Old favorite 'Bottles' sounded great, as did 'Sleepers' and the fantastic sing-along of 'The Best I Ever Had'. A thoroughly recommended live act which was backed up later in the day when practically every other band mentioned them during their on-stage banter! | | 4 | We Are The In Crowd
This was the beginning of some technical problems playing havoc with one of the 2 stages. As We Are The In Crowd's bass player Mike Ferri suggested mid-set "Can I get even more of everything I don't need in my monitor", the issues were there for all to see. Tiny singer Taylor Jardine was inconsistent due to these problems, but soldiered on fairly well. Meanwhile, Jordan Eckes performed much better as the male half of the vocal duo. Overall, it was a fun, catchy & energetic set, even if the band's lack of variety did shine through at times. | | 5 | Alesana
The first of two pre-planned breaks for the day, this time was spent at the merchandise stand... And from what I briefly saw & heard; Thank God for that! | | 6 | Go Radio
If Go Radio were experiencing any technical problems, then they definitely did not let it show. Jason Lancaster & Co. delivered a top quality set, where the extra edge of the live environment gave their tunes some grit that was occasionally missing from their strong debut LP. 'Fight Fight' & 'Redemption In The Verse' especially sounded terrific, while 'Any Other Heart' closed things off superbly. Predictably, 'Forever My Father' was not a part of the setlist, but 'Goodbye Moon' satisfied those looking for something slower to show off Lancaster's distinctive voice. And then there was quite possibly the best surprise of the day, with Go Radio performing a great cover of Adele's 'Rolling In The Deep'. Never thought I'd see a mosh pit to that song! | | 7 | Hellogoodbye
If I had ever seen a photo of Hellogoodbye, then I had forgotten what they looked like (insert Millhouse, Simpsons scientist & Revenge of the Nerds joke here). In amongst the awkward humor of their on-stage banter, however, were some charming melodies... The kind which would get stuck in your head no matter how hard you resisted. Throw in some trademark ukulele work and - most importantly - no autotune, and the Californian quintet delivered a solid set. You can't help but get the feeling that these guys could almost win anybody over if they felt so inclined, although I think they'd work better at the beach on a hot summers day. | | 8 | Make Do and Mend
To say that Make Do and Mend have been growing on me would be an understatement, and they're beginning to remind me of the 1st time I heard the likes of Rise Against & Billy Talent... Get past the initial reaction to James carroll's voice & you have one hell of a band. Playing to one of the smaller audiences of the day meant I took up a close position before they started. Bad move, since the ferocity with which these guys played almost blew my ear-drum out. The rhythm section were superb, while Mike O'Toole won my vote for best guitarist of the day. Carroll is clearly an interesting character; There is a sincerity to his bitterness, if that makes sense. If anything, his gruff vocals were actually a little smoother live. A very much recommended live act that will only get better. | | 9 | The Damned Things
Rob Caggiano may have won my best guitarist of the day award had he not had to share the load with his 2 colleagues. But otherwise, this super-group not only click well on-stage, but seem like they have an awful lot of fun doing it. Andy Hurley surprised the hell out of me with his pounding drumming, while the game of guitar one-upmanship meant that singer Keith Buckley had no choice but to scream his lungs out to get heard. The melodic catchiness of their debut LP occasionally got lost in all of this, but as their song 'Friday Night' states; this is all about "another good time". | | 10 | Funeral for a Friend
I'm a fan of these guys, but something has been not quite right the 2 times I have previously seen them live. Unfortunately, the 3rd time was not a charm here, as those technical bugs returned to haunt Stage Left. At one point, I thought the entire band were gonna beat the living crap out of their roadie, but they plugged away doing the best they could. Their new songs actually sounded pretty good live, while old favorite 'Escape Artists Never Die' was probably the highlight of the set. 4th time lucky maybe? | | 11 | Set Your Goals
