Gen X Summer Tour 2018 @ BLK Live
Nostalgia is a powerful thing. For better or worse, it lures in any who look back on yesteryear with a wistful sigh and a smile on their lips. While nostalgia can be described as a luxurious trap, there is little doubt that nostalgia sells. Few are immune to its effects. It’s no wonder so many people endured the humid, outdoor venue of BLK Live during the Arizona summer. No matter the season or the temperature, the Gen X Summer Tour was bound to sell with staple bands from the 90s: Alien Ant Farm, Lit, P.O.D., and Buckcherry. It was a trip in the way-back machine to a 90s spring break pool party.
Alien Ant Farm was the perfect first dose of nostalgia for me. As they played, I was taken back to high school. I remembered how all my friends were learning to play Alien Ant Farm’s cover of “Smooth Criminal” and their parents swore they were playing the song too fast. The set list was composed of every song I listened to on repeat from ANThology and TruANT in the early 00s. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Alien Ant Farm sounds just as good live as they do recorded. While I – like many others – would rather not relive their high school days, Alien Ant Farm is a worthy exception.
Lit used to be a band I often forgot that I liked. To be fair, I knew the songs I liked but never truly sought out the band. Yet, as they started off their set with a cover of Tom Petty’s “American Girl,” Lit administered another heavy dose of nostalgia and secured my attention. Between the Tom Petty cover and their most recognizable song, “My Own Worst Enemy,” they easily pinned a huge portion of my high school experiences. My only complaint during Lit’s set was while Alien Ant Farm had a clear sound that matched their recorded quality, Lit didn’t seem to match. Instead, the sound quality was blown out. Yet, the wireless mic had been cutting out often during the set, so I assumed it was related to technical issues.
While P.O.D. didn’t have the issues Lit did, they didn’t take advantage of the low hanging fruit nostalgia had presented them. In all transparency, I was never a huge fan of P.O.D. and never expected to be enthralled by them. Yet, while attempting to be as unbiased as I can be, their use of nearly a third of their set to unveil new music – as declared by the band – may have hindered them. Additionally, the band’s neglect of utilizing the lights at their disposal – a criticism echoed by friends and associates in attendance – displayed a neglect of opportunity and resources. Despite this, I must give credit as P.O.D. certainly has an intense and driving instrumental even when I find them hit-or-miss lyrically. By the end, only two songs struck a cord with me: “Alive” and “Youth of the Nation.” Unfortunately, I hadn’t heard anything by P.O.D. since MTV aired the music video for “Youth of the Nation.” Though, if you are a fan and like the mention of new music, P.O.D. will be releasing their new album, Circles, November 16th, 2018.
As Buckcherry set up, I took an opportunity leave my spot in front of the stage and relocate behind the venue’s pool to avoid the denser crowd. Upon seeing them live, whether you love them or hate them, Buckcherry is nothing if not intense. While Buckcherry has never held my attention for any extended length of time, I can understand why so many like them. If they weren’t a part of your listening rotation or music collection in the mid-00s, it could just be the classic rock vibe that gives off a nostalgic allure. Unlike, P.O.D., Buckcherry showed no hesitancy with utilizing light. In fact, they brought along a few of their own. While this enhanced their visual presence on stage, I found myself catching a light to the eyes nearly every time I changed my gaze. By the end, my overall impression is that while Josh Todd sounds like he made a career on a voice he blew out a long time ago, Buckcherry’s recorded sound cleans that up slightly and it ultimately works for them in a classic, glam rock sort of way.
With the show over and the rush of nostalgia fading, I took a moment to savor the memories the bands drudged up. While I don’t listen to all any of the bands as frequently as I ever did, there was still a moment of pleasant respite before remembering that time lurches ever onward. Though I can’t claim that BLK Live is the best venue – especially during the summer – nor the most accessible. Still it was the perfect setting to let Alien Ant Farm, Lit, P.O.D., and Buckcherry remind you of yesteryear at one hell of a spring break pool party.
