Show Review

I’ve seen Saves The Day and Say Anything several times, but knowing the two bands are friends I had high expectations on this night. Both bands are on the verge of releasing new albums later this year, and seeing as how I’m constantly intrigued with both of them, I was really excited to hear some new songs.

My friends at Vagrant who helped get access for coverage strongly advised me to get there in time for John Ralston, the mellow pop singer/songwriter. I’m glad I made it in time, because Ralston was quite impressive. Though his music is generally pretty mellow, and the vocals are certainly not emphasized in the way most bands are doing it these days, Ralston had a sense for melody and balance that was fun to watch. The band’s use of several instruments and tight sound came across rather well, despite the general lack of energy the crowd exhibited. I’m excited to see what his next record sounds like, and while I wasn’t jumping for joy by the end of his set, it was a nice way to get the night started. Sensible, delicate pop songs always have that tendency.

It became immediately apparent, as Saves The Day took the stage, that most of the crowd was there to see Say Anything. I’ll never quite understand how kids weren’t jumping for joy when Conley and co. began playing “At Your Funeral” and a few (very few, actually) songs spanning almost all of their releases. Saves The Day always put on a show that is at once compelling and energetic but also intimate, and Conley’s voice was, as usual, on point. I loved the new songs the band played and am extremely enticed for their fall release of “Under The Boards.” Overall, it was a good time, and a few of us who will always be diehard Saves The Day fans were singing along to all the words—and they certainly did not disappoint.

As Say Anything began playing, I found myself trying to muster up enough energy to sing along and overpower the room of chanting kids. EVERYONE knew all of the words to EVERY song Max Bemis was saying, and it was truly a sight to see—the entire flood of people front to back were jumping for joy as the band played with a sort of raw, polished energy that is in rare form these days. Bemis was wearing a rather sick Saves The Day shirt, sweating and flying across the stage with an amazing amount of energy. It was incredibly fun to watch and be part of the Say Anything experience—and I must say that the new song they played spurred me into an intense excitement for the new record. It was much more technical, rocking, and clearly still hooky and fun like every song off of “…Is A Real Boy.”

If you ever have a chance to see any of the three bands who played tonight, I strongly suggest it—they all put on a very professional, tight-sounding show that wasn’t lacking in energy or form.

review by Andrew Martin