Show Review: Spitalfield and Lydia

[Jason Tate]

I had the pleasure of attending the Spitalfield (http://www.absolutepunk.net/spitalfield)/Lydia (http://www.absolutepunk.net/lydia) tour when it came through town last night. My experience and thoughts can be found below (I am not proof-reading this, so pardon the mistakes).
Seeing as all my friends suck and have these things called "real jobs," none of them wanted to stay up to the God-awful hour of 11PM and accompany me to this show. That forced me to go at it alone. Now, this isn't such a bad thing seeing as I know the guys in both bands, but it's still awkward standing in line and by yourself while watching the show. Whatever, I'm secure enough to do things alone.

Standing in line I was the one that had to break the hearts of 5 or 6 girls as I informed them CIWWAF had canceled the show. 10 or so people actually got out of line and were leaving the venue (including a dad and his 3 kids) - I almost shit myself. I may have said something out of line like, "you are leaving a Spitalfield show because Cute dropped off"? I may even have offered to pay for their tickets. I might have gotten one of the worst looks from a parent I've received since elementary school. Fuck 'um if they like bad music.

Made my way into the show, found Loren (drummer of Lydia), and sat out back talking about how they'd just jumped on this tour after being on Warped. Apparently this tour was originally going to have June and CIWWAF on the package but both bands dropped off - promoters were unhappy and holding food money ransom. Anyway, about 120 kids showed up (which is actually impressive for a Monday night in Oregon) and the opening band The Twitch started playing. They're not good. Not even a little bit.

After a short break Lydia made their way to the stage. Tuned, primed, primped, and started their set. This band is fucking awesome. They sounded great and their set is impressive. They played 4 or 5 songs off their new album (which you should all own) and 2 new ones. I could sit there and watch them for hours. And no, not just because their keyboardist, Mindy, is incredibly cute - but because they write damn good songs and play them flawlessly. I highly recommend finding a way to see this band live if they're in your town.

After their set I found my way to a pillar to do my best "scene" impression and play on my sidekick. This was the first time the boy who will forever now be referred to as SweaterDouche came into my consciousness. Okay, I am going to go off on a tangent for a little bit - deal with it. I beg all of you to never be "that" guy at a show. Let me paint this picture. SweaterDouche is wearing plaid golf shorts that are above his knees. He's wearing a red wife-beater and has a white V-neck sweater tied around his neck. He has a face that reminds me of a white Ronildinho. This kid is either coked out on something or is an abortion gone wrong. He's running (YES, RUNNING) around the venue jumping on his friends, getting in the face of every girl, yelling, and basically thinking he's the shit. He goes up and asks the keyboardist from Lydia (who has a boyfriend) for her number, he keeps going up and freak dancing with random girls at the show. He's that douche that thinks he's funny, when everyone (even his friends) wants to put their fist through his fucking skull. Had Mark from Spitalfield not found and distracted me, I may have destroyed SweaterDouche.

Spitalfield takes the stage, doesn't even spend that much time prepping, and begins. It is a disgrace that this band is not huge. Great songs, great live show, great energy. I refuse to allow this band to keep flying under the radar. It's obnoxious. They played a good mixture of "Remember Right Now" and "Stop Doing Bad Things" with the majority of the set being off their latest album. They even played a new song, and if the rest of their new album (due in October) sounds like this - it's going to be incredible. If SweaterDouche hadn't ruined my experience - this would go down as one of the best shows I've seen this year. Unfortunately, SweaterDouche hadda dance the entire set. Hadda jump up and down, hadda keep touching the girls around him, hadda keep yelling things, and of course, hadda keep screaming to his bros. When another friend of theirs showed up, I swear I thought I was watching a group of girls start screaming and hugging each other. I want to say it right now: DO NOT BE THOSE GUYS. No one likes you, everyone is there to see the show, not your homo-erotic crotch grabbing. YOU ARE NOT COOL.

