Singing the Sorrow more than the December Underground
November 21st 2006 23:18
A.F.I
Punk/ Hardcore/ Emo/ Pop?
Hordern Pavilion
Saturday November 18th
I am going to say straight off that I have been a fan of A.F.I for many years, so this review is probably going to be somewhat biased, but I'll do my best to restrain my tender heartstrings that just want to gush how amazing this band is and try to give an accurate and honest review.
Forming in 1991, with original founding members Adam Parsons and Davey Havok (real name; David Passaro) being the only two original members still in tact, A.F.I churned out punk/ hardcore anthems in the East Bay area to a steadily growing audience and fanbase, and are still writing hits fifteen years later.
Being a fan from the earlier days, their old stuff will always appeal to me more than their new stuff which has taken on more of a pop/ emo sensibility recently rather than having a punk/ hardcore edge. This turn has gained them many fans in one respect, as they are appealing to a wider market but whether it has lost them some hardcore fans along the way is difficult to speculate about. A.F.I are very loyal to their fans and conversely, their fans are very loyal to them. I’d even muse that their hardcore fans have probably been content to join them on this journey in a new direction with mild, if any complaints.
Labeled by some as Punk Gods and others as Sell-outs, they put on an amazing show and I’ve yet to see them disappoint. On Saturday night, they played a great deal of material from Sing the Sorrow, the album that really launched them into the commercial music world, a few faves from the likes of Art of Drowning, a few of the popular new numbers and even an amazing cover of Just Like Heaven (The Cure), that at least had people above the age of 20 rocking. I would have liked to have seen some more early 90’s punk anthems and at one stage I thought we were even going to see a fight between Davey and an overzealous security guard, but all in all, it was a definite crowd pleaser and worth the $55 I paid for a ticket.
A.F.I are a smart band. They know how to put on a show that will keep everybody happy and I have never seen as diverse a crowd as I saw on Saturday night. I turned up expecting a sea of black and although the teenage death boys and the teenage death girls were out in full force, there were clearly some new fans who aren’t afraid to flaunt some colour. Even the band took the stage dressed all in white.
So, A.F.I. - Punk pioneers or industry sell-outs? Who knows? But notice how the people that always label bands as sell-outs tend to be sixteen/ seventeen years old and have yet to even experience the trials and tribulations of the real world? Kids who have little or no concept of just how tough the music industry is, especially for bands who refuse to conform to an ideal. All I know is, sell-outs or not, if I’d been in the industry for fifteen years, I wouldn’t mind making a buck either.
December Underground is A.F.I's latest album and it is on sale now.
www.myspace.com/afi
Punk/ Hardcore/ Emo/ Pop?
Hordern Pavilion
Saturday November 18th
Forming in 1991, with original founding members Adam Parsons and Davey Havok (real name; David Passaro) being the only two original members still in tact, A.F.I churned out punk/ hardcore anthems in the East Bay area to a steadily growing audience and fanbase, and are still writing hits fifteen years later.
Being a fan from the earlier days, their old stuff will always appeal to me more than their new stuff which has taken on more of a pop/ emo sensibility recently rather than having a punk/ hardcore edge. This turn has gained them many fans in one respect, as they are appealing to a wider market but whether it has lost them some hardcore fans along the way is difficult to speculate about. A.F.I are very loyal to their fans and conversely, their fans are very loyal to them. I’d even muse that their hardcore fans have probably been content to join them on this journey in a new direction with mild, if any complaints.
Labeled by some as Punk Gods and others as Sell-outs, they put on an amazing show and I’ve yet to see them disappoint. On Saturday night, they played a great deal of material from Sing the Sorrow, the album that really launched them into the commercial music world, a few faves from the likes of Art of Drowning, a few of the popular new numbers and even an amazing cover of Just Like Heaven (The Cure), that at least had people above the age of 20 rocking. I would have liked to have seen some more early 90’s punk anthems and at one stage I thought we were even going to see a fight between Davey and an overzealous security guard, but all in all, it was a definite crowd pleaser and worth the $55 I paid for a ticket.
A.F.I are a smart band. They know how to put on a show that will keep everybody happy and I have never seen as diverse a crowd as I saw on Saturday night. I turned up expecting a sea of black and although the teenage death boys and the teenage death girls were out in full force, there were clearly some new fans who aren’t afraid to flaunt some colour. Even the band took the stage dressed all in white.
So, A.F.I. - Punk pioneers or industry sell-outs? Who knows? But notice how the people that always label bands as sell-outs tend to be sixteen/ seventeen years old and have yet to even experience the trials and tribulations of the real world? Kids who have little or no concept of just how tough the music industry is, especially for bands who refuse to conform to an ideal. All I know is, sell-outs or not, if I’d been in the industry for fifteen years, I wouldn’t mind making a buck either.
December Underground is A.F.I's latest album and it is on sale now.
www.myspace.com/afi
| 67 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
