When I think of a Fest, certain words and images immediately come to mind...I think of unified, endless weekends of music like Macrock, Krazyfest, Wilkes Barre Fest, Positive Numbers Fest, or Hellfest; something built upon the common spirit and sense of community that the punk rock scene facilitates.  At least for a weekend, kids are brought together, big and small bands are brought together, and hopefully a ton of fun is had.  So, initially my problem with Concerts East’s self-proclaimed First Annual Surf & Skate Fest (4-14-01) was the use of the term Fest, for something that seemed to be of the complete opposite spirit. Essentially, take a bunch of local bands (NY, NJ, CT, LI) and band from far away (FL), get them a big stage, hook-up some intense lighting, and boost their egos up into the stratosphere a bit further. Ah yes, and add a smoke machine for a more exaggerated effect. Rock-stars were born! But the harsh reality, that a bunch of small tours converged in New Jersey on this weekend, was rather clear. So rather than give the poor show-goer a chance to avoid what they didn’t want to see, we got it all in one stinking pile…and lets face it, Concerts East made a chunk of dough.

Getting a late start on the day, I arrived at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ about an hour after the doors were scheduled to open. I immediately got separated from my “friends,” as they went to wait on the insanely long line. I, of course, ventured around back to get my photopass. Waiting for The Movielife’s manager to get/yell the pass out of the guy who was guarding the door, I breathed in the ocean air, and marveled at the spectacle that was going on around me. One girl inside asked me to grab Rob from Midtown for him to sign her t-shirt. Assorted local heroes and rockstars alike were getting stylish in suites and taking Polaroids, for what, I never quite figured out.

Finally making it inside, I made my way through to the local stage just in time to catch Shady View Terrace. It was the first time I had seen them since Mike and Joe jumped ship. They were playing the ideal spot for any band on this ‘side’ stage, at the peak of the crowd’s entrance into the venue, and while a lame metal-rap core band went on the main stage (whose name has since escaped me). Thus, SVT was able to command much of the audience’s attention, and suck in those unsuspecting youngsters who had yet to wander into one of their shows at a local legion hall.

For all the days events, if there was anything to find respectable about Concerts East’s "Fest" it was this local stage idea, undoubtedly ripped off from the Warped Tour (which seemed to be their point from the get go). Though the local bands were hassled about getting any of their friends in (even just one), one can only expect that when something isn’t being done by the kids, for the kids, to unite the kids. But even thought the smell of money was all over this thing, I was told that the purpose of the smaller stage was to give some local bands exposure to a huge audience, which is obviously a cool idea. This point was truly exemplified at the time Shady View Terrace played. Overwhelmed, put on a pedestal (raised stage), and placed in front of more kids then it felt like they’ve ever played for before was the case for many. They even got their own barricade.

So where’s the surf and the skate part of this ‘surf and skate fest’? you might ask. A familiar face I ran into told me that she heard the surfing had been cancelled (even though the Convention Hall is literally right on the beach). That left skating in question, which I never did see going down. I did however, spot a few kids who appeared to have won decks, even though I didn’t witness any giveaways. Most of the kids with a skate identifying pass were just a friend of someone with a connection. The only ramps I saw were rather petite and already being taken apart by the time Shady View Terrace ended playing at around four o’clock. No Skate and No Surf Fest? Perhaps that would be a better name. Cut out the bullshit, and be straight with everyone. Kids were there for the music not for sports anyway—they always are.

Moving on with the day, getting past the ridiculous name, and the endless over-priced food venders, the first band I watched on the main stage was Cooter, or as they told the crowd they were now being called, Autopilot Off. Something about legal issues, the name being trademarked by another band. I wasn’t sure to believe it until I checked with friends, so apparently they weren’t joking with the crowd. Playing their set with boyish grins on their faces, you could get the sense that they hadn’t felt like they were treated so well in some time, if ever before. Their smiling faces captured how the bands, seemed to be feeling that day.

But while the bands were living it up, it seemed many of the kids (especially those in the bleacher seats) were bored, and struggling to stay awake. I even had one friend remark to me that he “had really thought more good bands were playing.” Whether or not I agreed with that statement, I sure did make my share of similar comments prior to the day of the show. Looking back on it now though, it was a pretty good line-up for a Jersey crowd, but it was a tired line-up we’ve all seen way too much of.

The Movielife came on the main stage next. It was my first time getting to see them (so you can imagine the awkwardness I went through tracking them down to get the photopass in my hands). Being unfamiliar with their music, I was unsure of what to expect when I saw their tattooed singer in a Fountains of Wayne t-shirt. From the start they bounced all over the place, keeping the crowd psyched, playing a slightly heavier style of that pop-punk-whatever that’s selling these days, and certainly doing a good job at winning me over in just a few songs.

In between sets I tried to hunt down the “friends” I had come with. I was generally unsuccessful, but I ran into just about everyone else I knew, and thus distracted from seeing many of New Jersey’s locals gracing the make shift side stage in the space outside the main room. On many of my roams around the place I found myself stopping for a moment to ingest a tune, realizing that I had absent mindedly forgotten this other stage was even there.

