On Your Side/American Tour
March 15, 2011
I headed over to The Studio at Webster Hall to see The Dangerous Summer on their American tour. With a long line-up of openers, the show was a long one. A local band started off the show followed by The Scenic, The Graduate and Sparks the Rescue. I’ve seen Sparks a few times and they always know how to put on a good set, despite venue or crowd size. The played a few of their classics (Autumn, Hello Mexico, and Skeleton) and their new single “She’s A Bitch, And I’m A Fool,” which was just released as a single on iTunes on Tuesday.
After hours of waiting, The Dangerous Summer finally hit the stage, playing all of Reach For The Sun (except for the song ‘Reach For The Sun’), their most recent single, Good Things, a Bush cover song and their newest song titled “Everyone Left.” I’ve been to a good amount of their shows, and I have to say this was the loudest I’ve ever witnessed for them. This is their first tour without their drummer, Tyler Minsberg, who recently left the band, so I was a little uneasy how to things would turn out. The band did not let it affect them and the set was fantastic. You can always count on The Dangerous Summer to never feel alone.
March 16, 2011
Day 2 of going to shows. I had arrived just on time to Highline Ballroom to witness the mass amount of people online to see the On Your Side Tour. I have been to this venue dozens of times, but never have I seen the line to get in wrap around the block. Needless to say, the show had sold out a few weeks beforehand. I got inside to catch the end of Go Radio’s set, followed by Runner Runner. Next was Anarbor. For the first time at Highline Ballroom (which does not have a photo pit), I witnessed crowd surfers, which were highly encouraged by the band.
Valencia played a set list that was mainly chosen by fans in a poll that they are having to vote for the set in your town. They started off with one of their songs on their B-Side 7-inch record, “Adrenaline”. Classic favorites like Better Be Prepared and Where Did You Go? were played, along with my all time favorite, The Good Life, and a few off their newest album, Dancing With a Ghost. The band finished off the set with their single from their first full length, The Space Between.
I’ve never seen the venue so packed for a first-headlining tour. A Rocket To The Moon hit the stage and high spirits filled the venue. You could tell by their stage presence that the band was just as excited as the fans to be at the show. Rocket is on their way to big success with their first headliner. Look out for more in their future!
