Epicenter 2010

The concert that I had been building up all summer did not disappoint in the least bit. For over 3 months I have waited for this past Sunday and it arrived, and it departed as fast as it first appeared on the horizon. I am left bruised, battered and sun-burnt, and it was all worth it.

A concert that I first found about way back in June I believe was Sunday, and it's big attraction for me was Rise Against. Me and my brother arrive at the raceway at around 12:30 or so, give or take. Had to suffer through two bands before we started to see the bands we wanted to see. Against Me! took the stage around 3:30 and played a 35 minuet 10 song set. All songs that I knew, ending with the anthemic "Sink Florida, Sink." Following right behind them was classic punkers Bad Religion. Their set captured their old school, and their new school stuff. They did leave a few out like"Conquer the World." That was the bearable part of the day.

Now most of you know the lead singer from this next band, why, he was in fight club. Jared Leto. He was the blonde guy that Edward Norton beats the living hell out of. His band 30 Seconds to Mars was the direct support to Rise Against. Of course the crowd from this band was a bunch of idiots. Long after they were done they kept pushing and shoving. It wore me out before Rise even had taken the stage. I wanted to be up close to the stage, but could not achieve that because of the crowd. I needed to duck out and get water before I passed out.

No sooner do I start to walk out I hear a guitar with the opening chords of "Collapse," and I rush with a last burst of energy to a forming most and then realize I needed water badly. I get over to the concession stand and got a Gatorade a then moved back into the crowd. The set was awesome, everyone was singing along. It was amazing. When the played "Savior" that's when teh crowd basically overpowered Tim's voice. It was incredible. They played "Audience of One," which is still my favorite song of theirs, and I can listen to over, and over again. It was great live.

The night culminated with me jumping into one last mosh pit for "Give it All," and that's exactly what I did. After standing for nearly 8 hours, there wasn't much to give, but I tried my best. They ended with "Ready to Fall," and again, I was in the mosh pit as they ended the "Appeal to Reason Tour" I saw them three times on this tour, each time crazier than the one before. I expect them somewhere next summer. Out on their own, or on Warped Tour. We shall see. Until next summer Rise Against! Thanks for the great night!



Next up Street Dogs at the Clubhouse next week!-SS