Bamboozle maintains passion on day two
By Meghan Louttit, Adviser
May 10, 2006 | 10:48 a.m.
Despite not leaving Bamboozle until nearly 11 p.m. the night before, concert-goers were already waiting outside the gates of the East Rutherford Sports Complex 12 hours later, eager for the doors to open so they could rush to take their place at the main stages.
Emanuel and Aiden began the day with sets that got the audience into moshing mode in the early afternoon. Although the groups encouraged mass circle pits, they also kept in line with the feeling of the entire festival. By the end of Aiden's last song, "World by Storm," the crowd had carried lead singer wiL, sitting up, into the middle of the pit while he led everyone in chanting, "It's in our heads; it's in our hearts; the world by storm." Then he proceeded to have the audience put their arms around each other and told them to "Never let anyone tell you can't do something. You can do anything."
In the mid-afternoon, Panic! at the Disco took their place on the main stage. They commanded a much larger crowd than expected, yet their stage show was lacking significant energy and it seemed that lead singer, Hayley Williams, needed some practice performing live. This was a little disappointing from a band that is starting to enjoy elevated success. However, this was hardly enough to stop the audience from dancing along to their infectious beats.
By this time, crowds were running between the main stages and were now gathering at the Photo Finish Stage to catch Christian metalheads UnderOATH. Lording over an impressive and crazy crowd and touting their new CD, Define the Great Line, which will be released June 20, UnderOATH's musicianship was one of the best all day. Searing guitar rifts stirred the crowd into a continuous frenzy with masses of audience members crowd surfing to the front. But even though UnderOATH puts on an aggressive stage performance, they took a moment to bring the crowd together. Unabashedly, UnderOATH frontman, Spencer Chamberlain, confessed the band's Christian beliefs, but went on to say, "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you love each other and you love music." This statement was welcomed with loud and approving cheers from the audience.
Next came New Jersey's own, Senses Fail. Although they only gave an average performance, Senses Fail hyped the audience for Finnish Goth rockers HIM. And even if HIM was somewhat out of place amidst the young screamo bands dominating the stages, lead singer Ville Valo's intense vocals were unmatched the entire weekend.
Following HIM was an event that many at the festival had been anticipating: the comeback of AFI. Missing from the stage for too long since Sing the Sorrow, AFI members were preparing for the release of their new CD, Decemberunderground, and everyone wanted to witness it. The crowed swelled and members of other bands crowded in to watch AFI take the stage. The sun had set and blue lights shone through the fog filling the stage as lead singer Davey Havok took his rightful place at the center microphone. The crowd went nuts with their fists in the air as AFI broke into "The Leaving Song." Havok apologized for not performing in so long but kept his commentary brief and let this seasoned band's performance do the talking.
To seal the deal, Bamboozle welcomed Taking Back Sunday for the main event. With a new album out, Louder Now, they had plenty of material for the audience to rock out to during their blessedly long 75-minute set. Lead singer Adam Lazzara, swinging the microphone around his neck, along with guitarist/singer Fred Mascherino, represented a band at the top of their game.
And in the spirit of rock music, one crazy concert-goer decided to climb the light pole in the middle of the Taking Back Sunday crowd, eliciting a few cheers of his own.
Insane antics like this are nothing new to rock music -- whether it was AFI's Davey Havok jumping on top of the drum set, Silverstein smashing their instruments or 30 Seconds to Mars' lead singer Jared Leto (yes, the Jared Leto) climbing to the top of the scaffolding -- something interesting was always happening on stage.
Therein lies the beauty of Bamboozle. These bands expected as much energy from every individual fan as they gave. With crazy antics and passion exuding from each set, it was hard to walk away without feeling like you had just been hit by a truck. But for the people attending Bamboozle, regardless of who they were there to see, that weekend there was nothing better than pouring your energy into these bands and letting them define you.
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For more about Bamboozle visit its Official Web site at <a href=http://www.thebamboozle.com>http://www.thebamboozle.com</a>
Or check out its MySpace page at <a href=http://www.myspace.com/thebamboozle>http://www.myspace.com/thebamboozle</a>
Read part 1: <a href=http://speakeasymag.com/index.php/entertainment/article/ent_051606_001>"Bamboozle celebrates music in passionate style"</a>