“We’re gonna have a good time and no stupid baby is gonna stop us.”

Attended the Summer Slob Tour last night. Granted, I have been doing shit non-stop for a week and a half, including driving to Ohio and back, so I’m beyond tired and probably should have gotten in a nap or skipped the show altogether… But I love the Acacia Strain. I had to go.

Good to see familiar faces upon arriving (Metal Nick and Brendan, whom I’ve now known for years and both are staples at most of the shows I hit up.) Otherwise, the crowd was pretty damn varied. I had zero idea what some of those girls were doing there – and then I remember I generally look like the girl next door as opposed to the metal chick even though I am… so I decided to shut-up and accepted them into my evening.

My first glint of happiness for the day: I recognize the bartender and snagged my beloved seat at the bar at Jaxx in Springfield, Virginia. The place was pretty damn packed and I’m pretty sure it was over 100 degrees up in there. Due to the mass of people, my seat was, unfortunately, right next to a few emo d-bags all night and thought to myself at one point… I wonder if that’s Evergreen Terrace. Just based on their looks, and behavior and the fact that ET were never heavy enough to put into rotation at XMLM… and an hour later those dudes were onstage…as Evergreen Terrace. Their set can be summed up as angst-filled “I want you dead” chants – but the kids in the crowd were familiar with that song and chanted right along. And then they covered “Mad World” by Tears for Fears…or by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the Donnie Darko soundtrack … or by Adam Lambert. Regardless, it was the high point of the set for me.

Unholy actually kicked my night off, and I think, outside of the Acacia Strain, that they had the best set of the night. They’ve released a new album on Prosthetic Records and I think it might be worth checking out. Cruel Hand and then Evergreen Terrace played after them and I finally realized why, in addition to being dead-tired, I just wasn’t having the best time – I was at a punk and hardcore show. I have never been a punk fan and am just so sick of straight hardcore bands (Hatebreed already wrote that song) and sitting there through Cruel Hand’s set was a little rough for me. I do this for you people. And I love you. And being a lover, I don’t generally like to put out bad reviews on bands… the crowd was totally into them. They’re just not my cup of tea.

A random fun point of the evening – everyone is still into “The Roof Is On Fire” by Bloodhound Gang.

Finally it’s time for the Acacia Strain. They’ve got the big tour banner hanging in the back but bring two on the stage in front of the guitar stacks – one is a bloody polar bear. The other? A bloody Stay-Puft Marshmellow Man. First time I grinned all night.

Vincent takes the stage and grabs his microphone and announces that their regular guitarist, DL, has decided to step off the tour due to a pregnant girlfriend. “We’re gonna have a good time and no stupid baby is gonna stop us.”

Someone pulled out a beachball (???) as soon as the Acacia Strain started, and the show was on. They hit some of my favourites, “4×4,” “Skynet,” and they ended the set with “Carbomb.” God I love that song. And this band. Although they didn’t get to “Smoke Ya Later,” my all-time favourite AS song, due to the fact that their new guitarist only had two weeks to learn a whole set, they really rocked it out.

I think the magic of live shows is a tight performance and the synergy between the band and the crowd, and this night with the Acacia Strain was way more than a rabbit-in-a-hat trick. It’s when EVERYBODY knows the words to all the songs… when 200 kids are screaming “I am the end of the world!” (“JFC.”) with thunderous drums (nice mix, dude) and a “fuck the world” chorus… Caught up in the “don’t fuck around, but have fun with your life” (Vincent’s words) celebration, I even danced. A little.

I walked out of there with the Stay-Puft Marshmellow Man shirt (Dogs and Cats, Living Together, Mass Hysteria) completely invigorated and satisfied. If you love hardcore, go early.

July 21st – Mt. Clemens, MI – Hayloft
July 22nd – Evansville, IN – Boney Junes
July 23rd – Iowa City, IA – The Picador
July 24th – Orlando Park, IL – Moejoe’s Coffee House
July 25th – Fort Wayne, IN – Sunset Hall
July 26th – Toledo, OH – Headliner’s
July 27th – Erie, PA – Forward Hall
July 28th – Albany, NY – Northern Lights
July 29th – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
July 30th – Manchester, NH – Rockos
July 31st – Bucksport, ME – The Kave
Aug 1st – Hartford, CT – Webster Theatre