Playing last on the local stage was Element 101. Rumor had it they were yielded a spot on the show from Good Clean Fun who were slated to be on the main stage. For whatever reason though, Element 101 was placed on the local stage. I’d heard of them some time ago when they were signed to Tooth & Nail, but that’s all I knew. Turns out they’re from Wayne, NJ so I must have been living in a hole not having seen them play before this event. Their set seemed tight, but the singers voice was either not powerful enough to come through the PA, or the system just wasn’t pumped enough. But I could here the vocals for most of the other bands, so I would venture to say it was due to a lack of power in her voice. It was unfortunate too, because the Tooth & Nail sampler they gave out with two of their songs, showcased that she does have a very nice voice.

Getting back to the main attractions, or at least the main stage: The Youth Ahead and Shades Apart, two of New Jersey’s locals and Concerts East favorites, graced the main stage. As far as I could tell from the back, the kids seemed as into the Youth Ahead as they’ve always been. I hadn’t seen them in quite some time, but they still had their MxPx sound shining through. They covered “Walk like an Egyptian” (Bangles), and if nothing else they did could put a smile on my face, that surely did. Shades Apart got a less excited reaction from the crowd, but they aren’t as much of a popular sensation as the rest of the acts slated for the evening.

The evening rolled on and the teen idols played their hearts out. A stage dominated by boys with guitars held Glassjaw, Hot Rod Circuit, Midtown, Catch-22, and A New Found Glory in that order. Long Island was first to represent on stage with Glassjaw giving us the heaviest thing we were able to bare witness to during the entire day’s events. Crawling onto the stage in full (smoke machine) effect, complete with a dramatic entrance from their singer, Roadrunner’s most out of place band on their roster lifted the spirit and energy level of almost everyone in the crowd. As the back of the crowd started rolling in toward the stage, the kids in the front row--waiting patiently for headlines A New Found Glory--were deservedly smushed into the barrier. But you could see energy and anticipation growing in the face of into every fourteen-year-old kid in the audience. They all seemed poised to burst out of their Blink-182 t-shirts and go crazy.

But any progress that Glassjaw made with the crowd was immediately abolished as Hot Rod Circuit took the stage. Hot Rod Circuit is always kind of entertaining when you see them for the first time, especially if you keep a watchful eye on their long-haired guitar player throwing himself around the stage. As he flails, and his hair flops, he gives HRC’s performance a much needed injection of energy. But he was off to a rough start when his amp blew out, and the rest of the Circuit had to play as best they could as a three piece. Making every effort to pull things together, they took long pauses and talked about how much they needed him. Eventually things were fixed and he was bouncing all over the place for the rest of their performance.

Next up were New Jersey’s newest emo-pop sensation Midtown, breaking ground faster than any of the members’ preceding bands could have. Opening up with their triumphant “Just Rock n Roll,” any poor souls put to sleep by HRC’s generally unenthusiastic performance were now with eyes peeled. From the moment these guys stepped onstage, the younger girls in the audience started going especially crazy. You could see Midtown’s singer, Tyler, soak it all up as best he could, strutting over to the right corner of the stage, pointing his guitar out over the crowd. Overcome by starlight, those pretty young things just closed their eyes, put their hands in the air, and screamed with all their might. A couple more ridiculous displays like this ensued throughout their performance, and Midtown rocked their little hearts out for all the kids.

Catch-22 hit the stage in what was to be their last area appearance with their crowd participation leader/singer, Jeff. Fortunately, this was the last time we’d see him get his face all flushed with the up-beats. Crowd participation was in its most bizarre form, as a seemingly uninvited, stray fan was dancing all over the stage for most, if not all of Catch-22’s performance. With camera in hand she twirled herself around each member and never seemed to realize that she was making an ass of herself. The skacore was soon over and no tears were shed. Jeff was gone without a farewell speech or even a fond goodbye.

Last up was A New Found Glory, minus the ‘A’ nowadays (so they can be sure to sell more records to stupid kids who can’t find them in the record store.) They commanded as many of the screaming fans as did Midtown, and they played off of them in all the same ways. The ran around a little more on stage, each gravitating towards stage right for a scream from those girls. I suppose nothing is more thrilling than having someone obsessed with you so much that your presence makes them just freak out.

So it seems that the 1st Annual Surf and Skate Fest was as successful as anyone over at Concerts East could hope. And who knows, as time goes on this thing may even grow into a festival worthy of skipping school, taking off work, saving money, and piling into the car for a long trip halfway across the country. But then again, is that really what we really want? Only time will tell…

photo archive (coming soon...)
(tons of additional photos from the show)

THE BANDS

A New Found Glory
Catch 22
Midtown
Hot Rod Circuit
Autopilot Off
Shades Apart
Glassjaw
Element 101
Shady View Terrace
The Youth Ahead

THE LABELS


Victory Records
Drive-Thru Records
Tooth and Nail
Vagrant Records


 

 

THE FANS

The peacekeeper's motto: "Hugs for everyone!"

woohoo, ride the bouncer!

Apparently, the barricades were not designed to keep cleavage under control...

Even the boys swoon when Element 101 hits the stage.

"Bruce! Bruce! Bruce!"

This girl is obviously much to busy dreaming that Slayer had showed up to be bothered with these silly bands...

oh my...

what can you say...it's charlie!