Last night I went to see Fight of Your Life in Long Island. I know of them through some friends and wanted to get the hell out of the house, so I decided to make the hour long drive and show some support. Plus my friend WIP would be in attendance, and anytime he's there it's a bonus.
I got to the venue about an hour and half after doors, so by then it was already time for Push Play. They're your typical pop punk band whose singer sounds a lot like Jordan from New Found Glory. The set started out alright, but then about 3 or 4 songs in, the singer started getting off key and lost me. And what do you do when you're bored at a show? You head back to the bar.
Fight of Your Life was on next. Matt Pinfield came out to introduce them to a crowd who showed about zero response when he came out onstage. I don't know if it's because people aren't as stupidly starstruck as I am or they didn't know who he was. Anyway, FOYL only played a few songs, but did a good job nonetheless. They played "Phoenix and the Fall" which, as I told Rene to his face, I am obsessed with. It's just super catchy, and well, one of my favorite singers duos with him on the choruses, so that might be why I love it so much. But even Jacoby-less, it still sounded great.
Next, pop punk headliners The Rivalry played. They were vocally more along the lines of Fall Out Boy, who I am not a fan of. So musically I wasn't too impressed with them either, however I thought they put on a solid show.
Afterwards I met up with WIP and his friend to head back to The Dude's place. We ended up going to a pub where I devoured chicken strips that I felt the need to load up with extra salt, honey mustard and buffalo sauce. Which probably explains the cottonmouth that I'm still experiencing this afternoon. We talked about the Van Halen reunion tour, predicting what they would open with. I thought "Eruption" into something like "Running With the Devil." I don't know if I will go to this show or not. I hear that Roth's live show isn't what it used to be, but if it's remotely tolerable I'm ok with that. For me it'll come down to ticket price.
Yet a fourth friend showed up later and I realized I am now officially a "one of the guys" type girl. Don't think I'm bragging about being that way, I think you just get into a certain mindset when you're among a group of men, even if you're a girl. I even gawked at an older metal chick's cleavage as she bent over while shooting pool. She was pretty hard not to notice. She had long flaming red Elvira hair, and was dressed in all black lace and leather. When she leaned forward, her alabaster boobs were practically glowing. I'm not saying I was into this in the same way as the men I was with were, but how could I not stare at such a blatant display?
After that short disruption, we continued railing off all our old school metal shows. I was most impressed with the fact they'd all seen Motley Crue pre-Dr. Feelgood. I was especially jealous of The Dude, who saw them with Ozzy on the Shout at the Devil tour. That is a major score in my book.
This discussion inspired us to go back to the house and watch the classic "Decline of the Western Civilization Part 2: The Metal Years." It's a Penelope Spheeris movie that documents the L.A. hair metal scene that exploded in the mid-80s. Some of it is hilarious (the fashion statements), some of it sad (the unrealistic dreams amongst the crowd). The most depressing part is Chris Holmes' segment, where he's literally bathing himself in vodka- in front of his Mom, who is clearly trying not to burst out in tears while he babbles incoherently about his life. Yes. This movie is a must-see.
At around 1am I decided to head out since I was now sober and post-drunk fatigue was setting in. Definitely another fun night in Long Island that was worth the drive.
PHOTOS (They didn't come out that great, but you get the idea)
VIDEO:
Phoenix and the Fall:
Chasing Yesterday:
