EDGEFEST RETURNS PART TWO!

102.1 THE EDGE

July 25, 2008, 06:29 AM

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EDGEFEST RETURNS PART TWO


By: Fridae Mattas



In such a better mood, muddy yes but so over it, once I heard some tunes it all went away. I was even more chilled out because every band was good in their own way, each brought a different experience. They all had one thing in common they put on a good enough show, well the bands I checked out minus the nappers. Sweet thing was the last band I saw on the second stage once it poured I had no choice but to stay in one area. The band was typical pop boyband dudes vocals are good they entertain the crowd that's for sure emoting the passion they have for their music. Drummer dude looked so familiar where have I seen him before so into the music keeping that beat tight. These larries turned it out I would go see them again I only caught one tune.


















It was time for The Bravery to hit the stage truly brave to go on with the show while it was storming full force. The band shred the stage, what rain? The crowd loved it as long as the band was rocking out they were happy to stick it out with them. The Bravery is from the city that never sleeps band is Sam Endicott - Vocals/ Rhythm Guitar, Michael Zakarin – Lead Guitar, John Conway – Keys, Mike Hindert – Bass, and Anthony Burulcich on the drums. The whole band takes part in the backing vocals and that makes the sound so much better they work off one another some extreme chemistry, everything about this band was spectacular! Honestly, just passing these larries on the street you would never assume they could rock out as hard as they did, truly they come alive on stage a fascination drawing you in.




On set one time after meeting this kid who said he’s in a band, this girl I also met told me she thought there was no way his band would be any good because of how he looked and couldn’t picture him on stage. I told her “You never know, he may not look like he could rock out but you never know!” I went on about when a musical person is on a stage they either shine or choke most musicians’ feel the stage is their home truly lighting up like a firefly on a dark night. You should never judge a book by its cover but many people still do, that is why I give everyone the benefit of the doubt but you only get one shot. Vocals were astounding there was nothing contrived here, poppy yes but it is pop people should listen to. Endicott has interesting vocals I like, his Rhythm G skills are sick as is the rest of the band. Some of the tunes played were ‘No Brakes’, ‘An Honest Mistake’ and ‘Believe’, all were catchy and amiable. The crowd was just jammin in the rain a perfect sound track to their own personal experience of roughing it for the love of music. This band I need to see again to get a full, dry, rainless look at the performance, the music I could hear after I missioned back to the media tent in the mud, I liked the tunes.
















Some people are such pushy, extremely moody teenies!! One of the media people were bitching about how half these bands are unsigned Canadian bands a waste of time, all they wanted was to see The Stone Temple Pilots and Linkin Park. I was getting so mad, I detest people like them I love indie bands! That is the whole point of EDGEFEST to see indie bands mixed with some heavy hitters. At one point all of the signed bands were indie and you know what, many unsigned indie bands can out rock a lot of the major label bands. Plus STP is unsigned right now anyway, so at least some indie bands have an indie label. They were weird either way and got a nice karmic bitch slap when they didn’t get anything they wanted. More about the weirdoes later now it’s time to jibber about The Sam Roberts Band. Not my cup of tea but I did end up liking a few of the tracks. The older stuff really did not float anything but the latest record from this Montreal Quebec band is much better than its predecessors. They gave a definite solid performance, each dude vibing the music they belong where they are and deserve all the Canadian accolades they have received. The vocals were stellar much better live than on disc another ‘BLS’ Diagnosis. The tune I was feeling the most was ‘Love At The End OF The World’, ‘Bridge To Nowhere’, and ‘Brother Down’.
















These crazy press people were getting seriously annoying, our media contact was getting stalked by these people, everywhere I turned they were always calling her name poor girl I give her super dappin props for not snapping on any of them. They continued bitching and the bitch level was elevated once I returned from an interview. STP did not approve the crazy ones for a photo pass (the band had these release forms to sign abiding by their rules and allowing them access to all of the coverage, photos and videos etc.. a bunch of legal jibbering), the superb hating then began, I was the first to get an STP pass and I didn’t even sign a release form yet, I was not sure if I wanted to bother with all of this for a damn picture and a couple of tunes! The band apparently pre-selected what media outlets would be allotted these passes; they had gone through a rigorous screening process of all media and chose only a handful, such demands for a band with no label!!





