Live Review and Photos by: CHRIS HAWLEY
Bruce Springsteen was one of the first musicians to give us a taste of the “opera” rock show. A rock show that didn’t have an encore but an intermission an expected an knowing pause in the show for a whole second half of hard rocking music. It is to this day still one of the most talked about shows. Usually lasting 3 hours and even in his older age still punching out high energy. However, what about the rest of us? Not saying I don’t enjoy The Boss, but why don’t more bands do it. Motion City Soundtrack has remedied that void. At least for rock music.
The idea isn’t quite a three hour rock extravaganza but it was an exceptional idea. Two nights, Four Albums. First night: I Am The Movie and Commit This To Memory. Second night: Even If It Kills Me and My Dinosaur Life. Just like Bruce adding a known intermission in between albums. Not straying from the album in order playing every track on the standard releases of the albums. Sorry hardcore Motion City Soundtrack fans don’t expect “The Sun Woke The Whole State”, “Not Asking You To Leave”, or “Sunny Day” on later tour dates.
The first night starts off with the album, I Am The Movie. “Cambridge” and “Shiver” started off the entire event very fast paced and fun. The night continued to stay with the same energy as they played their widely known “The Future Freaks Me Out”. While some might say songs like “Indoor Living”, “Boombox Generation”, “Modern Chemistry”, and “Mary Without Sound” are only for the veteran MCS fans it kept the entire night up-beat and high energy for a large climax with “A-OK”. Then came the 10 minute intermission. Most patrons went to the bar to get water from the heavy dancing, moshing, and overall high volume singing mixed with jumping. In between the set the overhead speakers played a blend of satirical up-beat happy campy songs. Giving an ironic funny felt the show.Very much how MCS fills there time in between songs; with jokes and fun stories. A small silence loomed over the crowd then the band headed back on stage to play arguably one of their most famous albums “Commit This To Memory”. Starting off with a “bang” is a slight understatement. The fast paced song “Attractive Today” united all fans by getting them to scream “…i like you…” to Justin (for MCS fans who have gone to current shows this is not a rare occurrence). The song then lead into one of MCS most popular songs “Everything Is Alright” another wonderful unifying song. The energy stayed up throughout the night with songs like “When You’re Around”, “Time Turned Fragile”, “L.G. FUAD”, and “Better Open the Door”. The entire ended as expected following the album order, however instead of people leaving early everyone united once again in a chant-like sing-a-long to “Hold Me Down” an amazing end to night one.
Going to the second night almost felt as if you had to build your energy all over again. Starting from scratch after the
climactic end of the first night. The crowd seemed almost worn and tired. That is until MCS started playing. Once again immediately uniting all the fans with “Fell In Love Without You”. Even If It Kills Me was a slightly slower album than the previous night however it didn’t stop the crowd from reciting lyrics in unison. Songs like “It Had To Be You”, “Last Night”, and “Can’t Finish What You Started” kept the energy up. Which lead into one of their singles from the album “Broken Heart” started up some more high paced dancing jumping and moshing. The set took a more mellow turn with “Hello Helicopter” and “Point of Extinction”. Then they ended the third album with Justin Pierre’s proclaimed “favorite song” “Even If It Kills Me”. Then came the pause. This time during the intermission playing “Let’s all go to the movies…” a fun pause and water break. Then the final album began with “Worker Bee”. A great way to not only end the night but the entire event. Songs such as “Her Words Destroyed My Planet” and “Disappear” resurrected all the moshing from the previous nights. Minor dancing breaks occurred with “History Lesson” and “Stand Too Close”. Then in between stories of the integration of Transformers into song lyrics they started the energy back up with “Pulp Fiction”, “@!#?@!”, and “Hysteria”. The night then took a melodramatic turn. Not only because it was the final album of the night, but it was the final night. “Skin and Bones” and “The Weakends” ended the whole night on a bitter sweet note.
For those going on later dates expect all the Motion City Soundtrack you know and love have seen before but now in a Bruce Springsteen size up show. High energy, great dance moves (by the band and the fans), great opening acts (including Garfunkel and Oates and EX-Limbeck guys The Young Dudes.) It is definitely not a show to miss.
Photos by: CHRIS HAWLEY
More photos of MCS at SSMF
The Sunset Strip Musical Festival SSMF 2011 August 18-20, 2011
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