~8/25/02-Thought Riot, The ConfedeRats, Kindergarten Hormones, Farewell To The Fallen, Two The Front, Anonymity, The Forensics [The VIP Lounge, Bend]

Ok, this was a show that I helped set up with Chrissy that very nearly didn't happen. Lack of decent venues in Bend, combined with my unwillingness to lose money by using the Domino Room meant that we barely found a venue to use 5 days before the show. Otherwise attendees would have had to rock out in my yard. This being said, somehow the show snowballed from a basic 3 band show to a really large 7 band production. Two local bands, Anonymity, and Kindergarten Hormones, both premiered at this show, along with Two the Front, The Forensics, local faves The ConfedeRats, and our out of town bands: Farewell to the Fallen, and Thought Riot. I was running around doing door stuff and generally not paying much attention, so I'm afraid this review will kinda suck. The night of the show Bend experienced some of the craziest rain storms I've yet to see here. Within minutes the parking lot of the VIP Lounge turned into a river, feeding the lake that formed under the underpass on Greenwood. As we went out to watch a small car got stuck at the bottom, with nasty water coming up to it's windows. The drivers had to climb out the windows and wait on the roof to be towed out. Ahh, weather. The Forensics started things up, and they seem to have gotten a little better since their last performance. Their punk sound kind of blends in with the majority of punk bands, but I'm sure as they play more they'll develop their own sound. Next up was Anonymity, another local band. This was their first show, and I hate to say it, but it shows. Perhaps the sound was off, perhaps I wasn't up front watching to catch the full show, but they didn't sound too hot. Anonymity asked if they could light a toilet seat on fire, and I wish I would have said yes now, so I'd have something more positive to say. Moving on to the next band. Two The Front put on a great show, and their experimental emo sound (with bongos! woo!) was a pleasant change from the rest of the evenings punk and hardcore sound. I like these guys, and look forwards to seeing them again soon. Farewell To The Fallen was the next band. These boys traveled all the way down from Seattle just to play for us yokels, and we appreciate it. These guys put on a great show, and I was really impressed with their stage presence, song writing, and the quality of their performance. Playing hardcore, these guys have some definite AFI and  perhaps Thrice sounding lyrics/melodies. Considering this was only the second show for these guys I think they've got a bright future. Kindergarten Hormones played next, and I really didn't get to hear them, sooo I won't say anything. No one came up to me exclaiming that they suck, so they couldn't have been bad. (I did have some people tell me that they were pretty good, so the crowd has it.) The ConfedeRats were next, and as usual they rocked. Punk rock, played well, that's it. These guys are great. Finally Thought Riot played, and they were spectacular. Their brand of politically and socially charged hardcore may not be to everyone's liking, but these guys put on a great show. The lead singer is all over the place as he belts out the lyrics, and the other members of the bands follow suit. 

The tiny tiny stage meant that all of the bands had to play on the floor, but none of the bands let this stop them from putting out their best performances. Seeing how the three main routes downtown were flooded I didn't expect a large turnout tonight, but the people that did show seemed to have a good time and enjoy the bands. I want to say thanks to all the bands for playing, and to Dave for being our sound guy, and to everyone who helped us set up, tear down, and flyer. You kids all rock.