The nut job press wanted me to take photos for them while I was trying to record a tune or two and take photos at the same time for all of you, I said no to them! (I’m not fucken wonder woman although I try to be sometimes I’m not!) Shit it’s not my fault they didn’t approve them, I have to cover my own back. If the roles were reversed they wouldn’t do it for me, I sense these things, actions speak louder than words and wow these people were loud and clear, super PMS. From then on the hate was full force they despised me to the fullest continually barking sarcastic remarks my way. It was so hard not to hit them, such difficulties it’s a good thing I am able to control my anger; they were so not worth a few broken knuckles. The crazy teenie haters are off to Jersey or to a city near you to get what they did not accomplish in Toronto. People really should ban them from getting anywhere near any band or artists they are insane, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Karma always does it better, they got it nice and I am sure karma is not done with them yet.



The Stone Temple Pilots, where do I even begin they were a half hour late to hit the stage but that is added to the half hour of waiting after Sam Roberts’ set there was rain dropping lightly and the crowd was getting restless many people were smushed in those barricades the whole day just to get a piece of STP and Linkin Park. The crowd started chanting things like “What The Fuck!”, the classic ‘Boo’, at times even chanting other bands names to come entertain them, I was tempted to go up but it was too high and I would get booted ahahaa. The people were getting very anxious as things started flying towards the stage; I was walking in the pit trying to find a dry patch to stand on without getting a free deep woodchip mud mask for my feet and flops. As I was walking I stopped for some unknown reason, I looked up and zooming passed me inches from my head was a huge full two litre jug of liquid it was various different colours soaring in from the crowd ended up landing under the stage, I guess I stopped for a reason after all. What pisses me off is whoever had that jug could get in with it but I was beleaguered for my umbrella! After the almost jug by I was watching my back and the sky trying to figure out where would be the best spot for pictures without blockage by huge speakers and the other press. I was having issues I’m tall but not that tall, my height is five eight the stage was at least fifteen feet if you included the speakers with the risers. I was battling the blockage all day, it was an incredible stage but I would much rather be on it rocking out than taking pictures in the pit almost getting hit by flying objects (including crowd surfers). All I knew is princess Weiland and friends needed to hurry their divo asses up and get on the stage!!




Finally after a long wait the band hit the stage and the crowd erupted into applause nobody was booing then, the fans were far more interested in watching Scottay rock out with his boys. They opened the set with monster hit ‘Big Empty’ an extremely unsteady and airy Weiland struggled to get it out, it was by far the worst vocals all day they were garbage, he looked polluted out of his mind and was fully clothed to the T (including black shades), he was wearing more clothes than I was (jean skirt, jacket and tank top) but that changed as the band continued to play majority of their greatest hits, some with half assed vocals. Once Weiland got into the groove of the tunes, finally feeling the music being rocked by his band mates his vocals improved instantly but I do have to say the bands before him were much better vocally! Maybe it was just nerves but with a major lazy swagger in his voice when he talked, I was guessing it was more than just nerves but it could also be he has ‘Ozzy Syndrome’ where one has done so many drugs you are never really sober! If he was on something or not once they played the first note in ‘Wicked Garden’ he was in full performance mode working the stage, the audience was eating out of his hand. The brothers DeLeo were phenomenal although Bassist Robert DeLeo looked as though his face was altered by Botox it looked very weird! Anyone, male or female who do stupid shit to their face and bodies like Botox, collagen, face lifts, boobage tweaks, lipo etc. are in serious need of some self esteem, you won’t find it at the plastic surgeons office! Plastic does not make you perfect! Everyone who gets plastic surgery sticks out like a sore thumb not because it looks good but because it is extremely noticeable. People know what fake faces and bodies look like and know you are insecure, I laugh at everyone who has work done, seriously sad if it’s not medically needed. Age naturally like our creator intended, what is wrong with Hollywood and people overall, use what God gave you to its potential, slicing and dicing your shell will not make you happy or beautiful inside. Back to the band, drummer man Mr. Eric Kretz was bruising those barrels and yes Scott did have a slow ugly start but by the time ‘Plush’ started up the crowd was in an STP trance. During the tune Scottay launched into the crowd (he stood on the barricades little riser) singing the tune topless, every piece of clothing was gone except for his tight pants clinging to his skeletal body, so gross eat a cheese burger or put down the blow or both.



