Fear Before the March of Flames w/ This Will Destroy You, You In Series and 65 Days of Static 07.20.07

by Peter Aleksa / photos by Jason Bergman

I got to the Europa Club in Greenpoint just as daylight was beginning to fade and the crowd was beginning to show. I always enjoy getting to a venue early for these types of shows because you get to watch the energy slowly change. To see the anticipation building for the event that is about to take place, the slow transformation of whatever ratty American Legion hall or dim night club is the reluctant host to these informal services.

First up was This Will Destroy You, a four piece instrumental group that I heard someone describe as "like Explosions in the Sky's older brother." Ok, sure. But I guess I can see the comparison.
The music begins still, and quiet, until the icy melodic trickles have gathered the momentum of a roaring sonic river, bursting with a pent up energy that has been quietly building in that little stream. Then rushing out, released into a vast sea of feedback. The band's movements closely mirrored the way in which their music unfolds; brooding quietly until breaking out in a series of temper tantrum fits. Watching the bassist in particular, I was reminded of the protagonist of one of my favorite childhood books, Where the Wild Things Are, terrorizing his household before being sent away in exile.

You In Series was up next. In one word: tight. That's how I would describe the singer's Mongoloids tshirt. The performance, not so much. This was really the only low point of the night. I was not digging this band at all. They looked the part but I just wasn't buying it. They oozed with that awful, overdramatic shtick that tends to germinate in New Jersey malls. (Wait, I'm myspacing them, it would be too good if they actually were from Jersey.... hmm, no, Vegas. But close enough. That's like a classy Atlantic City right?) Anyways, there could be something there, they are signed to Equal Vision and all, but they are just missing something for me at this point. So... onwards!

At this point, 65 Days of Static still had not made it to the venue and it was unclear whether they would, so Fear Before the March of Flames took the stage.

It may still strike some as odd (how people shake!) to see the recently expanded Fear lineup, but I'm thrilled that most people seem to have embraced the way that the band is evolving and are able to spread their sound out both live and on their records.

The overall aesthetic of Fear's live show is far and above what most bands are capable of pulling off. From the stage design with its green, white and blue box lights to the dedicated core of fans who crowd the front of the stage and feel the pull to shout every word of every line back into Dave's face, a Fear Before show is a full on happening in the truest sense of the word. Dave always seems to have an intriguing stage presence. At one point he seemed to be waving his hand over the crowd to affect a snake charmer like control over them. Indeed, the group maintains an eerie control over the crowd throughout the night, constantly reshaping the energy in the room, shifting its intensity (dynamics!). At this particular show, the band managed to pull this puppet act off quite well even with a crowd full of hiptards who were too cool to uncross their arms for most of the night.

The band played a full set and ran through a good spectrum of their music with cuts off of Always Open Mouth, Art Damage, and even some off of OHPS. It was good to see songs like "Should Have Stayed In The Shallows", "Law of Averages", and "The 20th Century Was Entirely Mine", but I would have personally liked to see a few more tracks off the the new album (Utter Confusion As A Result.../...Of Signals Being Crossed!). Still, it was a great performance, and no matter what Fear period is your favorite I think you would have walked away pleased with the show.

65 Days of Static took the stage last, after almost not taking the stage at all. The band was making the trip from good ol' mother Britain, and apparently were Guantanamo'd for awhile. Or so the rumor goes. But seriously, I'm glad that these guys were able to make it. I had never seen or heard them before, but a lot of people in the crowd seemed pretty pumped for them. And I can see why. I am now digging on them alot. When a band like this opens (or closes, as it may be) when you go to see another band its always a pleasant surprise. Like finding a whole new world you never knew existed. Which is what going to a show should be about. Not suffering through some shitty trend-rocker garbage til you get to see what you want.

Anyways, I digress. Probably because I haven't had enough time to fully digest this band and so I don't have any hyperbolic prose to back up my assertions. The best approximation for what it sounds like is Russian Circles jamming out with the Dust Brothers. While that is woefully inadequate it gets you in the right ballpark I suppose. Anyways, long story short, 65 Days of Static is a realllly good band that I will be listening to for a long time, and hats off to them for not only making it to the venue but going out there and putting on a solid show to end the night.

As 65 Days of Static finished their set the final dynamic shift of the night occurred with scene kids filing out past some early arrivals who had begun to show up ready to put the Club back in Europa Club.