Congratulations are in order to Cole for putting together a very successful event. The event, held at Area Phoenix was totally solid on the indoor stage (I had to stay inside with my table most of the night) with the exception of the levels being off a few times during the Ikonoklast set. In fact, the only thing I didn’t like about the night was Ikonoklast. I don’t like to be a negative Nancy but I’ve never been very impressed by them, and frankly they remind me of a highschool band that never got to the next level but insisted on continuing anyways. The strand rocked it… and seein the girls from the family rock out made me smile on the inside… and feel a few other things on the outside.
After the strand took off, Mike Saga took the decks and the room filled QUICK. It’s amusing to me to see the candy kids who normally arent into that style of music FLOCK to the stage. Mike Saga has such a commanding stage presence and set of mic skills that he grabs a crowd and wrings every bit of energy and enthusiasm out of them that they have to give.
Saga is quite an act to follow but Spyder did a good job of doing so. The energy in the room didnt fade too greatly, which is a good sign after an anticipated headliner. Some of his set sounded almost acidy which I can totally plug into.
Substation.. I’ve said it before and I’ll probably continue saying it at every show I seem him play. This guy has amazing talent and being in his presence is quite powerful. An ace no matter what time he plays, it seems most promoters take advantage of his ability to properly wrap up a party. Just like the cliche about the month of march, it was in like a lion and out like a lamb. He came in rockin and had the audience in the palm of his hand the entire time. He brought the energy way up, and as the kids tired out, he dropped it down to a more melodic level, and then there were the lights. Kudos my friend!
After the part we headed to IHOP, had a lovely meal, and called it a night. All in all, a great party. Congratulations once more Cole!
photos are at: http://www.clixbagoftricks.com/v/raves/grave
Ryan
June 26, 2008 | 5:05 pm hGrave was a lot of fun. I haven’t been in the rave setting since 1997. You are kind of right, we are that high school band that has never stopped playing and being the regular guys we have always been. Our minds have still not changed much since High School too.. haha! 40oz. Keystone, drugs, sex. I was actually attending raves in high school at the ice house and Chupas and the nile and seeing Ron D Core, and ZTrip and Delta 9. SO I guess times havnt changed much. I do feel that we have gotten to some next levels and made some progress over the years. I like the pics you got. See you around.