Both vocalists have outstanding voices, but a major problem is in their showmanship. I found that it is indeed possible to overuse a fog machine and flashing lights. We are probably lucky that no one had a seizure from it all. It was sad because it had a tendency to overshadow the exceedingly lovely music from a talented band. They ended things up with “You Are the One,” a track you should absolutely check out right this very minute.
Blue October were the headliners. This Houston, Texas band had made their way onto my mp3 player only in the form of their singles “Hate Me” and “Calling You.” I was intrigued about seeing the rockers live, because like Yellowcard, they feature a violinist (he also plays viola, mandolin, and piano).
They are a solid live band, sounding almost exactly like their album, but with if a ton of added energy. I was impressed with their on-stage dynamic, and the crowd clearly fed off of it. If you are a fan of their music, I highly recommend catching a live show.
Yellowcard were on third and got things started right with my absolute favorite track off of the new album, “The Takedown.” A fast-paced stunner, it features everything the band does best – frenetic drums, driving bass lines, Ryan Key’s vocals, and Sean Mackin’s classical tinged violin. When they hit the bridge and new addition Ryan Mendez shredded his guitar for a mind-boggling riff, it was magic.
Making the most of their time, Yellowcard speaks little and plays a lot. They made a point of playing many of the tracks from Paper Wall, including “Fighting,” “Keeper,” “Light Up the Sky,” “Afraid,” and the stirring “Shadows and Regrets,” which started with an acoustic guitar, violin, and Ryan singing, and then drew in the whole band during the first chorus.
I always speak of bands growing and of vocalists learning to use their instruments and finding their perfect range. Perhaps one of the best examples of this that I have seen over the years is Ryan Key. After many problems with his vocal chords, he is now at his absolute strongest. When he launched into “Breathing” off of Ocean Avenue, it was perfect. And his acoustic version of “Only One” is perhaps the best that I have ever heard him, live or otherwise.
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