David Owen IV of Lovedrug - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

Heading down to the security office I found it to be packed with photographers awaiting our escort. By the time they arrived and trundled us off to the publicity office there were at least 8 of us. With another couple joining us down in the pit during the show, it was kind of problematic with photographers walking into each others shots and tripping over each other all night. All we needed was a couple video guys in there too and it would really muck things up. Luckily there didn't appear to be any videographers all night so we just had each other to watch out for.

Lovedrug had already started by the time we made it to the floor and we rushed to the pit. Micheal Shepard was already well into the first song before I got my gear on but luckily the lights were real low so we didn't miss out on much. This Canton, Ohio based quartet led by Shepard on vocals and keys, reminds me of a bit of Radiohead, maybe a bit like The Fray. I had covered them earlier in the year at La Zona Rosa opening for the Plain White T's (click here for the review), before they had their equipment stolen in June. I was glad to see them shake that off and get back out on the road. Once again they sounded great.

Carah Faye Charnow of Shiny Toy Guns - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

Shiny Toy Guns is a Los Angeles based punk/electronica band that were probably the highlight of my night. It wasn't just the scrumptious Cara Faye Charnow that I liked either, though I must admit she did my my pulse run faster. With all the band members, except Mikey Martin on drums, swapping instruments and vocal tasks it's kind of hard to peg any one of the members as the frontman.

Shiny Toy Guns guys had a sound like an 80's new wave band updated for the 21st century. They have a very rich, robust sound with some really zappy keyboards. Their sound mixes influences like Missing Persons, though less shrill, with bands like A-Ha, or Big Country without the bagpipes. Signed to Universal Motown they are touring in support of their 2006 release We Are Pilots and still have a bunch of east coast dates before the end of the year.

Sean Mackin of Yellowcard - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

Yellowcard from Jacksonville was probably the hardest rocking of the bands, with a pop punk sound that includes buzzy guitars and a violin. With platinum blond Ryan Key on vocals, Sean Mackin on violin, Ryan Mendez on lead, and Longineu W. Parsons III playing a flame marked drum set, his dreadlocks a blur as he thrashed the kit, they put on a tight set. These guys are consummate road warriors
and years on the road both as a headliner and a supporting act have helped them hone their stage act to a highly polished finish.

They reminded me a lot of bands like Green Day and Sum 41, though maybe not quite as slick or hooky. My nephews seemed to like them more than than the other bands. They said they had seen Yellowcard a lot on FuseTV lately. Yellowcard is touring Japan for the rest of November supporting their release July release Paper Walls.

Ryan Delahoussaye of Blue October - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

In between sets backstage I ran into Justin Furstenfeld, Blue October's frontman just long enough to wish him a good set. He returned the good wishes and hoped I got some good pictures, then we both headed out to our respective jobs for the night.

Blue October's set lasted just under 2 hours, with Justin belting out crowd favorites such as "Hate Me", "Calling You" with his brother Jeremy banging away on drums. Ryan Delahoussaye was all over the stage, his hair styled into a pair of devil's horns and his sunglasses imparting a strange bug-eyed picture as he shifted between his violin, mandolin and the keyboards. Justin appears to be recovered from his broken leg finally and he too was wandering all over the stage and connecting with fans in the audience. Another solid performance by a band Austin considers one of it's own.

Heading out of the arena I ran into Jeremy Dawson of Shiny Toy Guns and told him how much I enjoyed their set. He asked if I could send him a link to the photos and review when it was up. I told him I would and wished him a safe trip. Walking out to my truck I found my nephews waiting, grinning from ear to ear.
They think their uncle is pretty cool, even if he is something "like 50" as one of my critics put it.

Thanks to the Frank Erwin Center and Blue October for inviting us out.

Blue October at the Frank Erwin Center - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer