Friday, May 1, 2015

The Loved Ones Played Asbury Lanes with Restorations and Hound, 4/29/15 (PHOTOS)

The Loved Ones played a sold-out Asbury Lanes on Wednesday, 4/29.

Another One Bites The Dust

When I was in Italy with the family, I saw the announcement from Chunksaah Records come across my various social media platforms that the Dave Hause-fronted The Loved Ones would be coming to Asbury Lanes with fellow Philly bands Restorations and Hound. The buzz around the show was pretty high, and it sold out quickly. We went on with our trip; and in the couple of weeks that I'd been home, I kinda forgot about the show.

On Wednesday morning, I got the little notification from Facebook that I had an event that day; and I remembered the show and remembered that I was ticketless. Scotch LaRock had planned ahead, though, and came through. My Wednesday night was planned.

We got into the Lanes just as Hound were starting their set. The trio of Perry Shall, Chris Wilson (Ted Leo and The Pharmacists), and Colin McGinniss (None More Black) play straight-ahead hard rock in the vein of Black Sabbath and early Metallica. Faces obscured by their long hair, Shall and McGinniss rocked at the front of the stage while Chris Wilson delivered his crushing blows from the drums.

The last few times I'd been to Asbury Lanes, it seemed like they'd put in a few more lights. That's made all the difference in some of my recent photos. On Wednesday, though, things were a little darker again, so flashless photography was a struggle.

I was happy to have another chance to see Restorations. I really enjoyed last year's LP3, and regretted missing the band when they last came through for the sold-out Get Up Kids show at the Pony. Their sound is a combination of atmospheric post-hardcore and sing along punk rock. Maybe it was just the sound of Jon Loudon's telecaster, but I feel like I almost heard a country twang here and there. At any rate, the combination worked wonderfully and Restorations were impressive.

As it got closer to 10pm, I moved up front to position myself for photos during the set from The Loved Ones. As soon as the band came out, opening with "Suture Self," things went crazy; and shots from the crowd became difficult to say the least. I missed some great ones: Dave Hause leaning right over all of us as he sang, Mike Lawrence held above the audience singing with Hause before he was deposited on the stage only to leap back into the crowd.

I decided to move around and look for some spots where I could get a steadier shot. And here's where my night ended. As I came across the lanes at stage right, I lost my footing in one of the gutters and went sprawling out on the hardwood. People tried to help me up as I was trying to gather my camera, my glasses, and my phone; and there was this weird moment of our opposing one another. They must've thought I was wasted.

Once I made my way to the side of the stage, the shooting pain in my knee had started my stomach doing somersaults. Losing my cookies all over the lanes wasn't something I wanted to do, so I stepped out for some air. Sitting on the steps about to puke with tears welling up in my eyes from the pain made me call it a night. Damn.

What I did get to see, though, was amazing. It's heartwarming to see a band loved by the local scene here play to a sold-out Asbury Lanes. Sure. Things got a little aggressive in the crowd, but there's a camaraderie in there that you just don't feel anywhere else. I only wish I could've stuck it out for the whole night.

Here are the shots I managed. The rest are at Flickr. I'll be enjoying another lunch of ibuprofen today.



No comments :

Post a Comment