Sick Puppies, Hurt, and Tunnels To Holland in Lancaster
August 7, 2009 by Editor
Filed under Concert Reviews
Sick Puppies, Hurt, Tunnels To Holland
August 2, 2009
Chameleon Club
Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, on a Sunday, is a quiet city. It seems like the only stores open are convenience stores and diners. However, the serenity would soon be disturbed by the three bands on tonight’s bill… sometimes rock and roll can’t be restrained.
I reviewed Tunnels To Holland’s EP back in November 2008, but had never had the opportunity to see them perform live until now. I can’t believe what I’ve been missing. It’s refreshing to see a band that works so hard to create a unique sound and draws the crowd in by simply playing great music. Singer Dan Blumig gets into a zone where it seems like he’s channeling the spirits of the great rock and roll front-men. Definitely pick up the EP if you get the chance, and keep an eye out for an upcoming full-length release.
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly three years since I discovered the music of Hurt. Since then, and after the release of two additional albums of new material and some rhythm section line-up changes, Hurt is sounding better than ever.
This is one of the strongest sets I’ve heard Hurt assemble, with seven (out of eleven) of the songs, “Got Jealous”, “Pandora,” “Fighting Tao,” “Well,” “Pills,” “Dreams Away,” and “Wars,” coming from their latest album Goodbye to the Machine. The crowd was very receptive, and a modest mosh pit even formed for several songs. I’m hard pressed to choose any highlights from the set, but a few standout moments include the jarring transition from “Aftermath” to “Pandora”, the dueling guitar and violin during “Fighting Tao”, and listening to new drummer, Louie Sciancalepore, destroy the drums during “Rapture”.
Sick Puppies always bring a tremendous amount of energy to their live performances. Their new album, Tri-Polar, is made for it. The entire set seemed to be loaded with one adrenaline pumping song after another, from “Street Fighter (War)” to “Cancer.” The only reprieve was toward the end of the set when they played “My World.”
It’s always exciting to see Shimon Moore get a crowd worked up, and Mark Goodwin lay down some heavy beats, but the bass player in me is a sucker for Emma Anzai. She jumps around the stage and plays the hell out of her bass, and it seems like she never misses a note. I’ve seen this band play a few time over the past couple years, and each time they become more on top of their game. They’ve found the right formula to really put on a great show for their fans.
After the show all the bands signed autographs at the merch tables for the eagerly waiting fans. Then the 10pm curfew kicked in and the club started to usher everyone out. I’m not used to such an early night, so then it was off to the diner for conversation and food with some old and new friends. This sleepy town still had some life left in it.
