So Challenger is on first. I was really looking forward to seeing them, because I love the record, but was quickly disappointed. They definitely came off heavier than the record but their set was riddled with out of tune guitars, and off key singing. Though the vocals come off on the record, I’m afraid that they just didn’t pull it off live. They gained a little momentum by the 3rd song but it once again went down the tubes. I haven’t given up on Challenger just yet. I dig the songs so much that I’ll eventually give it another whirl.

I missed Paint It Black and most of From Ashes Rise because I was mad hungry and had to get some eats. What I did catch was some fucking weak ass kid jumping on stage during From Ashes Rise asking the crowd to please calm down and stop “moshing” so hard. WHAT THE MOTHERFUCKER! That kid needs to go home and throw away any trace of aggressive music from his collection because he most certainly can’t hang.

So the moment I was waiting for finally arrives. Now, I’m a little late to the Strike Anywhere game, having just recently gotten into them, but I was really looking forward to seeing them and they didn’t disappoint. This band is a testament to the theory that good music is out there if you just dig a little. They opened up and blew the roof off the Knitting Factory. Strike Anywhere brings me back to the days of Gorilla Biscuits at CB’s or Sick Of It All at The Anthrax. They were intense, mixing songs off Exit English with some old cuts. Kids were going bananas singing every line. At the end, Dan Yemin (former guitarist for Lifetime/current singer for Paint it Black) joined Thom from Strike Anywhere on stage to do an Inquistion song. Strike Anywhere puts on a show. I went home feeling fulfilled and having hope in music once again.