That said, the show was very good. Spitalfield are the best band on Victory Records, and are not getting the push they should. I talked with the band a little after the show - and if things go as planned, we have a pretty sweet AP/Spitalfield project lined up in the future. The band's new album hits stores in October, and the guys are extremely excited and proud of their album. They've been doing this for 8 years - the time is ripe for this band to explode.

Good show, even if the crowd coulda been bigger, I recommend everyone check this tour out if it comes near you. Bring some friends, buy some merch, have a good time. I want to say thanks to everyone in both bands - too bad your tour-mates hadda drop off, that would have been awesome.

[Roboman]

Haha SweaterDouche, that sounds like a great username.

[ACA]

I saw Spitalfield this winter headline a Plain White T's show at Obsessions in NJ. A small club.

The show was (surprisingly) packed for PWT's, but this was at the height of the Hey There Delilah thing. Afterwards, 90% of the crowd just left, and only about 20 people remained for Spitalfield. I'm not a huge fan of the band, and I had business to conduct with the T's so I didn't stick around for Spitalfield's full set.. but from what I caught it was very much like their album, which I found to be average at best. By no means a "poor" live show, but simply average. Unfortunate that the headliner only drew a couple dozen fans and the T's drew well over 200.

-ACA

[Jason Tate]

I saw Spitalfield this winter headline a Plain White T's show at Obsessions in NJ. A small club.

The show was (surprisingly) packed for PWT's, but this was at the height of the Hey There Delilah thing. Afterwards, 90% of the crowd just left, and only about 20 people remained for Spitalfield. I'm not a huge fan of the band, and I had business to conduct with the T's so I didn't stick around for Spitalfield's full set.. but from what I caught it was very much like their album, which I found to be average at best. By no means a "poor" live show, but simply average. Unfortunate that the headliner only drew a couple dozen fans and the T's drew well over 200.

-ACA
You like the T's and call Spitalfield average? Go jump off a bridge.

[mybreakingpoint]

Spitalfield does deserve to be huge.

But I also don't want kids to start trading in their Fall Out Boy shirts for Spitalfield ones and ruining their shows. I've seen them live 3 times, always great. But I don't know if I could take it if it became overrun with guys who look like girls and girls who look like guys.

Is it selfish of me to NOT want Spitalfield to be totally huge for that reason? Because if it weren't for that, I'd want them to be the biggest band in the world. They sure as hell deserve it.

[youareallfreaks]

hahaha, nice review. sweaterdouche knows exactly what he is doing, the only way he can be stopped is if you out-douche him. sorry to break that to you.

[Brandon Herbel]

I love Loren

[ACA]

You like the T's and call Spitalfield average? Go jump off a bridge.

Hehe, expected something harsher.

I don't understand the Spitalfield hype. Point me in the direction of 3-4 songs you think that would get me hooked, I'll throw them on repeat for awhile and see if they click with me.

-ACA

[ACA]

Spitalfield does deserve to be huge.

But I also don't want kids to start trading in their Fall Out Boy shirts for Spitalfield ones and ruining their shows. I've seen them live 3 times, always great. But I don't know if I could take it if it became overrun with guys who look like girls and girls who look like guys.

Is it selfish of me to NOT want Spitalfield to be totally huge for that reason? Because if it weren't for that, I'd want them to be the biggest band in the world. They sure as hell deserve it.

It was cool 3-4 years ago to see someone in a TBS shirt and immediately know they're probably into some good music. No longer is that the case.. it's frustrating, obviously, and we all secretly wish we could hold our favorite bands in our backpockets.. but of course we all want the best for the bands we love, too. :)

-ACA

[ParanoiAttack]

i gotta say, I loved remember right now, and found stop doing bad things pretty average.

[Jason Tate]

Hehe, expected something harsher.

I don't understand the Spitalfield hype. Point me in the direction of 3-4 songs you think that would get me hooked, I'll throw them on repeat for awhile and see if they click with me.

