One of our our faves The Loved Ones have a new video out for their song “The Bridge,” off of their latest full-length Build & Burn, on Fat Wreck Chords. Check out Dave Hause looking a little like Jim Brewer and the rest of the band engaging in similarly surreal and hilarious hijinks.
This is possibly the most important way someone can tell they’ve just attended a stupendous show: immediately after showering off the sweat and pit grime, you’re on the computer checking when the band is coming back or if the show the next day is within driving distance. That was the other night at The First Unitarian Church in Philly. After the Gaslight Anthem ripped the venue apart, the Loved Ones put it back together then ripped it apart again. That, combined with pleasantly surprising openers Amateur Party and The Ergs, made this my favorite show of the year so far.
Read all about it after the jump.
Photos from Bill.
Although I don’t feel too strongly about their new album, I was more than little excited to see the return of American Steel to the Big Apple. I was, however, a little worried about how the crowd would react to the band. The showcase, which featured both Lawrence Arms side projects the Falcon and Sundowner, along with Fake Problems, Tim Barry, and the Loved Ones, might have been either the perfect audience or the worst one. I still couldn’t decide but as soon as they started with the new number “Sons of Avarice,” I knew there were a handful of Am. Steel faithful in attendance. The band, unfortunely, played for only 20 minutes and did not play “Optimist,” but it didn’t matter really in the end. The band seemed incredibly happy to be back and if anything, it made me look forward to the Fest that much more.
More thoughts and photos after the jump.
While on my way back home to Philly recently, I ran into the Explosion/the Loved Ones members Dave Walsh and Chris Gonzalez on the Chinatown bus. I’m sure most readers of our site know that the Explosion recently announced their plans to disband after nine years of constant touring, with two full-length albums (a third, Bury Me Standing, waiting in the wings) and a handful of EPs left in their wake. The band has been a favorite of mine for quite some time now and I wouldn’t hesitate to put their best work Flash Flash Flash (Jade Tree) as one of the best punk rock albums of the last ten years.
I’ll be sad to see them go but at least the boys are keeping at it with different projects, specially Dave and Chris who recently joined the Loved Ones as full-time members. I had a chance to shoot Dave a few questions as the band was on their way to California to play the Explosion’s final West Coast show.
Damian has said before that band members being tired of the constant touring contributed to the break up. Were there any other factors in the decision to call it a day?
Well, for the most part I think Matt was finding touring to be more tedious than anything else. He was figuring that the law of diminishing returns was happening for the band, and in a way I totally can see that at this point. After touring constantly for nearly nine years, if there is not a substantial growth after the fifteenth tour, frustration definitely takes it’s toll.
Copyright © 2008 Late Night Wallflower
graphics by lauren at blackandredeye | layout/coding by bill