Live Review: Dillinger Escape Plan / Number 12 Looks Like You
Posted 06/25/2009 08:58AM by Cody Rogers as Show Review
I honestly can't say that I've ever heard more about a band's live performance than I have about the Dillinger Escape Plan. We've all seen those videos - the fire-breathing, the head-walking, the neck-break thrashing the guitarists do. Standing in the crowd of about 200 people on June 12th, I got scared waiting for frontman Greg Puciato to join the rest of the band on-stage. I've seen the group before, but at a larger venue. The Brewery, in Raleigh, NC, is often called a hole in the wall, and that it is. The venue is probably about as big as an average convenience store, with holes in the ceiling and staples in the walls. Bands set up by bringing their equipment on and off the front of the stage, not from behind or the side. Right through the crowd they go, seeing as that's the most room they're going to get.
When you hear that the Dillinger Escape Plan is coming to the Brewery, you get excited. Excited as in you tell all your friends, update your Facebook, your Twitter, comment on the band's decrepit MySpace, and more. That's how I was the day before the show. I convinced a couple of my friends to come along; they're people who don't like Dillinger or the Number 12 Looks Like You, but they're always down for a good live show. I was expecting a fantastic show simply because of the line-up, but what actually went down blew mine and my friends' expectations out of the water.
Two local bands, The Reaping and The Lineage, opened with their brand of deathcore / metalcore before the touring bands came on. While the bands aren't anywhere near unique in their styles of music, they both consist of good musicians and even better people. Our scene in North Carolina is more so built on quantity and not quality, but it's good to know that these bands take themselves seriously and have a genuine respect for the music that happens to come through.
The first touring band that played was Knife the Glitter, a three-piece prog metal band that was without a vocalist for this tour. Hailing from New Jersey, just like The Number 12 and Dillinger, their set was led by a collection of massive chords played on a six-string bass and was nothing short of weird. Those two things seem to be a recurring theme on this tour, though. In between songs, we were treated to slightly-funny Phil Anselmo samples and an overly quirky frontman, which honestly just made me want to see the next two bands more. The band put on a good performance, and the sound was done well, but I was not a fan upon my first impression.
As for The Number 12 Looks Like You, I was very surprised hear that they were coming to North Carolina. I can't remember the last time they were here, nor can I remember being this excited to see a band. Following the recent departure of second vocalist Justin Pedrick, the band has been performing as a four piece, and it doesn't seem that they will return to the two-vocalist format. Coming off of the recent release of their new album, Worse Than Alone, the band opened with two songs from the disc. “Glory Kingdom” was a powerful opener with an entire crowd shouting “Mush!” in time with the band, followed by the jazz-abundant “Garden's All Nighters”. The song, obviously about their home state of New Jersey, is a smile-inducing tune which received major cheers from the expectant crowd. While the song was the highlight of their newest CD, it wasn't one of their better performed songs. Guitarist Alexis Pareja dropped a few too many notes during the jazz solo, which is the feature of the song. He was noticeably disappointed in himself, but kept playing the best he could, and the song still retained its intense emotion. Frontman Jase Korman kept the band and audience tight throughout the set, bringing couples on-stage to make out during an especially winding song, giving hand-hugs, and being a particularly in your face figure. During the set, he even reached above him and pulled down a piece of ceiling tile for the audience to play with, much to the dismay of venue management. Continuing with songs like “Jay Walking Backwards”, “The Weekly Wars”, and “Marvin's Jungle”, the all-smiles band finished up a set full of emotion around 10:45.
Hardcore band Advent echoed through the house monitors while the band of the night began setting up. People who I had not seen for the first four bands began arriving, circling each other and talking. Knife the Glitter's guitarist, one of Dillinger's techs, was running around frantically trying to get effects set up right, tuning guitars, and making sure that everything was in order for the upcoming performance. The only members of the band we saw before the band started playing were guitarist Jeff Tuttle and new drummer Billy Rymer. Even beforehand in the band room, Dillinger was nowhere to be seen. Finally the band appeared, still minus Puciato. Performing an intro which is apparently a piece of a new song, people began to speculate on his whereabouts. The conclusion was that he was lifting or taking supplements somewhere in the venue. Alas, just in time for the end of the intro, he made his entrance. Jumping into “Fix Your Face”, the band launched an all-out assault on the venue. Their fifteen song set was comprised of songs from their past three albums, an Aphex Twin cover, and a ridiculous amount of energy which left the audience noticeably tired. The forever-energized band was unstoppable - Jeff Tuttle knew the words better than Greg Puciato, it seemed. He screamed them with no mic, and his angry stare grabbed every member of the crowd. Straining to see in the strobe and smoke infected room, one might make out Ben Weinman on top of a guitar cab, or launching himself into the crowd when the moment called. During “Mouth of Ghosts”, he traded places with his guitar tech and covered the keyboards. The jack of all trades, Weinman was more subdued during this performance than he has been in the past. Maybe his numerous on-stage injuries are catching up to him, but regardless, he put on twice the show of your average guitarist. As for the rhythm section, Liam Wilson and Billy Rymer appeared in sync as they retracted to the back of the dimly lit stage. Not able to provide the maneuvering that their bandmates could, they instead put the focus on the intense music they were performing. Both fluid in their rhythm, Wilson switched from a pick to fingers in jazz portions and Rymer filled the shoes of Chris Pennie and Gil Sharone to the best of his ability. Around 12:05, the show began to close. Dillinger had played for an hour straight, but noticeably skipped perhaps their two biggest and most powerful songs. Jeff Tuttle called for an impromptu period between set and encore, commenting on hockey games and other small talk. Upon the right time, the band launched into “Panasonic Youth”. The entire crowd moved, more so than before, and both new and old fans rejoiced. However, everyone knew what they were yet still missing. Not a beat was missed in the switch between the end of “Panasonic Youth” and the ridiculous intro to “43% Burnt”. People literally ran to the crest of the wave of sweaty, tired individuals, leaning onto the stage, just to get a chance at screaming those famed lyrics. The climax of the show had been reached, and the resolution of the crushing and irregular rhythm of the song left the crowd exhausted. Dillinger finished the night with just as much energy as they started with, crowning the night with a classic and leaving everyone in the venue with a smile on their face as they streamed out of the building.
Comments
Coopersburg, PA
I'd love to see DEP at a small venue again, their live show is still stick but it's not nearly as powerful when they're on a huge stage. It's interesting that they chose to play a place like the Brewery.
Raleigh, NC
Yeah, I was really surprised that they would play a venue this small, but I just remembered- Last time I saw them at the bigger venue, they were with Killswitch and Every Time I Die. Definitely had something to do with venue choice.
Last time I saw Dillinger was at Ziggy's in Winston...they still had Chris and Brian and absolutely killed.
Toronto
So I don't get to go, but Cody does? WELL FINE.
Raleigh, NC
Aha!
West Haven, CT
I've only ever seen The Dillinger Escape Plan at small venues. I refuse to pay money or go to big events, festivals.
The First time I saw them was at Toads Place In New Haven, CT back in 00-01. Totally different band but even back when they had a band of guys who wanted nothing more but to destroy the stage and give everyone their moneys worth.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
East Haven, CT
I'm sorry the show you caught from this tour wasn't everything you thought it would be, but you seem to pessimistic with this blog. I saw this same tour in Philly in a small church hall and it was the complete opposite not only was it a stormy 5hour drive and 400 bucks later I feel as if it was well spent. Instead of ceiling being ripped down by number 12, they handed out jumbo sparklers for the crowd to play with. Everyone was sweaty and gave everyone bottles of water. You just have to be lucky to catch a great show.