July 18th, 2003
This show was good in theory: Every noteworthy band in the maine post-poppunk EMO!!!! scene together under one roof. Except that And So It Begins broke up days before the show. But since they officially weren't a band anymore, we still had all the biggies.
The day started off ominously, as i had to stay in Boston until early afternoon for CPR training (i mouth-to-mouthed a rubber humanoid!). I got out of my PAID OVERTIME training (oh snap!) shortly before 1pm, and was able to catch the 2pm bus to Portland. Unfortunately, PHISH was hating that day, as the interstate was clogged the well up. I got into the bus station like 45 minutes late on an already tight schedule. Jess (rhymes with "bless" as in "bless her heart for zipping me up to Gardiner with a quickness and giving me year-old foreign chocolate bars to eat") zipped me up to Gardiner with a quickness and gave me some year-old foreign chocolate bars - called Nestle's Hobo. I got there about a half hour before doors opened, and we didn't get a chance to practice at all.
Anyway, this was the second Ericrock show (we run those shows), and we had a really great turnout (one of our biggest DIY shows). No Friendo kicked the night off with a great set. This was the first time i saw them, and i have to say that I like No Friendo, and if you don't, you probably will. They don't even drive yet, and i actually enjoy watching them perform. Their set just about kept us on schedule, in time for Lowfive to take the floor.
Our set was crappy!!! I think we are really feeling the effects of not practicing. I feel like we're getting really sloppy, and although we may know all the songs (and we might not!) we're just not taking it seriously. It's especially hard for me being in Boston, and practicing to a perfect demo, or something that i know by heart. It's a ballgame of different colours when you put 4 guys channeling brainwaves like imperfect robots together connected by rubber and copper and then try to play along with them... using 3 keyboards and pedals when your only used to one and none. Obviously. But for some reason, people still tell us we sound good. I'm just curious to see how they'd react if we actually put on a decent show (like last time)!
After us, Marks The Spot went on. They were just getting used to playing with Zach and Spencer from No Friendo, but they had a smashing set and huge support from their hometown crowd. Shortly after, Every Forty Seconds took the stage. I'd never seen them before either, but i've been talking to EFS Ben for like 2 years now about playing a show with them. They are one of the best bands in maine, and you can tell they're serious about it. They might even be older than lowfive... and Jon's in his early seventies! But putting that aside, i have to call out most of the audience for the night... who was too tired like babies to rock out to EFS! take a nap before the show and save some energy for the HEADLINERS!!!
Anyway, it was a great show, finally playing with a bunch of bands we've been meaning to. Also, we made a bunch of friends at the show, so hopefully things will pan out in our favour in the future.
On saturday i sat in my underwear at Ian's brother's house and waited to catch a bus back to Boston!!
/caleb
SETLIST
coming soon....
