Pittsburgh
So,
Angela, Brian, Henry and I drove to Pittsburgh to see Anti-Flag at The Smiling Moose for the CD release show of The People or the Gun.
We drove about 4.5 hours to go out and it was well fucking worth it.
Our first stop was at the Monroeville Mall. We wanted to check it out because it's the mall where George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead was filmed.
Later, we checked out the Evan's City Cemetary ,because it's the cemetary where the opening scene of George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead was filmed.
More awesomeness!
We arrived at the Smiling Moose around 5:30pm for Anti-Flag's CD release show. When let in, I was unbelievably excited to see how small the stage was.
Honestly, it was like seeing Anti-Flag at the Token Lounge or something. The opening bands The Catastrophies, and American Armada played very well. I was moreso a fan of American Armada, because they reminded me of my band, Trace The Veins, and were very fun to watch (very fast too).
All of us were obviously pumped for Anti-Flag to take the stage. They opened with Turncoat. It was all uphill from there. You can check out my default pic if you'd like to see their setlist! They even played some really old songs, such as: Punk By The Book, Drink Drank Punk, Die For The Government (even though that one's usually in rotation) and You Suck! Awesome. I was bummed that they didn't play more off of their new album. I would've liked to hear The Economy is Suffering, Let it Die.
We all conversed with the members of Anti-Flag and harassed Justin Sane for a picture.
He was very kind and a real cool guy to meet. This was my 9th time seeing Anti-Flag and these guys are only funner to watch and cooler to be around. We were able to get one of our copies signed for a friend who couldn't go to the show with us. He was happy.
So, here's where I pretend to be a music critic...
I am a huge Anti-Flag fan, and have been one since I was a 14 year old freshman in 2003. The first album I have ever heard by them was A New Kind of Army. Not long after I got into Anti-Flag, The Terror State came out. It was, at the time, the best album I had ever heard, and inspired me in my political endeavours to a point I didn't previously know (anyone who's been to an A-F show when they've played "One People-One Struggle" knows what I mean).
In 2006 Anti-Flag released their first album from their two-record-deal with RCA records (a decision I have supported ever since Pat Thetic told me they were considering). For Blood and Empire, while not classic Anti-Flag, was a fucking masterpiece.
Although I am not a fan of Bright Lights of America there are some very amazing songs on the album (most notably the title track, Modern Rome Burning and Vices). It marks the end of their two-album-stint on RCA.
I was suprised to hear that Anti-Flag was self recording their new album and planned to release it independently on SideOneDummy. Though I didn't care much for Sheep In Shepards Clothing, I was excited to hear what I felt would be a "back to basics" A-F album. I was able to listen to the album a whole month early due to the wonder of the internet. So, I had an opinion of the album very early. Anti-Flag's The People of the Gun contains every Anti-Flag song style I've ever heard. I love pretty much every minute of it. I love the poppier songs (like The Economy is Suffering, Let It Die and Old Guard) the most. The classic A-F style songs (like We Are The One, You Are Fired) bring me to a weird mix of new excitement and old nostalgia. The "secret" track, Teenage Kennedy Lobotomy is a fun, fast, non-political song on the same level as A New Kind of Army's "Right On". The only song on the album I didn't like was "On Independence Day". Sorry #2. It's too dancy for me.
All in all. This album was amazing. Though I'm sure I will be shot for this, I must say The People or the Gun is Anti-Flag's best release since The Terror State. I absolutely love it!
Get Awesome!
Kevin
Angela, Brian, Henry and I drove to Pittsburgh to see Anti-Flag at The Smiling Moose for the CD release show of The People or the Gun.
We drove about 4.5 hours to go out and it was well fucking worth it.
Our first stop was at the Monroeville Mall. We wanted to check it out because it's the mall where George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead was filmed.
Later, we checked out the Evan's City Cemetary ,because it's the cemetary where the opening scene of George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead was filmed.
More awesomeness!
We arrived at the Smiling Moose around 5:30pm for Anti-Flag's CD release show. When let in, I was unbelievably excited to see how small the stage was.
Honestly, it was like seeing Anti-Flag at the Token Lounge or something. The opening bands The Catastrophies, and American Armada played very well. I was moreso a fan of American Armada, because they reminded me of my band, Trace The Veins, and were very fun to watch (very fast too).
All of us were obviously pumped for Anti-Flag to take the stage. They opened with Turncoat. It was all uphill from there. You can check out my default pic if you'd like to see their setlist! They even played some really old songs, such as: Punk By The Book, Drink Drank Punk, Die For The Government (even though that one's usually in rotation) and You Suck! Awesome. I was bummed that they didn't play more off of their new album. I would've liked to hear The Economy is Suffering, Let it Die.
We all conversed with the members of Anti-Flag and harassed Justin Sane for a picture.
He was very kind and a real cool guy to meet. This was my 9th time seeing Anti-Flag and these guys are only funner to watch and cooler to be around. We were able to get one of our copies signed for a friend who couldn't go to the show with us. He was happy.
So, here's where I pretend to be a music critic...
I am a huge Anti-Flag fan, and have been one since I was a 14 year old freshman in 2003. The first album I have ever heard by them was A New Kind of Army. Not long after I got into Anti-Flag, The Terror State came out. It was, at the time, the best album I had ever heard, and inspired me in my political endeavours to a point I didn't previously know (anyone who's been to an A-F show when they've played "One People-One Struggle" knows what I mean).
In 2006 Anti-Flag released their first album from their two-record-deal with RCA records (a decision I have supported ever since Pat Thetic told me they were considering). For Blood and Empire, while not classic Anti-Flag, was a fucking masterpiece.
Although I am not a fan of Bright Lights of America there are some very amazing songs on the album (most notably the title track, Modern Rome Burning and Vices). It marks the end of their two-album-stint on RCA.
I was suprised to hear that Anti-Flag was self recording their new album and planned to release it independently on SideOneDummy. Though I didn't care much for Sheep In Shepards Clothing, I was excited to hear what I felt would be a "back to basics" A-F album. I was able to listen to the album a whole month early due to the wonder of the internet. So, I had an opinion of the album very early. Anti-Flag's The People of the Gun contains every Anti-Flag song style I've ever heard. I love pretty much every minute of it. I love the poppier songs (like The Economy is Suffering, Let It Die and Old Guard) the most. The classic A-F style songs (like We Are The One, You Are Fired) bring me to a weird mix of new excitement and old nostalgia. The "secret" track, Teenage Kennedy Lobotomy is a fun, fast, non-political song on the same level as A New Kind of Army's "Right On". The only song on the album I didn't like was "On Independence Day". Sorry #2. It's too dancy for me.
All in all. This album was amazing. Though I'm sure I will be shot for this, I must say The People or the Gun is Anti-Flag's best release since The Terror State. I absolutely love it!
Get Awesome!
Kevin