The Joey was filled to capacity this past Saturday as numerous Jumbos made their way to one of the first large off-campus events in the area - the WBCN Back to School concert. Held at the Hatch Shell near the Charles River, the concert featured bands such as Hot Rod Circuit and was headlined by Dashboard Confessional.
Sunny and warm, the weather was favorable for the free outdoor event. Well before the two o'clock start time, the Hatch shell grounds were inhabited by teenagers and young adults longing for musical angst. The crowd was a blend of high school kids, college undergraduates, Goths, punks, concerned parents and everything else in between. The audience was fairly receptive, possibly because of the free admission. As one DJ said when he introduced Hot Rod Circuit, "The show is free so don't be stingy with the applause."
Hot Rod Circuit describes their music as "the soundtrack to your next good time." Comprised of Andy Jackson (guitar /vocals), Casey Crestwood (guitar), Jay Russell (bass/back-up vocals) and Mike Poorman (drums), the Alabama quartet plays a brand of energetic punk with the potential to appeal to the masses while maintaining creative integrity. Rejecting the "emo" label, the band suffers no delusions of grandeur, seeking mainly to entertain.
Their energy was tangible as they poured through their hour-long set. The bassist embodied it best, as he constantly leaped, jumped, and kneeled on the stage. The audience fully delved into the "traditional" means of rock appreciation. Both crowd surfing and moshing were attempted during the Hot Rod set (though usually ending abruptly and to the detriment of the participants). Hot Rod Circuit's fans were very much in evidence as they sang along and cheered. On the whole, the crowd was responsive to Hot Rod Circuit, especially when the band thanked headliner Dashboard Confessional.
Despite the free admission, many concertgoers had several complaints. The show started more than a half-hour late, which was especially frustrating for those who arrived early to secure a good spot. Also, both the performers and the audience were puzzled and dismayed by the substantial distance between the audience and the stage.
"It's weird to have you all so far away", said Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carraba, reassuring fans that the band would play closer to the audience at his next show in Worcester.
Later, there was an hour-long break between Dashboard Confessional and Hot Rod Circuit, during which the audience could only stand, sweat and complain. Tempers began to flare as an increasing number of water bottles and HBO macaroni were thrown when Dashboard Confessional took the stage. (Note to advertisers: Do not give anything to rock concert goers that could conceivably be used as a projectile, because it most likely will be.)
Carraba opened his set with the title song from his latest album, The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most. The concert was instantly transformed into a big sing-a-long, with the majority of the crowd knowing all the words to the tune. This was true of almost all the other songs performed during the set. At times, Carraba stopped singing and just played his guitar while the crowd sang. The band performed the "The Best Deceptions" and "Saints and Sailors," as well as "The Sharp Hint of New Tears," a song Carraba wrote while a member of another band that gave him the name for his current musical endeavor. During a new song entitled "So Beautiful" some in the audience were perplexed as to why they didn't know the lyrics.
Throughout the show, Carraba quipped about his disappointment in Avril Lavigne's barely legal status and some of his song titles. He also thanked his fans for their efforts in getting him the MTV2 award at the Video Music Awards. Dashboard Confessional has a deep connection with its fans, which was in evidence at the show. Before "Screaming Infidelities," Carraba thanked those who came because of his radio success but also thanked those who "didn't need it. For those who were digging for something different and found it."
After the "fake ending," Carraba left the stage and retuned to do a lengthy encore. He did an impassioned version of "This Bitter Pill" that blended into another of his songs. After the last song a very satisfied crowd made its way home or to the side of the stage to vie for set lists and autographs.
