The Bravery/Switches

Finally had the opportunity to see The Bravery tonight with members of "Team Sea Wolf 2.0" and friends.

Show was opened by English up-and-comers, Switches.

For a band that is over a month away from their first proper release—these guys played a solid set with plenty of confidence and charisma to boot.

The best part of Switches was their manner in which they played. It was clean but raw—and you could tell that they were having a good time playing for the crowd.

Based on their set and the current 3-track single being marketed at the show (featuring the A-side: "Drama Queen"), good things are definitely in the cards for Switches.

Get over to their MySpace page for a taste of what you'll be listening to this Spring.

As for The Bravery—I got exactly what I expected: skillful musicianship, just over an hour of music and a lot of cockiness.

Don't get me wrong, I really like their catalog to date (and their set tonight was really good). However, there is this sense of entitlement that they exude and it really is slightly unbecoming.

The good part is they live up to their own hype.

If you have the chance, make a point to see them. You won't be disappointed.

Pictures on Flickr

"Smashing" Pumpkins—and concert goers

As reported by The Vancouver Sun and Pitchfork, a 20-year-old man from British Columbia died Monday, September 24 at the Smashing Pumpkins show in Vancouver.

What the crap?!

What's worse—this isn't the first time a fan has died at a Pumpkins show. In May of 1996, a 17-year-old girl from Shanagarry, County Cork was crushed to death at a Smashing Pumpkins concert at the Point Theatre in Dublin. It's reported that on recordings of this show you can hear lead singer, Billy Corgan, trying to calm the rampaging crowd.

Rampaging crowd? Oh, wait . . . it was 1996.

People, Seriously. Are you really that "into" Smashing Pumpkins in 2007 that you'd work yourselves into such a lather that you'd forget all reason and put your life in jeopardy? Much like another 90s star that won't take a hint, Billy Corgan isn't doing anyone any favors by continuing his quest for another multi-platinum recording.

In their day (which ended just before Pisces Iscariot) the Pumpkins were on top of the alternative music world. But with the release of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in 1995, they, and by they we mean Billy Corgan, started taking themselves way too seriously. Everything since has been an attempt at what they once were.

But, we digress.

While we are saddened that someone would lose their life while trying to have a good time at a musical event, it's almost as troubling that in 2007 a 20-year-old (do the math) would find a Smashing Pumpkins show interesting.

Now if he died during The Bravery's set—we totally get it.