Having seen Set Your Goals once before, I knew what to expect... And they pretty much delivered on their brand of almost lackadaisical energy. These guys seriously seem like they just walked in off the street, but that gives them an empathy with the fans that is difficult to match. While 'Gaia Bleeds' predictably got the mosh going & 'The Fallen' had everyone singing along, the 2 new tracks they played seemed a little lackluster. "Fun" is the most apt word for these guys & one would be hard-pressed to suggest they did not deliver that on this particular day. | | 12 | This Providence
I've always thought of This Providence as rather catchy in the moment, but one of the most forgettable bands going around. Seeing them live did provide a little bit of a different perspective, and I'm not just talking about finding out that lead vocalist Dan Young was born in Australia & speaks with an Aussie accent. His smooth near falsetto does give some of their songs more life live, especially the silky 'My Beautiful Rescue'. Musically, they were competent, but dare I say it, just too forgettable. | | 13 | Story of the Year
I'm a fan of these guys & saw them live in 2008... Yet, even I was surprised with the set they performed here. I reckon they've found the fountain of youth, since everyone but drummer Josh Willis was bouncing off the walls. The energy was just contagious throughout the arena, while the band themselves didn't miss a beat in playing a great cross-section of tunes from throughout their 4 album career. I've heard it said from even the band's detractors that Story of the Year are a great live band, and this day proved why, since they were practically faultless. I just have to learn to look up quicker when bassist Adam Russell decides to hurl himself into the crowd. The best performance of the day. | | 14 | Face to Face
Dinner Time! I have no idea what the older guys were doing on this tour and I am unfamiliar with their discography, but from the 2 or 3 songs I heard them play, I am intrigued. Sounded like some really solid, rhythm-driven punk rock that I could see myself getting into. | | 15 | Yellowcard
The 2nd best act of the day... I have been waiting a while to see Yellowcard & they did not disappoint as they had me as soon as the familiar violin melody of 'For You & Your Denial' kicked things off. Their break may have given them a sense of perspective of sorts, since they delivered a set that effectively combined fun & maturity. There was a nice up-down-up feel about the setlist (EG: Way Away, Light Up The Sky, Five Becomes Four, Hang You Up...) & they were one of the few bands to play a genuine ballad. The band were spot on musically, Ryan hit all the right notes, while Sean provided the energy. And then there was 'Ocean Avenue'; the perfect set closer if ever I've heard one. | | 16 | Young Guns
In a tough spot, the young English band delivered a darn good set when considering they only have 1 album to draw material from. Then again, it helps that said album has had 5 quality singles released from it. Falling into the trap of trying to heavy up their sound a little too much, vocalist Gus Wood was still able to let his powerhouse voice be heard. 'Crystal Clear' & 'Weight of the World' were sing-along favorites & the band seemed appreciative to be touring down under for the 1st time. I really didn't need the old "get down on your knees & jump up when I tell you to" routine toward the end of such a long day though. | | 17 | All Time Low
And then from out of nowhere, someone let the kindergarten gates fly open & I was attacked by a never-ending stream of 7 year old girls. Arggghhhh, the little ankle-biters were everywhere, with their shrill screams &... bras. WTF, since when do 7 year olds wear bras? And where did all the guys in the audience go? It was like f'n Twilight Zone. So anyway, apparently All Time Low are popular with the teens. I don't mind their early stuff either, but they don't play that, so their set didn't do much for me (apart from closing duo 'Weightless' & 'Dear Maria'). The rhythm section is surprisingly competent & if you take away the nonsensical banter (these guys seriously could end up in jail if they are not careful of the legal ages in various countries), Alex Gaskarth can sing & knows what to do with a guitar. But seriously, if there has ever been a bigger muppet in a band than Jack (I'm trying hard to look like Alex) Barakat, then I don't know who it is. | | 18 | D.R.U.G.S.
