Concert Reviews: Moose Blood & Knuckle Puck

I went to see Moose Blood and Knuckle Puck and wanted to dedicate this week’s blog post about my experience seeing both shows.

Moose Blood @ The Stone Pony

I attended the Moose Blood concert on Saturday March 17 at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NY. Opening for Moose Blood on the “North America 2018” tour were Lydia and McCafferty.

The Stone Pony was intimate and small but wide. I like the fact anywhere you stood, you were able to see the stage. The venue is located in a beach town and holds 1,000 people. The Stone Pony is a venue that held music legends Bruce Springsteen, John Bon Jovi, and many more.

I’ve never seen any of these bands live. The first group to take the stage was McCafferty. I’ve never heard of McCafferty and didn’t know what to expect from the group. The crowd went wild for the group and there was a mosh pit that opened up during the performance. McCafferty put on a good performance, and I will check out their music in the future.

Lydia took the stage after McCafferty and had a completely different vibe from McCafferty. Lydia has interesting electronic instrumental which was a nice variation from both Moose Blood and McCafferty. Lydia reminds me of a mix of Vinyl Theatre and Copeland. Lydia is a band I’m definitely getting into after seeing their live set.

After Lydia, Moose Blood took the stage. Here is the setlist:

  1. Talk In Your Sleep
  2. Honey
  3. Bukowski
  4. Glow
  5. You Left In The Worst Way
  6. Gum
  7. Pups
  8. Cherry
  9. Pastel
  10. Just Outside
  11. I Hope You’re Missing Me
  12. Sway
  13. Have I Told You Enough
  14. Swim Down
  15. Shimmer
  16. Can We Stay Like This
  17. Knuckles
  18. It’s Too Much

Eddy Brewerton, vocalist of Moose Blood, had laryngitis making his voice very strained, but I love the fact that Moose Blood performed regardless of being ill. When Brewerton would struggle, he’d hold his throat. Brewerton struggled and continued the show despite his vocals not being as prominent. All the fans were singing along loudly when Eddy asked which made the show intimate.

I love the fact the lights on the stage changed colors based on the songs. When Moose Blood would play a song off of I Don’t Think I Can Do This Anymore the lights were blue, when a song was performed on Blush, the lights were pink. The lights were the same colors of I’ll Keep You In Mind From Time To Time’s album artwork. It was unique to see the details.

I hope to see Moose Blood in the future and hear Eddy Brewerton’s live vocals. Moose Blood announced a tour in Australia with Movements opening. Tickets and tour information about upcoming Moose Blood shows can be found here.


Knuckle Puck @ Revolution Bar

I attended the Knuckle Puck concert on Tuesday March 20 at Revolution Bar in Amityville, NY. Opening for Knuckle Puck were Boston Manor, Hot Mulligan, Free Throw, and Jetty Bones. In the past, I’ve seen Knuckle Puck and Boston Manor perform.

I’ve been to Revolution Bar for shows for prior performances (All Time Low’s acoustic performance and The Holiday Show which had State Champs, Transit, Broadside, and Rarity) and knew the venue fairly well. The venue holds approximately 500 people.

The first band to take the stage was Jetty Bones. Jetty Bones had a cool vibe which was whimsical and vulnerable. I enjoyed the fact that in between songs, it sounded like the songs all transitioned together with the helps of the instrumentals. While the vocalist was drinking water, the drummer would hit the side of the drum with his stick, the guitars would play out the last note and tune the guitar. It was nice to hear, and I purchased two CDs after the set.

The second band that performed after Jetty was Michigan natives, Hot Mulligan. I knew a few of Hot Mulligan’s songs from checking out the group months ago. The group’s sound live is similar to it’s discography which is pop punk.

Free Throw, from Nashville, TN, played after Hot Mulligan. What I found pleasing about Free Throw is that to vocalist sang more from his throat. The vocals were raspy which added to the high intensity instrumentals. They’re a band I’m definitely checking out after seeing the performance.

Boston Manor was a crowd favorite as an opening band. The crowd pushed closer to the stage and had a huge mosh pit and crowd surfers. The venue is small that when a crowd surfer gets close to the stage, the crowd surfer is able to stand on the stage with the group. Boston Manor is from the UK, and during Boston Manor’s set, I heard Henry Cox’s accent peak through. Boston Manor has yet to disappoint.

