The Top 6 Bands I Saw at Bamboozle 2010

6.  Saves the Day

I love Saves the Day, so their return to their home state’s music festival was exciting for the audience and the band. Even though they played the same songs as they did during their tour with New Found Glory, it was still a wonderful performance. Saves the Day mixed a few of their new songs with old classics for the fans to enjoy. The crowd went nuts during hits like “Firefly” and “At Your Funeral.” I can never get enough of Saves the Day.

Setlist:

All-Star Me
The End
Radio
Anywhere With You
Firefly
Holly Hox, Forget Me Nots
Can’t Stay the Same
Eulogy
Freakish
Shoulder to the Wheel
At Your Funeral
Kaleidoscope

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5.  Paramore

Even though the disrespect of Drake’s overlong performance was a buzzkill for the thousands of fans waiting for Paramore, once they came on everyone left all their frustration behind and enjoyed the Nashville pop-rockers light up the stage with their energy and their professionalism. Front-woman Hayley Williams has matured a lot since Paramore first formed and now has the stage presence comparable to that of Gwen Stefani. Her vocal range has also improved dramatically since their debut album “All We Know is Falling.” As the headliners of Saturday, the pop-punk crowd went bonkers for these stars.The highlight of their set was when they played their hit “crushcrushcrush” followed by an extended-rock version of “Let the Flames Begin.” I absolutely loved the excitement the band had for headlining Bamboozle and they returned the favor by putting on a memorable set.

Setlist:

Looking Up
That’s What You Get
Playing God
Pressure
For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic
Turn It Off
The Only Exception
Whoa
crushcrushcrush
Let the Flames Begin
Ignorance
Where the Lines Overlap
Careful
Brick By Boring Brick
Decode
Misery Business

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4.  Motion City Soundtrack

These guys are definitely one of my favorite bands to see live. Their energy and crowd-friendly tunes with sing-a-longs make a perfect blend of an awesome live performance. Out of the entire weekend, Motion City Soundtrack had one of the best and most fun crowds. There were a lot of people in the audience for MCS and they returned the favor by putting on a totally rocking set.

Setlist:

Worker Bee/The Future Freaks Me Out
My Favorite Accident
Her Words Destroyed My Planet
This is for Real
Attractive Today
A Lifeless Ordinary (Need a Little Help)
Broken Heart
Disappear
L.G.F.U.A.D
Everything is Alright

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3.  Girl Talk

I’ll admit, I had my doubts for Gregg Michael Gillis (better known as his stage name Girl Talk) when my friends talked about him. After some research, I couldn’t comprehend how much fun listening to samples of songs mashed together could be. But with a laptop on stage, Gillis brought his game to the stage and pumped out forty minutes of club-like mash-ups that had the entire crowd (including the dozens of people on stage) dancing with their arms in the air. Add on the toilet paper leaf-blowers, beach balls, confetti, and light show at dusk and it was an outdoor, dance-party, mayhem of fun. Girl Talk was definitely the big surprise for me this weekend. I never knew I could have so much fun at an artist I knew nothing about.

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2.  Weezer

Ah yes. The headliners of the entire festival: Weezer. This was my first time seeing the nerd-rock legends. I was supposed to see them at Susquehanna Center a few months ago but Rivers’ bus accident resulted in the cancelation of that concert. So as you can imagine, I was extremely stoked for the last band of the weekend. It was the perfect way to end an insanely fun weekend.

Weezer packed a powerful punch as they basically played all of their hits they ever recorded. Rivers was moving all around the stage, jumping on the drumset, spazzing out, dancing, smashing a ukulele over his head, and throwing guitars and mic stands everywhere. This was a lot more entertaining than the solemn Weezer that I was expecting. Although I was a bit disappointed with the setlist, they still put on an amazing show.

Rivers gave the fans in the back a close-up view when he walked into the crowd for “Let It All Hang Out.” The highlight of their set was performing the insanely popular and edgy “Say It Ain’t So.” And of course, their covers of MGMT’s “Kids” and Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” was something to remember.

Setlist:

Hash Pipe
Troublemaker
Undone – The Sweater Song
Surf Wax America
Let It All Hang Out
Perfect Situation
Dope Nose (Scott Shriner singing)
Say It Ain’t So
Can’t Stop Partying
Why Bother? (Brian Bell singing)
(If You’re Wondering If I want You To) I Want  You To
My Name is Jonas
Beverly Hills

Encore:
Pork and Beans
Kids/Poker Face Cover

Encore 2:
Island in the Sun
Buddy Holly

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1.  Something Corporate

The long-awaited return of Andrew McMahon’s Something Corporate was greeted by hungry fans as the sun was setting on Saturday. Personally, Something Corporate has been on a list of bands I have to see for years. And since Andrew’s been with Jack’s Mannequin for the past half decade, this opportunity was long overdue. All I can say is that I was not disappointed one bit by SoCo’s East Coast reunion performance. It was a privilige to hear the songs that I grew up with through high school and the crowd for SoCo was nothing less than stellar. I only wish they had a longer set time instead of handing the night to those mainstream radio acts in Ke$ha and Drake. I can only hope for a reunion tour across the country. If that happens, you can bet that I’ll be there.

