A solidly packed Monday evening of music awaits those who don't mind stepping out on a cold winter's night...
Escape the Fate, Alesana, Motionless In White, Get Scared, and Drive A at South Side Music Hall
Five
bands on a Monday night? Thankfully, this all-ages event should get
started around 7 o'clock with the headlining Escape the Fates scheduled
to hit the stage around 9. If you caught my Q&A with Escape the Fate
frontman Craig Mabbitt earlier today, you know that his band's most
recent effort throws some experimental ingredients into its emo and
metal stew. Some fans were taken aback by the pop and dance elements,
but for my money, anything Escape the Fate does to distinguish itself
from the horde of other eyeliner and hairstyles bands is for the better.
Best Coast, Wavves and No Joy at the Granada Theater
Los
Angeles' Best Coast is a young, indie pop duo consisting of Bethany
Cosentino and Bobb Bruno. Together, the pair creates a unique hybrid of
surf music and low-fi garage rock. Supposedly both Jerry Seinfeld and
Bruce Springsteen are big fans of Best Coast, but even without such
renowned followers, Cosentino and Bruno's laid back talents are clearly
evident. Far less subdued is San Diego's Waaves, a noisy little combo
centered on one Nathan Williams. Seems Williams' battle with addiction
kept his band sidetracked for much of 2009. But judging by King of The Beach, Wavves' 2010 effort, Williams has very much regained his mojo.
Against Me!, Fences, Cheap Girls and Great White Buffalo at Trees
For
well over a decade, Tom Gabel has led some form of Against Me!, and,
over that time, the Florida punk rock quartet has gone through several
members, reunited on occasion with those original members, joined a
major label and then been dumped by that same label. Through it all,
Gabel has maintained his old school punk cred even as his songwriting
has matured. Last year's effort, White Crosses, featured cuts
like "Rapid Decompression" and "I Was a Teenage Anarchist," which
mingled shouted choruses (a la The Misfits) with mainstream rock riffs
(a la AC/DC). Perhaps being recently released from Sire Records will
result in Gabel pursuing even more experimental directions. By selecting
Fences as the main support band for this tour, perhaps Gabel is already
expanding his horizons. Fences is a fascinating indie pop outfit out of
Seattle that is masterminded by Christopher Mansfield. Here's hoping
the punks and rockers of Against Me!'s audience will allow Mansfield to
do his ultra-cool, shoegaze thing.