-ACA
Tampa Bum Blues, I Love the Way She Said LA, Texas With a Dollar Sign

[Jason Tate]

i gotta say, I loved remember right now, and found stop doing bad things pretty average.
I like Stop Doing Bad things better. The rock edge is great.

[mybreakingpoint]

I like Stop Doing Bad things better. The rock edge is great.

Fershizzle manizzle

[ParanoiAttack]

i liked spitalfield for the softer pop style they had going.
SDBT is due another listen though, i didnt really give it much of a chance.

[FrostedFlames]

I was also there. I agree with your assessment of the show. SweaterDouche was on the left side of the crowd and I was on the right near the wall, and I still found the kid annoying. However, not nearly as annoying as the group of 14 year olds (?) that were standing in front of me, who clearly had no interest in the concert, instead acted like some out of control ADD idiots. Maybe you heard them, while Spitalfield's singer played Am I Ready by himself, they were the kids that were being so loud that the singer actually appeared distracted by it for a minute. I hate these kids who come to shows only to be annoying. If you arent there to enjoy the music, then stay home.

[piaffeprncess98]

It was cool 3-4 years ago to see someone in a TBS shirt and immediately know they're probably into some good music. No longer is that the case.. it's frustrating, obviously, and we all secretly wish we could hold our favorite bands in our backpockets.. but of course we all want the best for the bands we love, too. :)

-ACA
Well said.

I've seen Spitalfield many times since 2003 in everything from big clubs to shitty skating rinks and they always sound great. I remember one time no one was really watching their set and they said something like "Hey guys, we're not at an ice cream social, come up and dance!" They're hilarious too. I don't think this tour is coming near me, but I'll definately see them at Warped.

[JIMMYateEARTH]

Nice Story, I love Spitialfield and Lydia both are Amazing.

I've seen seen Spitialfield live they were good, but they took way to long to get set up.

I agree I hate kids like sweaterdouce, they piss me off so much at shows

[[Brendan]]

That said, the show was very good. Spitalfield are the best band on Victory Records, and are not getting the push they should. I talked with the band a little after the show - and if things go as planned, we have a pretty sweet AP/Spitalfield project lined up in the future. The band's new album hits stores in October, and the guys are extremely excited and proud of their album. They've been doing this for 8 years - the time is ripe for this band to explode.
awesome.[/fs]Jason I love Spitalfield, I really do, but I think you may be overlooking Between the Buried and Me.

/just saying

[thesiz]

Spitalfield are the best band on Victory Records

ive listened to their albums and im just not feeling them. im going to have to go with bayside as the best band on victory, however, everyones entitled to their own opinions.

[Branevember31]

I like Stop Doing Bad things better. The rock edge is great.



yeah exactly. "Remember Right Now" caught my ear really quick and i was hooked, and then when i heard "Stop Doing Bad Things" i didnt instantly like it because i was expecting more of the same. then it just hit me at how great it was, and it went way pass "Remember Right Now".

[southline]

I like Stop Doing Bad things better. The rock edge is great.

i agree. remember right now had some AWESOME pop/rock songs on there, however if you listen to the cd a few times all the way through, you notice that the rhythms and patterns are very similar in all the songs, and even a few of the vocal lines are re-used. still an awesome cd though.

i cant wait for the new cd though. what was the style of the new song they played?

[unwritten]

Great band.

[JIMMYateEARTH]

I like Stop Doing Bad things better. The rock edge is great.

I agree, both are great Albums. They started off so with such a great pop sound, I love that they put more rock into thier sound for teh second album. I can only imagine how great thier sound has developed for the next album.

[feigningapology]

Damnit, I knew I should have gone to that show last night. I'm just sick of going to shows alone and having friends that work nights. I'm actually glad Cute dropped last night though, I would have hated their set.

