Monday night I attended the Dayton stop of the Jagermeister Music Tour featuring Hinder, Shindeown, Trapt, Rev. Theory and Red. As you already know, I had the tickets as a make-up show from a previously canceled event.
I should have eaten the ticket cost and stayed home and worked.
First, a word about the concert venue. The show was held at the Nutter Center on the campus of Wright State University. I've decided I absolutely despise seeing shows at the Nutter. The sound is just terrible and I'm sick of being manhandled before I even get in the door. Apparently, promoters were expecting a tough crowd as there were giant blinking signs everywhere warning against guns, knives, spike jewelry, moshing and...nudity.
When I was nearly strip searched at the door, I found myself longing for the ever-happy TSA workers at the airport. Then, a security guard of some sort rifled through my purse, looked at all my belongings and forced me to throw away a pack of M&Ms. It's not like I was planning on eating the candy during the show - but give me a break. Next time I'll try to smuggle in some acid. Clearly, M&Ms are far more offensive than drugs. Glam knows enough people around me were smoking pot.
Anyway, Eric and I went to the show and we missed Red and half of Rev. Theory. I've seen Rev. Theory before - at last summer's Rock on the Range festival. They were better then.
Trapt performed basically the same set as during Crue Fest. I actually liked them better at Crue Fest. Remember, I already said the sound was horrid inside the Nutter Center. This didn't help the bands in my eyes.
Eric was excited to see Shinedown and I'll give the band credit: they were the best of the night. Someone on their crew had enough sense to turn down the over-modulated sound. Anyway, the band has three albums - and they played sounds from each. Lead singer Brent Smith talks a lot from the stage. So much, in fact, I think the band could have done another song and skipped the stage banter. I've never understood the point of endless chatter, but it is what it is I guess. At any rate, I liked some of the guitar riffs in the songs and I'll be getting the Shinedown albums.
To all of you who said "You will love Hinder after you see them live" you are wrong. You know what? That's o.k. I don't need to like every popular band with even a bare hint of Glam influence. You can! That's the beauty of subjective art. I don't like Hinder. I don't get them or their songs and their live show was just bad. Now, again, let me say the sound was horrible so that's not on the band. It's hard to sound good when audio is bouncing against every wall, creating chaos.
Now, Austin Winkler's voice makes me crazy. It's raspy, but not in a good way. It was also completely shot Monday night, so it's possible Winkler was sick. At any rate, I'm not the only person that was unimpressed. I personally witnessed many people leaving, saying "They were awful" or "What a disappointment." The band performed all the suspected songs and opened with their newish single "Use Me" complete with dancing girls, a la Motley Crue. Too bad Motley Crue does it better.
I just have nothing else to say. I could have skipped the show but I didn't. I went with an open mind and I still don't like Hinder. It doesn't matter I suppose. I have to see them again in February with Motley Crue. Maybe they will be better. I'm not holding my breath.
Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 12:30AM