Russ Hockenbury
04/05/05, 02:10 PM
Taken from Upbeetmusic.com:
Show: All American Rejects, Action Action, Number One Fan
Date: April 1, 2005
Venue: Headliner’s
City: Louisville, KY
Price: $12
“No one over the age of 21 goes to an All American Rejects show”
The above sentence was uttered sarcastically by the lanky, brace-faced teen waiting directly in front of me to get into Friday night’s All American Rejects show. Headliner’s doubles as a bar, but has the occasional all ages show. The awkward teen spoke that truism only after security had asked the waiting crowd who would need a wristband (those able to purchase alcohol) and NO ONE volunteered to have the mark of old age slapped to their person. However, there were at least two people over the age of 21 at the AAR show that night. One being this grizzled old scenester at the ripe age of 22, and the other being his date of the same years.
I’ve only begun to feel my youth disappear at shows over the past year. I have to wonder what happens to people like me. Do we all force ourselves to listen to boring indie bands like Neutral Milk Hotel and Wilco just for the pure fact that we’re supposed to be progressive? Have I missed my musical growth spurt?
Standing amongst a crowd where the average age was likely 16.5 years of age, it became all too clear to me that this type of music has a definite shelf life. This likely wouldn’t matter much to anyone on the business end of the genre. We all know that most of the money is made in the 15 to 19 year old demographic. No, it only really becomes an issue for the fans. The scene tends to recycle itself, churning out younger fans to replace the older ones it loses. Just where do the older ones go to die, though?
The first band on the bill on the night of my epiphany was Number One Fan. Basically, NOF is AAR with better hair, but less a potent brew of sugar pop. I don’t believe this band really took off the way that industry people thought they would with the release of their debut, Compromises. They seem talented enough and I’m betting the Wisconsin four-piece will get one more cd out before the jury is in on whether or not their careers will mirror that of Wakefield or their Oklahoma tourmates.
The sandwich band was the ever intriguing, Action Action. Made of former members of The Reunion Show (including vocalist, Mark Thomas Kluepfel) and Count the Stars, Action Action boast an impressive pedigree. Their brand of 80’s moog inspired, synth pop plays to a more diverse audience than does the music of the opener and headliner.
This however, did leave a few of the younger audience members with blank stares and feelings of uncertainty.
The crowd was looking for bounce and that’s what it got when AAR took the stage at around 9pm. I have to admit that back in their Doghouse days, I thought this band was the greatest thing since sliced bread. As rumors circled about their rapid ascent to major label stardom, my opinion changed little. Now, about a year and a half later I can see why they lose fans at a certain age. My ex-girlfriend put it best. She said that she really liked “Your Star” and decided to dust off her AAR mix cd the other day, knowing that she’d be attending the show with me that night. When she popped it in, she struggled to find “Your Star”, thinking on several occasions that another AAR song was the song she was looking for. It all sounds the same to more finely tuned ears.
It’s fun, it’s bubbly, but one thing it isn’t is diverse. That’s something the All American Rejects have to strive for on their next release. One song from that upcoming album that got played was a slightly more mature, TGUK like number called, “I’m Waiting”. It’ll likely be the first single. I say TGUK, but don’t think for a minute we’re talking about “On A Wire” like stuff here.
I hate it when people say a band really “grows up” on an album. Moreso, the fans grow up. And yes awkward teen, people over 21 DO go to All American Rejects shows...they just don’t like to admit it.
Show: All American Rejects, Action Action, Number One Fan
Date: April 1, 2005
Venue: Headliner’s
City: Louisville, KY
Price: $12
“No one over the age of 21 goes to an All American Rejects show”
The above sentence was uttered sarcastically by the lanky, brace-faced teen waiting directly in front of me to get into Friday night’s All American Rejects show. Headliner’s doubles as a bar, but has the occasional all ages show. The awkward teen spoke that truism only after security had asked the waiting crowd who would need a wristband (those able to purchase alcohol) and NO ONE volunteered to have the mark of old age slapped to their person. However, there were at least two people over the age of 21 at the AAR show that night. One being this grizzled old scenester at the ripe age of 22, and the other being his date of the same years.
I’ve only begun to feel my youth disappear at shows over the past year. I have to wonder what happens to people like me. Do we all force ourselves to listen to boring indie bands like Neutral Milk Hotel and Wilco just for the pure fact that we’re supposed to be progressive? Have I missed my musical growth spurt?
Standing amongst a crowd where the average age was likely 16.5 years of age, it became all too clear to me that this type of music has a definite shelf life. This likely wouldn’t matter much to anyone on the business end of the genre. We all know that most of the money is made in the 15 to 19 year old demographic. No, it only really becomes an issue for the fans. The scene tends to recycle itself, churning out younger fans to replace the older ones it loses. Just where do the older ones go to die, though?
The first band on the bill on the night of my epiphany was Number One Fan. Basically, NOF is AAR with better hair, but less a potent brew of sugar pop. I don’t believe this band really took off the way that industry people thought they would with the release of their debut, Compromises. They seem talented enough and I’m betting the Wisconsin four-piece will get one more cd out before the jury is in on whether or not their careers will mirror that of Wakefield or their Oklahoma tourmates.
The sandwich band was the ever intriguing, Action Action. Made of former members of The Reunion Show (including vocalist, Mark Thomas Kluepfel) and Count the Stars, Action Action boast an impressive pedigree. Their brand of 80’s moog inspired, synth pop plays to a more diverse audience than does the music of the opener and headliner.
This however, did leave a few of the younger audience members with blank stares and feelings of uncertainty.
The crowd was looking for bounce and that’s what it got when AAR took the stage at around 9pm. I have to admit that back in their Doghouse days, I thought this band was the greatest thing since sliced bread. As rumors circled about their rapid ascent to major label stardom, my opinion changed little. Now, about a year and a half later I can see why they lose fans at a certain age. My ex-girlfriend put it best. She said that she really liked “Your Star” and decided to dust off her AAR mix cd the other day, knowing that she’d be attending the show with me that night. When she popped it in, she struggled to find “Your Star”, thinking on several occasions that another AAR song was the song she was looking for. It all sounds the same to more finely tuned ears.
It’s fun, it’s bubbly, but one thing it isn’t is diverse. That’s something the All American Rejects have to strive for on their next release. One song from that upcoming album that got played was a slightly more mature, TGUK like number called, “I’m Waiting”. It’ll likely be the first single. I say TGUK, but don’t think for a minute we’re talking about “On A Wire” like stuff here.
I hate it when people say a band really “grows up” on an album. Moreso, the fans grow up. And yes awkward teen, people over 21 DO go to All American Rejects shows...they just don’t like to admit it.