The penultimate act of the day were D.R.U.G.S., who I really had no idea what to expect of. Ultimately, it was an inconsistent set... They began really well with 'The Only Thing You Talk About', but it was up & down from there with Craig Owens not exactly being the most likable character going around. Energy was the name of the game & for the most part they kept it high, while the musicians all did their job without setting the world on fire. It was a difficult position to play I guess & they probably would have been better suited not stuffed between the more mainstream leaning headliners. | | 19 | Panic! At the Disco
Despite hearing numerous reports to the contrary, I had always thought that Panic would not be suited to a live setting. That feeling carried over into the first 2 songs, as I tried to get my head around whether they favored the rock, pop or theatrical side of their sound. As it turned out, placing 'The Ballad of Mona Lisa' so early on the setlist (3rd) was a master-stroke as it proved they could meld all 3 rather comfortably. Brendon Urie played the front-man well, having fun with the audience yet always stopping short of crossing the (All Time Low) line. His voice was also top-notch, while hired hands Ian Crawford & Dallon Weekes played their roles as if they are already part of the band. 'Lets Kill Tonight' & 'Nine in the Afternoon' were mid-set highlights, but a cover of The Darkness' 'I Believe In a Thing Called Love' may just have stolen the show. | |
MisterTornado
10.03.11 | Somebody get this man a feature! | theacademy
10.03.11 | the damned things slay live.
i like panic! on the record but would never want to see them live.
i'd prob pass on everything else here
nice write-up; congrats on the impending feature | DaveyBoy
10.03.11 | Was gonna do this as a blog, but you can probably see why I didn't. And I can't for the life of me think of anything to write that is shorter & more informal that would fit the blog parameters better. | Inveigh
10.03.11 | cool stuff, I'd really like to see The Damned Things | Vooligan
10.03.11 | Nice one man. I only really like Yellowcard (at times), We Are The Ocean and Hellowgoodbye out of the bands, but looks like it was a decent day. Despite the fact it was at festering hall. | DaveyBoy
10.03.11 | Yeah, The Damned Things were cool. Make sure you catch them if they do come near you as who knows if the band will be for the long term.
Billy, this thankfully wasn't a sellout, so there was a bit of room to breathe at Festering Hall for once. And I never took you for a Hellogoodbye fan at all! | theacademy
10.03.11 | idk man, both anthrax and etid recorded new albums concurrently with the members' work with TDT... they've played a whole buncha shows too... i think since the project had such a positive reception, it could be an ongoing thing | Inveigh
10.03.11 | I hope so, Ironiclast ruled | twlight
10.03.11 | cool list and everything, but damn a lot of these bands just suck | flamingmouse
10.03.11 | saw 3 and 11 last year and they were pretty good. especially syg. | Vooligan
10.03.11 | Haha, Davey i'm a sucker for a catchy pop hook when it's done well. Hellogoodbye do it well. | toxin.
10.03.11 | Sounds like fun. Yellowcard are playing at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, about 10 minutes from where I live, but I fucking forgot all about it and didn't buy tickets. I hate myself for it too. | DaveyBoy
10.03.11 | I hope so too theacademy.
You're always gonna get some suck bands when you list 19. But there should be something for everyone in amongst this lot.
Tisk tisk xtoxin. I'm sure Mickey Mouse might have even provided a cameo on the violin. | Aids
10.03.11 | fuck yes great list. I dont listen to any of these bands (excpet Panic, obvs m/) but nice effort. I love lists like this | Emim
10.03.11 | "with their shrill screams &... bras. WTF, since when do 7 year olds wear bras? And where did all the guys in the audience go?"
um | FromDaHood
10.03.11 | We Are the In Crowd are so damn bad | DaveyBoy
10.04.11 | Thanks Aids.
I may have been exaggerating with the ages Mimsy, but the amount of bras that landed on stage were ridiculous. | HBFS
10.04.11 | I thought it did sellout? Either way, Alesana were definitely the worst. And Davey, Go Radio did a cover of Rolling In The Deep for one of those Punk Goes Pop compilations, so that's why they played it I guess | SHAKEandBAKE
10.04.11 | Always enjoy reading your write-ups, sounds like a pretty fun day. I'm curious to see what direction WATO will go in the future, now that AOF has broken up haha. | Awesomesauce
10.04.11 | Disorganization from the people running Soundwave? Who would have thunk it?! Those dickheads couldn't organize a hunger strike at a fashion show. | Metamorphosis
10.04.11 | Damn, I like Funeral for a Friend, Story of the Year and Yellowcard a lot. Glad to see that they did great for the most part. The Damned Things is awesome, too. Nice write ups, great list of musicians. | DaveyBoy
10.04.11 | I doubt it Rowdy, since they advertised on their site that the balcony was gonna be open. Plus, there was lots of room at the back of the floor. I wasn't aware that Go Radio had covered it before. Hell, the song isn't all that old.
