#9 & #10

#9
Steel Nation
No Truce
Run Ashore
@ Soapbox (upstairs)

Somewhat reluctantly, I attended Friday's show with Steel Nation, No Truce, and Run Ashore. I say reluctantly because I was incredibly low on cash and didn't want to waste some of my last bit of money on a show that was sort of overpriced anyway. I decided to suck it up though, due to not wanting to miss Steel Nation. I got there early and chatted with various folks outside before going up to catch Run Ashore. I was never too huge on their old material, plus the preaching got tiresome the last time I saw them. The music has certainly improved a LOT since I last saw them. The strong religious overtones are still there, but it isn't as annoying as before. Mind you, I don't have a problem with people being religious, but when you're breaking out a bible on stage, and telling kids to come up and "worship with us," well, that's a little lame. Be interesting to see how they turn out with more gigs under their belts.

Digression is a new band featuring Chip (ex-Gloves Off) and McKenzie (ex-He is Legend) who were supposed to make their debut performance tonight. Mind you I said SUPPOSED TO. After Run Ashore was done, people at the venue, employees and non, were puzzled as to where they were. Turns out they decided not to show up. Oh well. So No Truce went on next, and the band's singer rivaled Buddha from Blood for Blood in terms of obesity. Holy hell. Their music seemed to be a little too reliant on "mosh" for my tastes, but they sounded pretty cool on record. Not a bad performance, but nothing I don't think I'd be talking about for a while.

I was bummed to find out Steel Nation still doesn't have a permanent frontman to replace the one who quit some time ago. As of now, one of their guitarists and their bassist trade off vocal duties. I don't think most of the kids let it deter them, seeing as how they got the most moshing out of the 3 bands I watched that night. They sounded pretty spot-on and played most of what I wanted to hear. I would hope that they come back sometime whenever they have a real singer again.

I decided to bounce after they were done, due to not really being in the mood to watch the other two bands (Saints Never Surrender and the Hundredth). I know both will be back soon and since The Hundredth are from Myrtle Beach, they'll probably be back within a month or so.

#10
Graves of Valor
The Classic Struggle (kinda)
@ Luckys Pub

Another one I wasn't sure about going to see, due to having seen every band on this bill numerous times and not being in a show mood after the gig the day before. I instead went to watch the UFC fight at Buffalo Wild Wings. Out of boredom, I texted Garrett from Lucky's and asked him when he thought GOV would go on, and he estimated around 1am. I figured that if the card ended early enough, I could make it. Surely enough, Jackson knocked out Jardine and I bolted after that to Luckys. Mercifully, this gig was only $5. I caught the last two songs of TCS's set and they sounded pretty heavy. This band always has parts I like, but just as many that kind of bore me. They seemed to be having fun though.

On another note, this show was almost EMPTY. I think there might have been maybe 30-40 people in attendance, which is odd when you consider that only a year or so ago, these bands would have packed out the place. Lame.

After chatting with a few people here and there, I went up to the front to watch Graves play. So odd that these cats are on Relapse now. Damon was WASTED. I don't think I've seen one frontman so drunk in my life. It was funny to see him stumble here and there. They played 2-3 songs from "Famine" and the rest was new material. I was somewhat content, but came out thoroughly satisfied when they closed with what I told their asses to play at Thanks for Nothin' Fest: their cover of "Crawl Away" by Buzzov*en. Bravo gents. Unfortunately, from what I overheard, the cover will only be released overseas, so alas, most over here won't be able to listen to it.


And thats about it. Here's an idea of what's coming up this week:

Thursday: Madball, Reign Supreme, Call to Preserve, Patriot @ Soapbox
Friday: Metal tribute night at Luckys (Faith Collapsing doing Master of Puppets beginning to end)