[Rith]

Yeah. Spitalfield is great. In Amsterdam there weren't much folks for them, they were the support act for Silverstein there. And as for SweaterDouche, I'm sooo going to pay attention that I don't act like that when I'm all drunk and lame. Nah, I might be lame sometimes, but that guy must've been a thousand times worse than me. Probably. Oh my god.

[YourMusicSucks]

Tampa Bum Blues, I Love the Way She Said LA, Texas With a Dollar Sign\

I never really was much into spitalfield, either. I checked out those three songs- holy shit were they awesome. Maybe having just listened to the whole Sound of Animals Fighting CD first helped...

[SwedishHeat]

Lydia has been to Sacramento about 5 times this year already and EVERY SINGLE TIME, I couldn't make it.

It's like musical blue balls. And of course, this tour they're on now skips over Sac, when I'm unemployed and have absolutely nothing going on, when I actually could make it to the show, there's no show to make. ARGH!!!

[|ant|]

You like the T's and call Spitalfield average? Go jump off a bridge.

You are my hero.

Also, I thought that Remember Right Now was a much better album than SDBT. I just loved the exaggerated bass lines on that album. Not enough utilize the bass line like that and I was very disapointed to see they abandoned that on their last album. Anyway, I still love them and can't wait for their new album!!

[lightcollapse]

stop doing bad things is fantastic.

[Rob Rice]

Lydia is amazing. Loren is the man. I hope to see them again when they come back down south.

[BettyDavisDance]

Most Underrated Signed Bands: Spitalfield, Punchline, Midtown
Most Underrated Unsigned Bands: Farewell, Victory Lane

[rr_thecrowing]

Spitalfield are the best band on Victory Records, and are not getting the push they should.
Couldn't agree with you more. I love these guys; they make outstanding music.

[thebestkylever]

thanks for hyping spitalfield, they need/deserve every positive action taken towards them. they write and perform great music, and are the nicest, funniest guys you could ever hope to meet. lookin forward to seein this show next week at chain. :)

[AdamAtCollege]

I was at this show too. I hadn't heard Lydia before but they impressed me. And I loved Spitalfield, so that was awesome. He played "Am I Ready?" acoustic but there were like 4 ten-year-olds in front of me who thought it was cool to try and mosh or something during this song. I wanted to destroy them. But I'd probably be arrested. And yeah, that dude with the sweater was fuckin annoying. I'd just see him jumping all the time and he wasn't even paying attention to the bands playing. I don't mind if people don't love the band, you're not forced to. But BEING RESPECTFUL is mandatory. Don't pay $8 to go and talk while everyone else is trying to have a good time. That guy was indeed a douche. I hope he logs on here and reads this. I will punch him in the mouth. Anyways. Yeah, awesome show aside from the crowd distractions. I wish June would've stayed on, though, I would like to see them live sometime.

[_kelly]

i love spitalfield. their music is good and there such nice guys.

[MixtapexxDeath]

They are very under-rated.
Can't wait for them to come to my town.

[saving jonathan]

I like Stop Doing Bad things better. The rock edge is great.

stop doing bad things is great.

but stop the drama and i love the way she said LA are just awesome.

overall SDBT > RRN

[Mark Orr]

i gotta say, I loved remember right now, and found stop doing bad things pretty average.

I agree. I prefer Remember Right Now. I saw them last October and obviously they were pushing SDBT and therefore played mostly tracks off that, but the older songs were better received, for sure. Am looking forward to seeing where the new CD takes them.

As for them being the best thing on Victory....I'm not sure - Victory gets some stick around here but I love Bayside, TJV and The Audition.

[space unicorn]

Stop Doing Bad Things > Faster Crashes Harder > Remember Right Now.

if theres one thing i could ever wish for, its to see/hear 16:49 Army Time live.

Spitalfield has been one of my favorite bands for years, i would love to see them blow up, not quite fall out boy level, but about Saves the Day level.

[Jason Tate]

Stop Doing Bad Things > Faster Crashes Harder > Remember Right Now.

if theres one thing i could ever wish for, its to see/hear 16:49 Army Time live.