Good to hear SandB. I was curious to hear which way WATO went on the last album... Although, I have altered my personal rating for that album now.
LOL Sauce... Although, I think this time it was Fetsival Hall's fault. Opening the doors 15 minutes before starting time was ridiculous.
Thanks Metamorphosis. Just found out that FFAF didn't play Perth as Matt got sick again. Their Australian shows are cursed. | HBFS
10.04.11 | The comp isn't out yet so | DaveyBoy
10.04.11 | Ahhh, that makes more sense. Hope it sounds as good on record as it did live. | Tyrael
10.04.11 | You lived through 17's set? Manly | DaveyBoy
10.04.11 | Oh hell yeah. You'd do the same. | Tyrael
10.04.11 | Ugh I don't think I would have gone to this festival anyway cause there are only 3 bands on this list that I actually like (Yellowcard, Funeral for a Friend & The Swellers... Panic at the Disco! are pretty cool but I saw em live once and they were awful) | DaveyBoy
10.04.11 | Panic weren't in any way awful here, but I could imagine things could go awry with their live show. | Metamorphosis
10.04.11 | DaveyBoy, you like a lot of artists that I like in general. Your musical tastes have always impressed me. | DaveyBoy
10.04.11 | Why thank-you sir. Ditto back to you... Although, there is that issue with your user-name & a mediocre Papa Roach LP. | Sowing
10.04.11 | I need to see Yellowcard | DaveyBoy
10.04.11 | Definitely worth seeing SS. I was very impressed with them. | Fugue
10.04.11 | Awesome write up man, gotta say I've missed your writing these past couple of months, I forgot just how easy on the eye it is. Show sounds like it was a fun experience, and although I only know a handful of the bands you saw it sounds like you had a blast. | Winsomniac
10.04.11 | Penultimate.
| DaveyBoy
10.05.11 | Thanks Rosco... Yes, I am easy on the eye, aren't I? Hehe. I thought you'd know most of these bands.
Favorite word Winsomniac? | WhiteNoise
10.05.11 | I thought it was the worst lineup ever, and I was so angry about the cancelled revolution.
Sounds like you had fun, I really really wanted to see Yellowcard but of course they didn't do sideshows.
Who do you think they will get to headline soundwave 2012? Lineup comes out Friday. | DaveyBoy
10.05.11 | Not the worst lineup ever Croc... I think you're just comparing to a 70 band festival which included Van Halen & the real headliners Steel Panther.
As for SW'12, I have absolutely no idea. Maybe Aerosmith. | Metamorphosis
10.05.11 | So my name isn't going to ever shake that image of that LP out of your head, huh? | Winsomniac
10.05.11 | Absolutely. And favorite staff! Righteous write-up! Although I'm afraid I don't have as many good words to say about some of the acts listed. Sounds like it was a good time anyway though. | DaveyBoy
10.05.11 | One day Meta... One day.
Thanks Winsomniac. With this comment of mine, yours is now the penultimate comment. | DaveyBoy
10.05.11 | Stokes, the only screams I heard from him were on 'Confessions' where Liam sings 90% of the song anyway. They were ok... Not good, not bad. The thing is, like watching AOF, I was sort of enamored with the clean singer, so I don't pay much attention to the screamer.
On 'The Waiting Room', his gruff vocals were pretty much exact to what they sound like on record. So then it's up to you whether or not you liked them on the album. | DaveyBoy
10.05.11 | To quote one handsome fella: "Cue the countdown for his solo career..." |
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