::Info::
MonsterSound night... 21 and over $0, under 21's $3... Doors 19:30... Any age alowd!

::Location::
9081 Santa Monica Blvd. LA.

::History::
Born as a coffeehouse in the fifties and boomed with folk music in the early sixties. Through the late sixties and into the seventies, the "Troub" was where everybody who was anybody played. In 1970, Elton John made his American music business debut here and rocketed to stardom seemingly overnight. But new clubs challenged the Troub's dominance until it made the switch to heavy metal in the late seventies. It continues today as a Hard Rock club.

::Fan::Review::
3 words...ABSOLUTELY FU*KING WICKED! After successfully ditching the first meeting of my night class on the first day of school, me and my friend headed for the Troubadour to witness my first Hell Is For Heroes show. It had been a while since I had been at the Troub. The last show I saw here was The Strokes last summer. Apart from the odd indie band playing, the Troubadour (in my opinion) is a pretty washed up venue. There were 5 other bands playing but I couldn't be bothered to see any of them. The venue was actually pretty packed. Little did these people know that they were witnessing history in the making.

HIFH walked on stage very casually and opened the set with (I think this is what song they played!) the yet untitled "Slow Song". I thought this was a good opener because the extended intro psyched out anybody who might have thought they were some slow plodding emo band. The song was very heavy and absolutely brilliant. They followed with "Cut Down" which (sad to say) was one of 4 songs that I had recognized in the set so I was obliged to rocking out as soon as I heard Joe's drum intro. Just before they played "5 Kids Go", I yelled out "Sick/Happy" which got Will's attention. I'm sure he was a bit surprised that someone on the audience knew their songs.

For the most part there wasn't any moshing which was a bit a sad. I think most of the audience were just taking in what they were seeing and hearing for the first time. That being a great rock band having fun on stage! I wasn't about to start a pit because with me being a big guy, I didn't want to crush any of the small girls in the front. But I did see a handful of people really enjoying the songs and rocking out as well so that was definitely a positive thing. The entire band seemed to really enjoy being on stage. Most of the time, each of them seemed to be lost in their own world as they played and with both Tom and Will pounding the sh*t out of their guitars.

Just before they went into "You Drove Me To It", Justin handed out (or rather, "threw out") promo copies of the said single, which the audience scrambled to grab. They ended the set with the usual closer of "Sick/Happy". Justin ended the show by climbing on the light scaffolding during the end "call and response" bit of the song.

Afterwards, I went out back to talk to the band as they were loading their van. I had the privilege of being remembered by both Joe and Will from their L.A. gigs with Symposium in '98. It was a pleasure to finally meet Justin, Fin, and Tom. I gave Will a copy of my band's demo (cheap move, yes...sue me!) After being asked to leave a video message on their video camera (this was the second time as well because I did the same thing with Symposium!), I told the guys that I had to go because I had an early class the next day (Ah, the life of a student!) and wished them luck on the recording of the album.

Overall, it was an awesome show. I'm sure HIFH turned a lot of heads with they "proper" debut performance in L.A. I'm not sure if they have a record deal in the States (Victory or Revelation perhaps?) but after this show, I wouldn't be surprised if a few labels start wining and dining the band while they're in L.A. When the record comes out, they surely will show all the System of a Downs and Linkin Parks of the world what's what. Good luck to the guys in the future!

by Ben