Spitalfield has been one of my favorite bands for years, i would love to see them blow up, not quite fall out boy level, but about Saves the Day level.
STD's last album is at like 45K .. I think that's what Spitalfield's last one sold too.

[ParanoiAttack]

I agree. I prefer Remember Right Now. I saw them last October and obviously they were pushing SDBT and therefore played mostly tracks off that, but the older songs were better received, for sure. Am looking forward to seeing where the new CD takes them.

As for them being the best thing on Victory....I'm not sure - Victory gets some stick around here but I love Bayside, TJV and The Audition.

yeah, i much prefer TJV to spitalfield. they're amazing. and such nice, genuine guys. im looking forward to seeing theAUDITION when the victory tour rolls round.

[xPaulWallx]

i feel ya on the going alone to the show thing tate, i did that earlier this week going to the Trophy Scars show cause none of my friends like them and are idiots. also i understand the sweater douche ruining the show, the scene seems to be getting shittier every show i go to and have more idiots there than last time. and i agree that spitalfield is awesome and needs to be bigger than they are cause they def deserve it.

ive always thought TJV is horrible personally.

[matt_rawlings]

Can't wait for some new Spitalfield.

[Mark Orr]

yeah, i much prefer TJV to spitalfield. they're amazing. and such nice, genuine guys. im looking forward to seeing theAUDITION when the victory tour rolls round.

Aaah good old Victory UK tour. I enjoyed it loads last year...definately excited for the Audition, shame we get Aiden instead of someone like TJV - haven't heard much of The Sleeping tbh, and what I have heard didn't really blow me away.

[jMeAsRsCiH22]

Spitalfield is seriously underrated.

[rewindthistime]

it seems to me that victory kind of tried to push spitalfield once maybe a couple years ago. and then victory just sort of gave up on them. which is pretty lame in my book.

[a hybrid]

dear west coast.

stop keeping lydia from us.

love always,
east coast.

[jMeAsRsCiH22]

dear west coast.

stop keeping lydia from us.

love always,
east coast.

Lydia will be on some of the east coast Warped dates!

[drainyourheart]

haha i hated that kid he was doing everything RIGHT behind me and i wanted to turn around and sock him in the freaking face. i loved the show i was freaking out a lot but not like the sweaterdouche. i feel like i was the only kid singing in that place.

i wish more kids showed up but more showed up than i thought.

[kaskomm09]

Well said.

I've seen Spitalfield many times since 2003 in everything from big clubs to shitty skating rinks and they always sound great. I remember one time no one was really watching their set and they said something like "Hey guys, we're not at an ice cream social, come up and dance!" They're hilarious too. I don't think this tour is coming near me, but I'll definately see them at Warped.

Yup. I graduated HS with Mark and JD and they are real, real funny dudes. Mark pulled some hilarious shit in highschool.

[Julia Conny]

Stop Doing Bad Things soared and soared above most of the crap that was released last year. I thought Remember Right Now was solid enough, but Bad Things showed great amounts of flexibility and advancement. I think people need to recognize that bands like these don't come around all the time.

[Veritas11]

I love Loren

Haha. He lives right down the street from me.

[Chris Fallon]

I saw them Sunday night after work in Seattle, and loved the show. Jason, on all levels, you were spot on: Spitalfield deserves to be HUGE, and so does Lydia, because that band impressed me in every way I could be impressed. I don't own their album as of yet, but I will.

I really do love Spitalfield, and I wish them nothing but the best. Their new album is the album I am most excited for, all year. Great review Jason - are you going to write one for brand New's show, too?

[space unicorn]

STD's last album is at like 45K .. I think that's what Spitalfield's last one sold too.

yeah, but show-wise, everytime i've seen spitalfield theres been maybe 20 people and maybe 9 know the songs (aside from I Loved The Way She Said L.A.) they should be up there packing big clubs.

[_all_star_me_]

damn dude, you were in amarillo?