MxPx, Sugarcult, From Autumn to Ashes, Billy Talent
February 14, 2004
Tabernacle-- Atlanta, GA
It’s kind of cool when you rediscover a band that you used to love but for some reason or another that you kind of stopped listening to. For me, that band was MxPx and the night I rekindled my romance with Mike, Tom and Yuri was, appropriately enough, Valentine’s Day. I remember first listening to “Life in General” back in high school before I even really knew what pop-punk was. But there was something about MxPx’s music that struck a different chord with me and I can totally see now how that album was a gateway to all of my current pop-punk tastes.
Before I go into what a great performance MxPx put on that night, I’d like sing the praises of the opening acts. I had never seen Billy Talent before, nor ever heard their record. I’d maybe caught the single on the radio once or twice. So, starting with pretty much a clean slate, I have to say that Billy Talent was actually pretty good. The songs were kind of aggressive, yet catchy, and some of it reminded me of Billy Talent’s Canadian counterparts Sum 41. Overall, Billy Talent played a solid set and the cameo appearance by FATA’s Ben Perri was a nice touch.
The last time I saw From Autumn to Ashes was my first time and I totally fell in love with them, so obviously I was anxious to see this performance. Though sticking out like a sore thumb on the pretty poppy bill for the night, FATA quickly worked the crowd into a frenzy and pulled off an amazing set. Though I still don’t know the names of any of their songs, FATA’s show was raw, angry and aggressive and a nice contrast to the rest of the night.
Up next was Sugarcult, and those boys never let you down. Amidst rumors of the band dropping their old drummer, the drummer for Good Charlotte filled in behind the kit much to my surprise. But he’s a super-solid drummer, so no complaints from me. Sugarcult came out blazing like the rock stars they are with “Stuck in America” and quickly tore through a lot of the material on “Start Static.” I was pleased to hear them playing a lot of old stuff rather than a lot of cuts from their brand new record (“Palm Trees and Power Lines”) since it’s always much more fun to sing along. Some of my favorites were “You’re the One,” “Saying Goodbye” and “Pretty Girl.” Oh, and of course they tossed in “Bouncing Off the Walls” for good measure. Never a disappointment, Sugarcult brought the pop-rock for a fine Valentine’s Day outing.
So, we’re back to MxPx, and rather than gush for paragraphs and paragraphs about how that band seriously changed my life that night, I’ll be brief. It’s not like MxPx put on this absolutely incredible show unlike anything that I had seen before. It’s more like MxPx is one of those veteran bands that has the live thing nailed and puts on an incredibly solid performance night after night. I loved hearing a good mix of their material, with a lot of stuff coming, surprisingly, from “Life In General,” like “Chick Magnet,” “Southbound” and “Do Your Feet Hurt?” There were also the poppy numbers from “The Ever Passing Moment” like “Responsibility” and “The Next Big Thing.” In the main set and in the encore, the band threw in some ill-fated covers that frankly didn’t work. Better luck next time. But the shining moment of the show for me was Mike on his acoustic playing “Quit Your Life.” It was beautiful. It gave me chills. It almost made me cry (that’s just the emo kid inside of me). And at that moment, I remembered how much I used to love MxPx and how that band opened the door for me musically. Wrapping up their encore with “Punk Rawk Show,” MxPx simply confirmed why they’ve been around for so long and still have so many loyal fans. And how easy it is to rekindle that loyalty.
“So quit your life, and stay with me.”
Leah Weinberg