This was the first concert I had been excited about in a good while. AFI has such a rich history and for the past few cds have had a huge, arena rock sound so I knew I was in for some good music. The band chose some interesting opening acts with The Dillinger Escape Plan and Nightmare Of You. While Dillinger would bring in the metalheads and hardcore crowd, Nightmare has an 80's pop throwback kind of sound. certainly one of the more interesting line-ups of the year, I'd say. Either AFI was so confident in their fanbase and the turnout that they could put whoever they wanted on the bill with them, or they were worried that their time away from the spotlight would negatively affect tickets sales. They had no reason to worry though as the show was sold out and just about everyone in the building was there to see AFI.

For those of you who haven't heard Nightmare Of You, they pretty much sound like The Smiths, with some of The Cure and a tad of Depeche Mode thrown in. Coming on before a band as intense as Dillinger was going to be tough, but NOY vocalist Brandon Reilly has seen his share of success during his days in The Movielife, so he led his band with confidence (the theme of the night apparently) and by the end of their set, most of the crowd was really itno them. I might as well be honest and say that I don't particularly like the kind of music Nightmare Of You plays, but if you are into that type of thing then give them a listen because they have a pretty good take on the genre.

The Dillinger Escape Plan is one of the most talented bands on earth. i have no doubt that this group of guys could play rings around just about any other band out there. What they do with that talent though is create brutal, unrelenting hardcore that is so well played that it just about shames everyone else in the genre. If you want to get in the pit and throw down then go for it, Dillinger is your band, but take some time to appreciate a band that is delivering some of the most complex math-metal riffs you'll ever hear. The sad fact is that most people aren't ready for Dillinger. It's almost as if the band arrived a few decades too soon for most people to appreciate what they are doing. Certainly the crowd at this show seemed to be confused by it all. But for those who DO get it, Dillinger are gods. I suppose that gods aren't really meant to be fully understood.

I've always thought that AFI would be one of the few bands to escape the current "scene" trend with their fame intact. they are more than just punk, or emo, or whatever other tag you want to label them with. They are a kickass arena rock band, and could be playing to sold out crowds for many years to come. This was evident from the offest with the band matching outfits giving it an almost glam rock feel to the show. Then I realized something...almost the entire set was pulled from the Sing the Sorrow cd. Not only were previous releases virtually ignored, but even the new album "decemberundergound" was barely represented. It seemed that though the band may believe in themselves, they lacked confidence in their fans to know anything outside of their biggest hits. On the few occasions that they did stray into earlier material or something from the new album, the crowd sang along to every word. To the fans, AFI was more than just a one hit wonder, so it's too bad that the band seemed to lack the (here's that word again) confidence in their fanbase. Before I knew it the concert was over, the headlining act clocking in at UNDER AN HOUR. Considering the wealth of great material the band has in their catalog, there really isn't any reason why an extra half hour couldn't have been added to the set. In the end, AFI came off like a retro-novelty act. A band trying to live off the success of one album. The fans don't see it that way guys. Your fans are buying the new cd. They have gone back and learned your older material. They deserve...more...

WIN A SIGNED DVD FROM THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN!!!!!!

Despite several attempts with AFI's management prior to the show, the band nor their management were interested in having their fans help promote "decemberunderground". Fortunately, The Dillinger Escape Plan stepped up to the plate and signed a copy of their brand new DVD for us!!! Beth from Relapse Records was extremely helpful, and the bands tour manager took care of getting the signatures immediately, saving me from hours of standing around. I can't thank them enough for taking part in this site in its infancy, so we all need to step up and support this band!!!

Spread the word about The Dillinger Escape Plan! It doesnt matter how, you can tell your online friends, you can write the bands name on your car window or shave it into your head...we dont care! Obviously, we wouldn't endorse any sort of graphitti on school walls or illegal activity to promote the band...so if you do something like that and get caught, don't try blaming us (it'd be funny if you sent us pictures of it though)! But get the word out somehow and let me know either by posting in the DEP thread in the forum, by sending an email to anarchy@anarchymusic.net or you can send an email to MY MYSPACE PAGE One of you who enters will win a signed copy of the bands new DVD "Miss Machine". Supporting a killer band that appreciates their fans loyalty is an awesome thing to do, and for one of you...it'll be your ticket to a free DVD.