Totally Badical Tour Review

The Totally Badical Tour Underøath Hopesfall The Chariot These Arms Are Snakes Fear Before The March Of Flames HOB 4/19/05 Reviewer: Karma E. Omowale Photos: Erika Kristen Watt

"As A Complete Package, The Totally Badical Tour Falls A Tad Short"

The Totally Badical Tour was far from being the show of the year but it sure wasn't half bad either! Not being avid fans of pop-punk but we also recognize when music is good, it's good! This particular genre of the misplaced punker purging their angst is definitely on the rise as Denver, Colorado's Fear Before The March of Flames definitely showed they had a lot to expel. The majority of the bands on tonight's bill droned on like a swarm of bees buzzing in a hive and then there was Ferret Records' Hopesfall, who really stood out amongst the fold. From what we understand, Chicago gets a real treat as These Arms Are Snakes freshly joined the tour for tonight's show. Aww…this is just another reason to love Chicago!

The one thing that can be said is that all of the bands on this bill were full of life and vigor. Tonight's review only covers Hopesfall and Fear Before The March of Flames as we were interviewing FBTMOF and Hopesfall during the majority of the other bands' sets. Here's how the night broke down for the two bands: 

Lineup:  Rupert – Guitar, Vocals; Brandon Proff – Drums; Dave Marion – Screams; Mike Madruga – Bass

We were intrigued to see Fear Before The March of Flames play live after seeing the trailer for their blood play video “Should Have Stayed in the Shallows,” on Headbangers Ball. After witnessing this, we knew our jobs to remain objective would be a challenge. Moreover, before interviewing with Dave Marion the frontman for this Equal Vision Records band, we would have given a completely different assessment of tonight's show. Don't get us wrong, their music is still noisier than a billion cows giving birth simultaneous coupled with the output a  19^th Century luxury liner engine…but we have come to appreciate what it is that they do. How many people stop to think how uncomfortable it must be for the artist to perform to an audience that isn't into them. At least the band did not suffer that kind of fate this evening, more than half of the semi-full audience was at least into this experimental hardcore's band. Having said all that, let's proceed with tonight's regularly scheduled program!

When we arrived to the venue, FBTMOF was already on. Frontman David Marion had taken the stage by storm as he and the rest of his bandmates proceeded to annihilate the soundwaves in the venue. The kids that lined the front row were more than happy to be a part of Marion's spit play. Yes, that's right, they looked as though it were an honor for them to be spat on by Marion. WTF! It was Dillinger Escape Plan minus audible vocals vs. Every Time I Die. The instrumentation was actually pretty amazing, it was the vocals that made the hairs on the back of our necks stand on end. For the remainder of the set, they had sound samples in between their songs that were rather entertaining and message filled, almost subliminal. The one that particularly caught our eye was the one that spoke of being shit on and how it’s considered "entertainment". Hmmm, very interesting indeed! Another note, the lights tonight were gorgeous!! Someone definitely spent some moola on those puppies!!

To make a fair comparison of FBTMOF and "art", they are the Jackson Pollock of hardcore! Bottom line, just because it was not our cup of tea, the audience sure as hell dug them! Our lack of love for their set should not discourage others from seeing the band, in fact we implore you to do so to make your own assessment!

Partial setlist: Hey Kid, I'm A Computer; The 20^th Century Was Entirely Mine; Whiskey, Given To Dreams.

Click here for Interview with Dave Marion

Lineup: Joshua Brigham – Guitar; Mike Tyson – Bass; Dustin Nadler – Guitar; Adam Baker – Drums; Jay Forrest – Vocals

Oh my god is all can be said as we were simply blown away by this band by this North Carolina quintet!! Vocalist Jay Forrest was full of life as was the rest of the band. Forrest's vocals were clear, crisp, and faultless! This band exudes melody and passion! After seeing them perform tonight it is easy to understand why according to Dustin Nadler, the band doesn't like to be pigeonholed into a genre, well here here, because it is hard to find just one genre for them to belong to. The majority of the bands' setlist was off their brand new release off Ferret Records, A Types. Sorry this review is so brief for Hopesfall because we were too busy being selfish and enjoying the show. You are familiar with the old adage of, "Pictures are worth a thousand words" by now... Enjoy!

Setlist: Andromeda (Intro); Per Sempre Marciamo; It Happens; Breathe From Coma; End of An Era; The Ones; A Man Exits.

Click here for interview with Dustin Nadler

&
Here for Speed Round Interview with Adam Baker

The Totally Badical Tour 2005 Tour Dates

Underøath w/supporting acts: Hopesfall, The Chariot, These Arms Are Snakes*, Fear Before The March of Flames

3/27 Dallas, TX The Door

4/19 Chicago, IL House of Blues *