I think the last arena-rock show I attended was pre-2000, featuring Pantera, Anthrax, and Sebastian Bach (yea, that dude from Skid Row). With outrageous ticket prices, even more outrageous merch costs, and the general douchebaggery that is often associated with a 10,000 seat arena, I think I made an unconscious decision a long time ago to avoid big rock shows at all costs (hey, you stick 10,000 people anywhere, you're bound to have a few personality conflicts so don't just take that as a dig on the general rock concert-going crowd). I guess I'm trying to say I'd take my chances with a small club any day of the week. Unfortunately for me, that means that I've probably missed out on some awesome high profile acts that I still believe to kick a lot of ass.
Imagine my surprise when I learned Anthrax was playing at The Double Door (capacity 500...give or take a few). To sweeten the deal (or sour it, depending on your take), this was to be their first show in almost 2 years, and also featuring a new lead singer. Given my aforementioned predisposition, I totally jumped at the chance to check them out once again. After all, Anthrax played a major role in my love for heavy metal in the late 80's, and I'm sure there are millions of others who feel the same way. Previous to last night, I'd seen Anthrax on 4 other occassions, so maybe I'm not what you'd call a super fan, but their records definitely find their way into my rotation on a very regular basis. Before I get into this show review, I'll make it known I'm definitely more of a fan of the Joey Belladonna era of Anthrax over John Bush, but it's not something I'd argue about or am extremely passionate about one way or the other (unlike DLR/Sammy Hagar).
So the band opens up (almost 1 hour past the 9pm stated on the tickets, but no biggie... they are Anthrax after all...they can take the stage whenever they damn well please) with a brand new song... strike one. Yea, this is a new lineup and they have been writing new songs for a new record... but come on... you gotta open with a barnburner that people know, especially since you made 'em wait around for so long. However, almost immediately I was struck by the band's new singer, Dan Nelson. Now most new singers are held to the fire when it comes to comparisons between themselves and their counterparts, but honestly I didn't think Nelson sounded much like either Belladonna or Bush. He had his own style that most reminded me of a younger Phil Anselmo more than any Anthrax frontman. Any way you put it, Nelson can flat out belt it out. His range was great and managed to make some of the later era Anthrax songs sound way better than I remember them to be ("Safe Home", for example).
Musically, I thought the band was completely on point. There were a few technical glitches here and there, but nothing that was a major detractor to the set. Its pretty obvious that the show was more or less a warm-up for their dates with Iron Maiden, but the energy on stage was intense throughout the night. I've always admired guitarist Scott Ian, and to have the opportunity to see him play in a setting that most people would never get to see Anthrax in was incredible. His banter with the crowd seemed very down to earth and genuine, and given that he is probably the most recognizable face in the band, it's a breath of fresh air to see that some "rock stars" don't act like complete dickheads. Bassist Frank Bello was also fun to watch, as he'd pace back and forth on stage, frequently beckoning and gesturing to the crowd to get into it. I got to see him play with Helmet at the Empty Bottle a few years back, and it seems to me like he's very much at ease with playing in a club setting. Charlie Benante continues to be an insane force on the drums, and his technical prowess after all these years was really something to behold. Rob Caggiano was back on lead guitar, and he seemed the most restrained of the bunch, but had his moments in the spotlight where he delivered some blistering guitar solos.
Anthrax powered through about 14 or 15 songs (I can't remember the exact set list), and featured 3 songs from their upcoming record record. The new jams didn't strike me as particularly amazing, but that is pretty typical with most bands I see anyways. Its difficult to fully appreciate a new song when you hear it live for the first time, at least I believe it to be. To their credit, the new stuff was pretty heavy sounding, which seemed like a direction the band was steering away from on some their more recent studio efforts. They didn't reach too far back into the discography, which was kind of a head scratcher for me, but they did play some of my favorites ("Indians", "Antisocial", "Got The Time", "I Am The Law"). What actually impressed me the most was hearing some of their later-era material and thinking that the songs sounded way better this time around, a definite credit to the band and their new singer.
I'm not going to make any predictions on how the new lineup is going to fare, but I definitely hope the best for them. I think Anthrax has never fully received the credit they are due, and many of the big name metal bands of today owe a huge debt of gratitude to bands like Anthrax, and are nowhere near as good if you ask me. They have forged on in spite of the various opinions, trends, and bullshit within the music industry (I can't believe i just used that term, guuuuh), and more power to them for doing so.
I've mentioned Russian Circles here before, and today you can stream their entire record from spinner.com. Station is the highly anticipated follow up to their 2006 debut, Enter. I've had the chance to preview the record as well, and for those expecting a similar sounding record, prepare to alter those expectations before you sit down for a listen. Station shies away from the bombastic moments of its predecessor, but creates more jangly, soundscape-y type jams, which is by no means a negative. Drummer Dave Turncrantz really picks and chooses his moments to flex his percussive might, but even the lighter moments of the record are anchored by a tight rhythm section that help the songs flow from one idea to the next. The guitar work of Mike Sullivan is technically complex yet never comes off as sterile or gimmicky. Take a listen to 'Versus', the fourth song on the album, and you'll hear what I mean. I haven't listened to the record enough to make a definitive decision on just how this sophomore effort stacks up to the first record, but on its own, it absolutely makes for a record you should pick up and listen to... like today. 