The Used, Eighteen Visions, and Classic Case @ Lupo's, Providence, RI, 6/1/04

This was one special show! At least for me, as going to it was my birthday present to myself. I had no idea who was playing with The Used this night, as I found out about the show through an add in the Boston Phoenix, and they were the only band listed. There was a bit of chaos in getting to the show, as rental cars and rides fell thought, but the MBTA and Peter Pan bus lines saved the day (for once!) The first highlight was followinf The Used's drummer, Brandon Stineckert, around the Providence Place Mall. Poor guy was in a wheelchair, but that didn't stop him! I gave him and his bandmates some space and didn't go up to them, but I DID wave, and Brandon (the cutie that he is) waved back. Jeph spent most of his time on his cell, and NO ONE IN THE MALL RECOGNIZED THEM!!!! Awesomeness. Anywhoo, on to the show!


Classic Case is a band that I personally had never heard of before. They won me over a bit. They had (for the most part) very solid songs. Many of their songs, however, had a very generic feel to them; very common, done before. A little more time on the road, and perhaps some more practice, and they might be able to carve out a niche for themselves. They just need to find a way to differentiate themselves from bands like the Strokes and the All-American Rejects, both of whom they resemble, physically and sonically. I would still check them out again, though.


I had heard a LOT of postitive things about Eighteen Visions (some of it on AFI's Despair Faction message boards), and they certainly lived up to the hype! Great showmanship ran rampant throughout their set, their songs well-written. The only real faults I could find was their heavy use of fog machines (not good when you are slightly asthmatic), and the sond quality (which may have been Lupo's fault) which made it hard to understand the vocals; at some points, it was drowned out. Do see them live, if you get the chance. I personally would love to see them on a bill with AFI, Bleeding Thru, and Avenged Sevenfold.


Before I continue, I must inform you that The Used rank among my favorite bands EVER, and this is probably my third of fourth time seeing them.


Where to begin? Well, this was my first time seeing The Used in a non-festival environment (IE: The River Rave, Warped), and was greatly looking forward to hearing a complete set for these talented Utah-ians. They didn't dissappoint me. Front man Bert McCracken screamed and writched accross the stage like a man possessed by the devil in the middle of an exorcism. Bassist Jeph Howard and Guitarist Quinn Allman played better then I think I have ever heard them play. Brandon proved to me that he is among the better of the up-an-coming drummers (along with Yellowcard's L.P, and maybe Mest's Nick Gigler) that will one day be sited as an influence like Travis Barker and Dave Grohl are today.


The second highlight of the show? The guys played several songs off of the upcoming (and as far as I know as-yet-untitled) second studio album. They stray a bit from the "Screamo" genre, but I think for them, it could be a good thing.


They played many of my faves: "A Box Full of Sharp Objects", "Blue and Yellow", and suprisingly, "On My Own". I would have died and gone to heaven if they added "Greener with the Scenery" and "Just a Little" to their set list, but hey we can't win 'em all!


RATINGS:


PERFORMACE:
9 out of 10


INTERACTION: 8 out of 10


SONG CHOICES: 7 out of 10


OVERALL: 8 out of 10



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