New jersey brought new life
Tonight was the bamboozle east coast kick off with the Hoodwink show. I was actually here for it last year with MxPx. It was a great time, but it was just the bands playing their sets, with a slight variation in songs.
This year however, the bands that played all performed complete sets by other bands. Covers, if you may.
But tonight was different. Normally, a band plays a cover song of some old rock band, or something from like 15 years ago. Tonight, these bands were playing songs by bands playing now. Somewhat common sounding groups. As I listened in, I realized this task is a lot harder than you’d think. The bands weren’t “putting there own spin on the song”, they were playing the songs pretty close to the originals. And it’s pretty hard to sound like a band you coulda seen play last week.
So I was fortunate enough to watch 4 sets. Set your goals played music by dave grohl (foo fighters AND nirvana!). Bayside ruled some NoFX. Sum 41 played metallica. And New Found Glory closed the night with Green Day.
I was blown away by how fun tonight was!!! The bands were having such a great time performing. Kids were screaming along. And friends of the bands were piled on stage loving the site of the uncommon.
What was so uncommon? Personally, I think it was seeing these guys playing music…just to play. Sorta like a major league ball player finding himself enjoying a pick up game in the park. No burdens to perform. No fans to impress. No numbers to put up or seats to fill. Tonight was for “love of the game.”
I would have loved to watch these bands practice. Hear them talk over why they wanted to choose this song, or what that one meant to them. Incredible.
If you read this rant, thanks! I felt inspired to write tonight. Seeing bands change things up, in a time and age that seems so stale and predictable, it gave me hope. People do still love playing music. People do still love screaming along. I saw it tonight. Hardly anyone was standing, arms crossed, blank expression that said “impress me.” Just a ton of people enjoying ‘the good old times’!
Thanks bamboozle and thank you bands!!!! I kinda really love music again!
(ps, rad day with Kristina and andy. And I saw Carrie and naomi! And new fried maggie!)
Ok. Night.
-j.scott
Posted in Uncategorized
May 2nd, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I must say..as i followed everyone on twitter last-night.. anthony and you and then my friends twitters and the ones who don’t have them who were there.. nick naomi carrie and kevin.. I was jealous because as into the music as I am i had to work for my mom..and last night what everyone got to experience was EPIC in my eyes and my stomach churns with happiness and jealousy because of how awesome everyone thought it was!! SO YOU GET A 2 THUMBS UP FROM ME!!!
May 4th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
jered.
thanks for this post. it helps to remind all of us that there are still those bands out there that don’t just do it for the glory, but truly just love to play. i’m excited to see some of the shots i have been hearing about through twitter as well…i am one jealous photographer, let me just say.
and i believe this was the post you did on your iphone if i remember correctly. hopefully your thumbs didn’t cramp up too badly. (random side story…i used to write seven page emails to my girlfriend on my iphone when we first met. tour=no computer when you need it the most, but iphone=convenience but very sore thumbs.)
keep up the good work.
May 13th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
<3 i miss youuu.