Canada Day!
July 1, 1999
Molson Park, Barrie, Ontario
Nice to see some tension and some sense of danger at a rock 'n' roll show. Because Serial Joe draw stupid-ass dissing from people who think they're too young to do what they do, or they're some sort of novelty, a fair portion of audience members felt it necessary to pelt them with bottles (both full and empty), fruit (whole and partly consumed) and clothing. Ryan Dennis neatly added ducking to his catalogue of stage moves, and the band carried gamely on, rocking to the converts in the crowd who were moshing their asses off. "Confusion" was a strong opener, and "Deep" and "Mistake" were even better. For their ages, they're pretty fuckin' good. Now if they just double the volume and grow a little more attitude, they could be truly great. People dissed Silverchair for being young, too, y'know; and look where they are now. If the Joe keep going, it's only a matter of time 'til they're at that level as well. Or, as one young lad howled before their set: "Serial Joe kicks ass!"
July 2, 1999
Molson Park, Barrie, Ontario
With some heavy tunes, a hefty helping of sweet, sweet sunshine and a big dose of cameraman/Rey Mysterio Jr./Crowd fluffer provoking a solid throng of supportive Serial Joe fans to mosh and freak out, it's no wonder MuchMusic has decided to jump on their bandwagon. They're damn good for so young and it seemed the reception they got was even better than yesterday. The crowd was rocking for "Mistake."
July 3, 1999
Ottawa, Ontario
They may be freshed-faced teenagers just outta high school for the summer, but Newmarket quartet Serial Joe's sound is hardly tender. Opening the EdgeFest sidestage with their rap/rock assault, vocalist Ryan Dennis launched into the Rage Against The Machine-reminiscent track "Confused" with hopes of shaking up the limp crowd. It seems throngs of temp-tatooed female fans were still adjusting to body-surfing mode, because it was their on-stage videographer/go-go thrasher that really got 'em bopping half-way through the set. Decked out in a Narduwar-style mask and dubbed "Captain Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Baby," the mysterious stagehand skitted around encouraging fans' cat-calls and hollers. Festival bureaucracy delayed SJ's start leaving them with a shortened, seven-song set to the crowd's disappointment. However, the guys had stage suavity and will hopefully go a little louder on the next stops of the tour.
July 7, 1999
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Highlights: The popularity of Serial Joe seems to be growing every day. And with that, so is the appreciation for their "hits." And those hits, "Face Down" and "Mistake" were what really got the crowd going today. The neat stuff: The Serial Joe gang seem to have been adopted whole-heartedly by the rest of the bands here. Apparently Joe guys have taken to calling Matthew Good "Unkie Matt." That's pretty funny, but not as funny as knowing on the other night Ben from Silverchair tried to get Ryan Dennis drunk with peach schnapps.
July 9, 1999
Race City Speedway
Calgary, Alberta
Why are Serial Joe better than new country? Because riding a skateboard is waaay cooler than being on a horse. Why should Serial Joe get to hang with Johnny Cash? Because "Shallow" sounds like something Cash could've written if he was a skate-punk. What's Serial Joe's best song hog-tyin'? "Mistake" - because the last thing you want to do if you're wrestling a cow or horse or something is make a mistake. How long would Serial Joe last in a bull-riding contest? Not very long. Who in Serial Joe would be tough enough to eat "prairie oysters" (bull testicles)? Guitarist Ryan Stever. He looks like the type of dude who'd try them on a dare. Which Serial Joe song would make Patsy Cline depressed? "Denial." It wouldn't make her depressed, it would make her kinda angry. Why Serial Joe would be cool enough to hang with Willie Nelson: You probably wouldn't want them hanging around Willie just yet. Why is it cooler to check ?
July 11, 1999
Race City Speedway
Commonwealth Stadium
Edmonton, Alberta
SKR International Rock 'n' Roll Review Scorecard: Serial Joe
+3 for screaming girls before the show starts
+4 for screaming girls for Captain I Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe
-3 for screaming girls
-2 for the microphone fuck-up during "Face Down"
+4 for the smiley faced beach ball flying around in the crowd
-4 to everyone throwing water bottles
+5 for "Shallow"
+2 for the flight of Captain M&M, the blow-up doll
- 1 for not having the hose to spray down the crowd
+ 3 for crowd-surfers
Total points: 11
Please Note:There is no review available for Serial Joe @ Edgefest in Saskatoon
July 14, 1999
Thunderbird Stadium
Vancouver, BC
Not even old enough to drink the beer being spat at them from the already steaming mosh-pit, 15 year old teen-poppers- Serial Joe-decked out in jeans four sizes too big-opened up Thunderbird Stadium with a limb-flailing set of hyperactive guitar drawl. Signature spikey-haired frontman Ryan Dennis lead his band through a 20-minute set of guitar-drenched crowd-pleasers from their latest album Face Down, including "Denial" and their current radio hit "Mistake." Despite their lack of age, Serial Joe played a provoking, leg-stomping set and seemed well able to prepare the crowd for the forthcoming day of rocking out.
Reviews courtesy of Edgefest.net
Email: face_down_69@hotmail.com
