Thanks to Erin, I got a chance to see my second love, AFI, at the Starland Ballroom in north Jersey this past Saturday. We would've perfered to attend the Philly stop next month, however it's on a Thursday night, and I'd much rather enjoy my Davey Havok fix without having to worry about waking up at 4am for work the next morning. Despite the fact that the Ballroom was in the middle of North Bumble-fuck NJ, and gets uncomfortably packed with people who were morally opposed to showering, this was one of the best overall shows I've been to in awhile.
First of all, there was only one opener, Gallows, who I was just as excited to see after hearing tons of great reviews for the past year or so, and they definately set it off. This was perfect, as we didn't have to sit through a bunch of shitty openers and be tired by the time AFI came on. Plus, this gave more time for both sets to wow the pants off of me, while still providing that slight chance we may get out before 11. Man am I getting old.
As expected AFI was amazing, and proved once again why they are still one of my favorite live bands to see. The only downside to their set was that 2 live staple songs "Totalimmortal" and "God Called in Sick Today" were listed MIA. I was a little weary about it at first, but I'm going to let it slide just because everything else was perfect. Now for the radness, I've compiled a brief list because I'm too lazy to write more full sentences.
1. Davey Havok's SPARKLING suit
2. Lou Koller from Sick Of It All coming out for "Kill Caustic"
3. Didn't expect "Ever and a Day"
4. Cover of "Just Like Heaven" by the Cure
5. Hunter's bass and Jade's tie matching Davey's SPARKLING suit
6. Davey's dance moves are hypnotic
7. People still chanting "Through Our Bleeding We Are One"
8. Fat people still love AFI as much as they did in 2001
9. Jade's live guitar tone rules
10. "Silver and Cold" was an interesting choice for the ender
Setlist:
1. Torch Song
2. Girl’s Not Grey
3. The Leaving Song, Pt. II
4. Veronica Sawyer Smokes
5. Ever And A Day
6. Kill Caustic
7. End Transmission
8. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
9. Beautiful Thieves
10. Dancing Through Sunday
11. The Leaving Song
12. On The Arrow
13. Death of Seasons
14. Medicate
15. Love Like Winter
Encore:
16. Just Like Heaven (The Cure cover)
17. Miss Murder
18. Silver and Cold
