Get Scared @ Club Red
Weekday shows are always a little tough but that didn’t stop the rowdy fans of Get Scared at Club Red in Mesa. I don’t think I’ve seen as many people at a Tuesday show before. Most of the bands I had never heard but there are certainly a few that caught my ear. The best part of it is how you can always find a punk who will make you feel welcome and buy you a beer.
The Missus and I got in with just enough time to get settled. Club Red was already looking a bit packed so I stuck it out in the back for once. I said hi to a few familiar faces and some others I’d never met before. With a pat on the back, I was told I was going to like the first band and they were not wrong. Undefined was a taste of something I didn’t expect and absolutely loved. They are a punk band with songs ranging from subjects of heartbreak and suicide that make you crave the pit. The only unfortunate side was watching another band be victim of a zombie horde audience. I saw a couple guys moshing for a moment but it was short lived. Despite the dull sway of the crowd, I found these guys from Prescott to be an awesome band. You can check them out when they open for Authority Zero at the Green Room in Flagstaff on August 6th, 2017.
The next local opener was Parallels from Phoenix. Now these guys got more of a reaction from the crowd but really weren’t my thing. Parallels has more of a generic rock sound that I didn’t hate but neither roused any excitement within me. At one point, I did perk up when Ian Woodgate (Vocals) asked who liked video games. Who am I kidding? I love video games! Turns out, they have a song relating to the Bungie title, Destiny. For me, this didn’t rope me in like I had hoped it would. I can say that if you like rock music, enjoy an active show, and play Destiny, you should check these guys out. Their next show is August 1st, 2017 opening for Crown the Empire at the World Famous Nile Theater. You can only pick up a copy of their self-titled EP at the show but here’s a taste of what Parallels are made of. For me, I feel these guys are great to relax to and even better to listen to while you work.
It wasn’t long before World War Me was onstage. This pop-punk band didn’t waste time grabbing my attention. The crowd had started gathering and the mosh pit was ready. World War Me brings a lot of energy to the stage during a performance that felt far too short for my tastes. In the middle of their set, announcing the next song, Stephan Krypel (Vocals) mentioned the music video for “War Zone” had recently released on June 24th, 2017. Before I knew it they were wrapping up and I wanted more. It was to my dismay that they didn’t have a CD yet. When asked when their CD might come out, I was told sometime later this year and to contact the band later for further details. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this, World War Me has not returned any correspondence regarding a CD release. All the same, I enjoyed seeing them live. World War Me will still be touring with Famous Last Words and Get Scared until July 22nd, 2017.
Now for the names the crowd has been waiting for. Famous Last Words asked that the lights go out as they got into position. This was to superb effect despite JT Tollas (Vocals) backing off the stage to be saved by the front row of fans. Once the band had committed to playing, JT sang, surrounded by a sea of fans. After the show had ended, I overheard a few of the band members laughing about the situation. One bandmate expressed concern, wondering if they should help TJ and make sure he wasn’t harmed. Though it was an accident, fans had assumed it was an intentional stunt with how casually TJ rolled with it and delivered a crowd-stirring performance. While Famous Last Words doesn’t strike my personal fancy, the energy is unmistakable by witnessing the crowd alone. Like many bands I have encountered, there is always one or two songs that worm their way into my ear and Famous Last Words is no different. I find their song, “I’ll Get You Next Time, Gadget!” to be my favorite for both the song itself and its title. Famous Last Words will be touring with World War Me and Get Scared until July 22nd, 2017.
Finally, Get Scared hit the stage. A stalwart air of confidence with booming inertia the moment they start playing. Even if you don’t care for them, Get Scared is a performance that needs to be experienced and will knock you out of your seat. While I can’t get into a fair number of their songs, there are always a couple on each album that I can’t help but listen to. During the show, I couldn’t keep my head from nodding along with the music. Then Get Scared performed their cover of “My Own Worst Enemy” that is an improvement on the 1999 version by Lit. I couldn’t resist singing along as the music took me back to those uncomfortable high school days with the confidence I have today. The last time I saw Get Scared perform, they opened for Nonpoint. Whether it was my spot in the crowd or the venue, they couldn’t compare to now. Of course, Get Scared will be touring until July 22nd, 2017 with World War Me and Famous Last Words.
At the end of the night, I was exhausted. The show was a wild ride of ups and downs, good and bad. While packing a punch of energy, this show picked me up, spun me around, and set me back down. Yet, even though some bands didn’t draw me in, I wouldn’t mind seeing them all again in the hopes that, just like with Get Scared, I find my opinion changing and enjoying myself amongst the crowd.
