By Marc Bchiri
for MovementMagazine.com
October 20, 2011
Duval County hardcore fans gathered by the dozens to Freebird Live, the prime time spot for show at the beach. Fans were consumed by some of the most formidable bands in the Hardcore Scene. Veteran Hardcore acts from the states of Florida and Georgiadominate this lineup.
As I walked in and felt the familiar rush of the hot, sweaty air, I noticed that a nice cool breeze was blowing in making Freebird a little bit more air-conditioned. The crowd had already set up in the usual circles. Boyfriends and Girlfriends hunkered down against the railing, while their group of friends hangs in the background trying to snap a picture. The bigger guys who like to take their shirts off and start Hardcore Dancing like there is no one in the room. And then you have everyone else who just hangs around and sings.
New York, Long Island-based This Is Hell was already on stage and screamed the most blood curdling scream I’ve heard so far before the bandstarted with the last song filled with destructive beats, heavily distorted guitars. The lead singer Travisbelted out the final lyrics, “If the good die young we’ll fucking live forever!” Some members of the crowd that had followed the band chimed in and finished the final song. At the end, the band thanked everyone and vanished.
The Chariot, a Georgia-based methcore band was formed by former Norma Jean lead vocalist Josh Scogin, As The Chariot took the stage, their sound check alone made me realize this was going to be a blood bath. Everything suddenly went silent as Scogin Screamed, “Wait! No! Babe! Wait! No!” During the opener, “Evan Perks,” Scogin jumped onto the speakers and a fury of hardcore dancing fanatics followed. As the guitarist swung around in an almost ballet type fashion the band seemed to be in complete dance uniformity as they violently stormed across the stage, spending more time in the air then on their feet.
The Chariot spent so much time reaching out to the crowd and playing their hardcore hearts out that the show was a complete success. I was extremely impressed with this years set, as I have seen them numerous times in the past. Scogin announced that this was their “absolute favorite stop on any tour” and broke into crowd favorite, “The City,” which featured menacing lyrics like “I saved away my money but it didn’t save me.” band ended with “And Shot Each Other,”
Canadian Decade Long Veteran Band Comeback Kid, Opened up with Talk is Cheap, and Despite the Canadians almost decade-long career, lead vocalist Andrew Neufeld asked first timers raised their hands. After some younglings did, the band launched into their second gut-wrenching song. Neufeld told fans, “Occupy Something!!” and spent most of the set standing on the speakers to eliminate the space between the band and their fans. The dancers sprung up and fought against the audience’s pull to the stage.
Comeback Kid featured some of the best, almost-punkish hooks of the evening, blowing out repetitive crowd sing-a-longs of teen-angst filled lines like “because of all the things I should’ve said to you”, Their final song, “Wake the Dead,” ended with the most powerful gang vocals of the evening
“We said, we said, we said, this time was gonna be different.”
And, It was time.
Underoath’s, roots trace between the country roads of Ocala, thru Orlando, and on into Tampa Florida. The bands southern christian-hardcore based lyrics and meaning is what promoted the band to a level that once heard, you had to fall in love with. And the thing is, most of the fans aren’t even about the lyrics. When Underoath performs, all inhibitions in your body erase. I know it I felt it. Underoath made me feel like I wanted to fling every part of my body in the air and scream like my life depended on it. The unfortunate part about the band is that in a majority of shows the band can become a little too preachy. And yes some fans like that, but most do not want to hear that kind of stuff, we just want to hear the music. And secondly, not one of the original members is in the band now. The sounds still the same, but as Underoath progressed they have adapted metal-core, punk, and some pop into their music.
As the Fans emerged and started the dead sprint towards the stage, it was obvious that the Florida-based band was the main draw of the evening. Lead singer Spencer Chamberlain waved his long black dreads back screamed the most ear piercing scream and then transitioned into a high-pitched belting as the most insane digital footage of bombs dropping, babies crying, x-rays of insects, and slides that looked like they from a horror science lab were projected on the backdrop.
The majority of the set performed by Underoath came from the latest album Ø (Disambiguation), but also tugged at the hearts of the old followers with “It’s Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door,” and “Writing on the Walls” which is my favorite. Underoath’s finale ended with the song that actually turned me fully onto the band, “A Boy Brushed Red Living In Black and White.” And as the crowd erupted into the most insane simultaneous dance screamed every lyric till no one could breathe. “Can you feel your heartbeat racing?” was the only thing I had heard before a large group of dancers broke out in arm swinging rhythm and that’s when I realized I needed to get deeper in the crowd. It was kind of overpowering to say the least and a hell of a way to end a show.
As the sweat dripped down our faces, the band had come out to address the importance of seeing live music, and especially local music. The band reiterated that we must band together to keep the music alive and to keep the local venues open.
And with that.
The show was over.
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