The highlight of the set was when Andrew announced he was going to play a song that he said has “haunted me wherever I go.” Immediately, everyone knew the almost-ten-minute-ballad of “Konstantine” was coming. Hearing the emotional piano-ballad with the beautiful backdrop of the sun setting will forever be in my memory.

Setlist:

Hurricane
21 and Invicible
I Woke Up in a Car
Me and the Moon
Fall
Space
iF U C Jordan
Konstantine
Punk Rock Princess

The Bamboozle Festival – Saturday, May 2

The weather forecast for this past weekend was all rain, which did not favor the outdoor music festival, The Bamboozle, held at the Giants Stadium parking lot in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  But whoever went on Saturday was lucky enough to enjoy fantastic weather of cool sunshine without a drop of precipitation.

I dished out the $70 (after convenience charges) for Day 1 of the music festival.  In my opinion, Day 2 (Sunday) of The Bamboozle Festival was by far the superior day… but the main reason why I went Saturday was to watch the reunion performance from my favorite band: The Get Up Kids.

The event began at 11:30 a.m. but I didn’t get there until a little bit after 3 p.m. since there weren’t any bands I wanted to see until then.  It has been three years since I attended The Bamboozle Festival and I noticed a lot of changes.  There was a carnival theme, which was present three years ago but not as much as this year’s.  There was a Ferris wheel, rides, carnival games, batting cages, food, the whole deal.  I guess it’s an attempt to make it a family affair?  Though I don’t know anyone who would go to The Bamboozle Festival for a reason other than the music.

Anyway, so the first band I went to see was The Bloodhound Gang (3:30 – 4:05), a band I really enjoyed during high school especially their album “Hooray for Boobies.”  Needless to say, the Gang put on a show playing on one of the two main stages (Wonka Stage).  They played fan favorites like: Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo, The Ballad of Chasey Lain, Three Point One Four, and of course their mega-hit The Bad Touch.  It was a pretty good way to start off my Bamboozle experience.

Next, I walked across to the opposite end until I reached the MLB Authentic Collection Stage, which was next to the State Farm Stage.  These two side stages were the stages for the hardcore acts of the festival.  I checked out two bands on the MLB stage, Attack Attack and Dance Gavin Dance… both who were impressive and put on a very energetic live show.

Afterwards I hit up the concession stands.  $8.25 for a small basket of chicken fingers and fries.  Felt like I was at the U.S. Open.  It was also $8.25 for a beer.  So I got a basket of tenders and fries with a $4 cup of water.  Mmmm.

Then it was New Found Glory time (6 – 6:35).  I do have to say, I’m pretty sure New Found Glory attracted the largest crowd before sunset.  They played an awesome set, starting out with “Hit or Miss” and finished with “My Friends Over You.”  In between they touched on a bunch of new and old songs to please the audience.  I think these Floridian natives put on the best show until…

The Get Up Kids (7:10 – 7:45)!  I’ve waited for five years during their break up for a reunion.  Their 35-minute set alone was worth the $70 I paid for the whole day.  I was in heaven watching their set.  Here are the songs they played:  Coming Clean, Action and Action, The One You Want, Woodson, Mass Pike, I’m a Loner Dottie a Rebel, Holiday, Don’t Hate Me, and 10 Minutes.  The Get Up Kids put on a great performance.  I really hope they come back to the NYC/NJ area on a tour.

The next band was All Time Low (7:45 – 8:20) at the Imagination Stage, but I stayed at the Wonka Stage anticipating the “special guest” of the day.  When it was finally announced, it was Journey! (although some would argue that it wasn’t actually the original band, but who cares!)  They came out through the smoke and played “Separate Ways” that totally rocked the stage.  They continued to play “Anyway You Want It” and then ended their set to their super-popular “Don’t Stop Believin’.”  Was Journey’s special performance random?  Yes.  But it was awesome.

Third Eye Blind (8:40 – 9:30) followed Journey’s set over at the Imagination Stage.  They played a lot of new songs but still managed to play some fan favorites like “Never Let You Go” and finished their set with “Jumper” and “Semi-Charmed Life.”  Although they bored me with their lesser known, newer tracks, they ended with a bang.

Finally, the headliner of the day was Fall Out Boy (9:30 – 10:45).  Practically everyone gathered around to watch the enormously popular band to sing along to all of their songs.  I’m not so much of a FOB fan so I stayed for a few songs until leaving early to beat the traffic.

Overall, I almost forgot how much fun The Bamboozle Festival is.  I will surely be back next year.  Who’s joining me?