At one point prior to the nakedness Weiland jibbered on superciliously asking LP front man ‘Chester Benson’ to come sing ‘Lounge Fly’ with him. STP is the veteran band but obviously they weren’t too thrilled about not being the headlining act of the night! Boo fucken hoo you are getting old nothing new to give people how do you expect to be headlining? The crowd didn’t care about Weiland’s remarks they looked and sounded as if the wait for The Stone Temple Pilots never happened even though from a critics stand point it was not the best vocal but to the fans the band gave them a show to remember, not as amazing as a veteran band should be but they have some concrete tunes. Not being a fan of STP prior, yes I do know a few of their hit singles but that’s as far as it went, I am now kind of vibing them but the divo attitudes are a huge issue they need to check.















A rainbow may have shone during STP's set but now its time for some Linkin Park confusion and lack of communication, how some people get jobs is beyond me. According to the bands restrictions, we were told first three tracks for photos and first minute of first two tracks for video. Although they didn’t make us sign a release form it would have been much less of a mess if people knew how to do their jobs. The word was that a few members of the band were missing because one of them had some art show in L.A the night before. It’s only a five hour flight but they also had to cut their 100 minute set and rearrange a few tunes due to STP’s late start. Four of the six larries in the band were stuck at customs and tried to get the fastest mode of transportation to the venue possible securing a chopper to take them from Pearson (Toronto’s main airport) to Downsview Park which is about a fifteen minute drive. Two of the band larries Chester Bennington and David “Phoenix” Farell made it just in time for a meet and greet with their fans two hours prior to the set. They failed to mention to anyone the change up in the set apparently a decision made by the band at the last minute but nobody could get the word out to security.








Lead vocalist Bennington and MC-abee Shinoda hit the stage kicking the set off with a mellowed piano medley of ‘Breaking The Habit’, ‘Pushing Me Away’ and ‘Hands Held High’. The media assumed it was the first three tracks as we were told, so we did our thang but people soon told us to stop, we were not to record the first few tracks it was only when the full band was on stage. I stopped and watched vocals were amazing Bennington killed it Weiland’s vocals do not even compare to the power and control of Benningtons’ his tone and pitch were ideal the screamage my favorite. After the medley the two disappeared only to reappear seconds later with the full band to destroy ‘What I’ve Done’ it was an immaculate performance fueled by energy and precision. The chemistry this band has oozes onto the audience causing bodies to fly giving security a run for their money.











A slow start for Bourdon on drums he looked a little lost at the begining but eventually let go and jammed. Bass and Guitars were ill to the core, DJ Hahn spun that shit and MC Mike tried to rap he does an alright job, keeps the beat, flow not too choppy although it could be a little more fluid and realistic rather than rehearsed the heart wasn’t there at times. All of their minds were wandering you could tell clearly they seemd a little vacant but the people didn’t care they got a great set. I was filming ‘What I’ve Done’ just about to switch to some stills when some Linkin Park security dude grabs my shoulder and tells me to stop. I said to him very loudly this is only the first tune, he migrated off to yell at someone else I thought he realized what I had said but as I was taking pictures at another angle he came back this time grabbed my camera which almost dropped into the mud telling me I had to leave. I was telling him we get three tunes he wouldn’t listen and kept telling me to leave, so that I did before the dragon was unleashed.

















As I was migrating trying to walk in the mud an event security guard evidently confused grabbed me and started pushing me deeper into the mud as I was trying to walk without falling but he kept pushing me almost causing me to lose my balance. All of a sudden as he’s squeezing my arm pushing me, these popo’s and paramedics pop out of nowhere with a stretcher heading our way with someone on it, I instantly push the security dude off me and jump into the nearest fence to avoid ending up on a gurney myself and to get out of their way. If the stupid security dude let me go on about my way I wouldn’t have had to dive into the nearest fence to give them space and avoid getting pummeled by the gurney, some people are so stupid it kills me! The band was still on stage completely unaware of all the media bootage. Too bad I missed seeing the rest of the set, I made it close to the only exit by the second stage I had enough! Mud up to my thighs, I wanted to knock someone out, I tried climbing the hill in my flops I kept slipping out, that frustrated me even more so I took them off and walked up the hill in the mud to catch the bus and get the fuck out! Waiting for the bus I could hear LP’s set it sounded incredible. Definitely will have to review a full LP show but security may kick me out again! How they did not grasp the changes in the set is unfathomable wow great security team I would never hire such incompetence. It’s lucky for them I don’t know what the company’s name is. Edgefest was bittersweet they need to stick to the Amphitheater, the line up was good but next year they should have ‘Three Days Grace’ headline with Silverchair throwing in Disturbed but only if Silverchair plays their old tunes!




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