After the four openers, Knuckle Puck took the stage. Here is Knuckle Puck’s setlist:

  1. Double Helix
  2. Wall To Wall (Depreciation)
  3. Disdain
  4. Everyone Lies To Me
  5. Poison Pen Letter
  6. Evergreen
  7. Bedford Falls
  8. Want Me Around
  9. Gone
  10. Fences
  11. No Good
  12. Untitled
  13. Conduit
  14. Pretense
  15. But Why Would You Care?
  16. Plastic Brains
  17. Stateside *ENCORE*

It was Knuckle Puck’s first time playing at Revolution Bar, and the crowd is what made it special. Knuckle Puck never fails to put on a great show, and the crowd’s enthusiasm and energy was amplified in the venue. There were circle pits, crowd surfers, and people singing along to the set. This was my eight time seeing Knuckle Puck perform and it’s safe to say it will not be my last.

In other news, the lineup for Lollapalooza has been announced (tickets and tour information can be found here,) John O’ Callaghan is releasing a book full of his favorite tweets, Underoath released the music video for “Rapture,” Hawthorne Heights released the music video for “Just Another Ghost,” Hot Mulligan released Pilot, and a congratulations is in order for Panic! At The Disco. Panic! At The Disco’s album Vices & Virtues is certified gold. In addition, Panic! At The Disco announced a new album Pray For The Wicked releasing two tracks “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” and “(F*** a) Silver Lining.” Panic! At The Disco announced a tour across the United States (tickets and tour information can be found here.)

Rock on, stay humble, and be positive!

-ovictoria

*Want to know what tours I’m going to? Follow me on my social media @ovictoriamedia on Twitter and Instagram.

Concert Review: Taking Back Sunday @ Starland Ballroom, NJ

Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY. I attended Taking Back Sunday’s Fourth Annual Holiday Spectacular at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ. The bands supporting Taking Back Sunday at the show were: Modern Chemistry and The Maine.

Prior to the concert, I attended Taking Back Sunday’s pop-up shop inside the venue and saw Adam Lazzara and John Nolan perform an acoustic set with songs of their own and holiday music. Here is the pop-up show’s setlist:

  1. Jingle Bell Rock
  2. Faith (When I Let You Down)
  3. Please Come Home For Christmas
  4. Tidal Wave
  5. Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart
  6. You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch

In between the songs, there was a lot of back and forth conversation between Lazzara and Nolan. It felt more like I was hanging out during a jam session over it feeling like just aquick set and leaving. It was nice that local crafters were inside the venue during the pop-up shop.

(C) ovictoria

After waiting a few hours in between, I went back to Starland Ballroom to see Modern Chemistry perform. Modern Chemistry has awesome instrumentals, and I had the same thought last time I saw the group open for Mayday Parade back on the “Tales Told By Dead Friends 10th Anniversary Tour.” I have to look into their music further.

There was a short intermission, and the crowd began piling in. I’ve seen The Maine a variety of times including the Modern Nostalgia Tour last month (my experience was further written about here.) The Maine took the stage next playing some old and new hits. Here is The Maine’s setlist:

  1. Happy
  2. Bad Behavior
  3. My Heroine
  4. Like We Did (Windows Down)
  5. Run
  6. Am I Pretty?
  7. Girls Do What They Want
  8. Diet Soda Society
  9. Lovely
  10. Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu

After The Maine performed and a short intermission, Taking Back Sunday too the stage. I’ve never seen Taking Back Sunday perform, and it will not be my last.

(c) ovictoria

Taking Back Sunday has an awesome stage presence and sounds as great as they would on an album. The crowd went wild over old and new favorites. Here is Taking Back Sunday’s setlist:

  1. You Know How I Do
  2. Tidal Wave
  3. Set Phasers To Stun
  4. Error: Operator
  5. You Can’t Look Back
  6. Timberwolves at New Jersey
  7. You Got Me
  8. Flicker, Fade
  9. Death Wolf
  10. You’re So Last Summer
  11. My Blue Heaven
  12. All Excess
  13. Liar (It Takes One To Know One)
  14. A Decade Under The Influence
  15. Everything Must Go
  16. What’s It Feel Like To Be A Ghost?
  17. Spin
  18. Cute Without The ‘E’
  19. She (Green Day Cover)
  20. Call Me In The Morning
  21. MakeDamnSure

I was hoping the group would’ve played “Slowdance On The Inside” and “Ghost Man On Third,” but I enjoyed Taking Back Sunday’s set. The energy of the venue was high, and Taking Back Sunday had an excellent lineup and performed excellent. I highly recommend you check out Taking Back Sunday if you have yet to.

Wishing you, my reader, and your loved ones happy holidays. Rock on, stay humble, and be positive!

-ovictoria