Published Tuesday, January 24, 2012 By amanda_caines. Under Editor : Amanda Caines, preview, The Saloon, Writer: Amanda Caines Tags: Amanda Caines, Bojangles' Coliseum, Bombshell, Charlotte Music, Death of Paris, Drew Cyphers, Fusebox Poet, local scene, Maynard James Keenan, NC Music Factory, Pat Gerasia, Preview, superbowl eve, The Saloon, Tool
Fusebox Poet drummer Pat Gerasia would normally be the last person to tell someone not to go see a Tool concert, so when he asked me to come review his band’s “Superbowl Eve” show February 4 at The Saloon at NC Music Factory, I asked, “…and why the hell would I do that when Tool is playing that same night at Bojangles’ Coliseum?”
“This would be a whole lot easier for me if Tool wasn’t one of my favorite bands!” he replied, “Danny Carey is one of the reasons why I play drums to begin with.” But he then listed some pretty decent reasons to see Fusebox Poet instead. The crux of the matter here epitomizes the differences between following local/unsigned bands versus huge, radio-promoted national acts.
Reason #1: FREE ADVANCE TICKETS. Just email FBPtickets@yahoo.com asking about said tickets, and they will mail you some with a little personal note from the band, thanking you for supporting the Charlotte scene. If you wait and purchase tickets at the door, they’re still only $10– a far cry from the $55.95 or more you’ll pay for a Tool ticket (and that’s for the nosebleed seats!).
Reason #2: SUPERBOWL EVE = FREE SHIT. Tool isn’t going to raffle off jack-diddly, and their t-shirts are at least $20. News flash: they won’t give you one for free, even if you beg. The Superbowl Eve show boasts raffles, giveaways, and other chances for free shit and fun activities. Your local bands work their asses off to show you a good time, and they’re willing to invest in the opportunity to impress you by offering you free stuff if you will come listen. At Bojangles’ Coliseum, the only thing you might get for free is the flu.
Reason #3: MAYNARD DOESN’T GIVE A RAT’S ASS IF YOU COME OR NOT. Not one bit. He might not even talk to you during the show (he’s notorious for not addressing his audiences), so he’s certainly not going to talk to you afterward. Fusebox Poet’s singer, Drew Cyphers, is actually a pretty nice guy and will definitely chat with you after the show, “and maybe even give you a hug (if you buy a t-shirt– haha),” Pat jokes. All the guys in the band can get pretty chatty, actually– I just saw them perform this weekend at Art Bar in Columbia, and each one of them was out there, big smiles on their faces, meeting and chatting up new folks and old fans alike. Huge national bands don’t care that much about fans, and they don’t have to care. They show up, you shell out your hard-earned dough and feed their huge, rock star egos, and then everybody goes home (or to their tour vehicles, whatever).
Reason #4: IF YOU’RE IN A BAND AND YOU SHOW UP, FUSEBOX POET WILL RETURN THE FAVOR. Directly quoted from Pat: “We’re only asking you to show up and support. We’ll mail you tickets and you show up for free. We’ll be happy to come out to one of your shows and you can take our money. Consider it an investment! Let’s be friends.” So many bands whine about “Support Your Scene,” but you never see their faces out at other bands’ shows. I see these guys out at other people’s shows all the time, so I know they aren’t kidding. Charlotte’s rock scene needs a boost, and Fusebox Poet is among those willing to invest in the scene’s future. In a similar situation to aforementioned “Reason #3,” Maynard isn’t going to “return the favor” by coming to your show, and he certainly doesn’t give a rat’s ass about your band or our city’s rock scene. Fusebox Poet does.
Die-hard Tool fans are probably going to laugh from their shrines to Maynard, “Stinkfist” blaring from their computer speakers in the background, at Fusebox Poet’s request and shell out $75 to stand on the sticky floor of Bojangles’ Coliseum for a group of guys who don’t give even a shart about you, but, hey, it’s worth a shot to ask anyway.
Fusebox Poet (Hard Rock like Foo Fighters, Trapt, Evanescence) shows its stuff at “Ditka’s Superbowl Eve Rock Concert” at The Saloon at NC Music Factory on Saturday, February 4, 2012, along with supporting bands Bombshell (Indie-Rock like Plain White T’s, Blink-182, Muse) and Death of Paris (Pop-Rock like Garbage, Paramore, Gwen Stefani). Show starts at 8pm, advance tickets are free via snail mail by emailing FBPtickets@yahoo.com, or $10 at the door. Click bands’ names to hit up their pages for sample tracks and more information. RSVP via Facebook and get directions: http://www.facebook.com/events/188893167868750/
No comments:
Post a Comment