Tabernacle - Atlanta - 11-20-07

The Fall of Troy - http://www.myspace.com/thefalloftroy
Clutch - http://www.pro-rock.com/
Coheed and Cambria - http://www.myspace.com/coheedandcambria

Following proper OTeam procedure, we were a little late getting to the venue last night. On the walk to the venue we could hear Fall of Troy playing on stage. We quickly obtained wristbands and made a beeline for the entrance. Within three minutes of arriving, we had pushed our way to 30 feet from the stage right in front of the sound board. This band was rocking, and they were doing it with authority. I do not know how familiar the crowd was with Fall of Troy, but there was enough movement throughout the crowd to tell that the audience was enjoying the music. Thomas Erak was in constant movement when not posed in front of the microphone screaming his life-force into it. The energy presented by the entire band was very intense and flowed into the crowd which absorbed it. Fall of Troy’s normal bass player Tim Ward has taken a break from touring and was replaced by a close friend of the band named Frank. Frank and drummer Andrew Forsman held the beat together no matter what Erak threw at them with his insane guitar work. These three musicians have their act together and play at a level that some people cannot understand. Since we missed the start of their set, we only got to hear a total of three songs. Within these three songs, Fall of Troy displayed just how well they can work together to thrill the listener. Right when the song seemed to be over, it would attack right back at you again for another four minutes, making you forget that you thought the track was through. At the end of the show, Erak looped a fast, repeating guitar riff while Frank and Forsman built louder and louder for the finale. Erak posted up on top of the front monitors and began to scream, not wearing his guitar which was looping itself over and over. Once the band was finished, all members abandoned their instruments and did not come back for an encore. If you leave all of yourself out on the stage, there is no reason to return.

Clutch came next. Sound checks can sometimes be very hectic, but the staff at the Tabernacle has no problem getting the sound ready to go for the next band in a very timely fashion. Clutch was a little more laid-back than Fall of Troy as far as style of play is concerned. Not that they did not do a good job on stage, but the styles were very different. I was entertained by the music, but it did not stray too far from normal that it made me leave my spot at the bar. The drummer, Jean-Paul Gaster, showed very good speed and endurance during the show but always seemed to come back to the same jazz style fill every time it was time for him to add something to the music. The keyboard player was not noticed until a slow part in the second or third song where he was prominent. His sounds was good but again, could only be heard at certain times. If this was planned, then I believe as a member of the band, he could be doing much more to push the envelope of the music. The bass and kick drum were thumping so hard I could feel it all the way through my body and felt like it was also shaking everything else in the venue. The type of music played would be enjoyed anywhere due to its mainstream nature, and the crowd responded very well to all of the songs. Overall the set was enjoyable but was not especially memorable.

Headliner Coheed and Cambria took the stage last. I have seen Coheed after the release of In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, which was also at the Tabernacle. Upon taking the stage, one of the first things that I noticed was new backup singers. It is not known when the decision was made to put attractive ladies on stage to entertain the crowd while the same music is blasted through the venue's speakers, but it has been done. Coheed and Cambria sounded the same as the first time I saw them, and I almost felt as I was watching the same show just different songs and standing in a different place. I suppose that once you find success in a sound, it is difficult to leave it behind and try something new and creative. It is also possible that the market has an influence on this. That said, we left after three songs to head home. I was very disappointed by the lack of development in the music of Coheed and Cambria. Their skills as musicians has improved, but their willingness to conform to a sound and not take their music into unknown territory is what separates victims of the industry from true artists.

- Steven Mosley