Friday night I went over to House of Blues to see Naked Raygun, The Bollweevils, The Effigies, and Shotbaker play a show. Due to my having to work, and the shitty rush hour traffic, I knew I was going to miss some of the show and had planned on missing Shotbaker. However the show was earlier and I got there later than planned so when I got there, The Effigies were playing already while I was waiting at the slow will-call line for my pass.
Because the venue has a rule where you can only shoot photos for the first three songs and I was in line waiting longer than that for my passes, I was unable to snap any photos of The Effigies. They played their typical set of old songs mixed with songs from their new album that finally comes out Tuesday (which hopefully they will send me one to review). As usual, the band were tight and spot-on. The new songs have really grown on me and I’ve been enjoying them quite a bit the last few times I’ve seen them play. They finished the set with “Body bag” which is still my favorite Effigies song.
The Bollweevils
The Bollweevils
The Bollweevils
The Bollweevils
The Bollweevils took the stage next and a better description might be they commanded the stage. They came out of the gate full of energy and blasted into their lengthy set of all the songs you’d want to hear them play and then some. The crowd were way into it too and were bouncing all over the place. It’s amazing that after about a decade of not being a band, seeing them up there on stage again it’s like nothing had changed and they haven’t aged. It’s really good to have them back.
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
After a bit of a delay for the equipment change, the crowd started growing impatient and started chanting for Naked Raygun. They eventually got their wish and curtains opened and Naked Raygun tore into their first song. The set list started out similar to their one at Riot Fest back in the fall however it wasn’t long into the set before they started changing things up. Most notably and to my absolute delight, they dusted off “Potential Rapist” and played it as their fourth song. That is one of my all time favorite NR tracks and I never would have guessed that they’d play it again. They also seemed to sprinkle in a few more songs from the later albums this time out, and it sadly came at the expense of the song “Gear” which I don’t recall them playing this time out. As much as I really disliked the bands last two or three albums, the songs they played at this show sounded much better than I recalled them sounding on the actual albums thus I was enjoying them nearly as much as my favorite older songs.
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
The band dispensed the obligatory “free shit”. This time out it was beer coozies and whistles (sadly at this point I was upstairs watching the show from a good vantage point and was not able to get my hands on any as they tossed them out. They played a few more songs and left the stage. The crowd wanted more and the band came out and did a three song encore featuring “Rat Patrol”, “I Don’t Know” and “New Dreams”. After that it was all over and the stage curtains closed. Total run time for their set was about an hour and it was I think even a tighter performance than their showing at Riot Fest.
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
There was a second show the same night with some different bands playing but sadly I was still not really recovered fully from having been sick the entire week so I was unable to stay for the second show. They had some nice special appearances lined up for the late show too that I’m sorry I had to miss.
Some more pictures from the show can be seen up on my flickr page. As always thanks to Riot Mike for the accommodations.
as usual, you have really nice shots here. thanks for taking these even though you didn’t feel well. i was scared to bring in a camera. the house of “rules” kind of sucks for all the restrictions.
Jake Burns did Suspect Device and Alternative Ulster. It was really great. They second set was good but you could tell they were tired. And the crowd wasn’t as crazy as the first show (i.e., they weren’t crushing everyone up front). Songs they didn’t play at the second show: Hips Swinging and New Dreams.
p.s. We bought the new Effigies album last night and gave it a listen today. It’s really good.
Thanks for these great photos again!! You rule!
Sarah, were you on stage for the Naked Raygun show? I thought I saw you up there.
I agree with Effigies CD. I really like it. It could be their best since their first release.