November 27, 2010: Tattoo Show, EP Taylor's, Oshawa, ON.

            Backstage Photography had an idea. An idea to take pictures of people’s tattoos from around the college. And then put on a show to go with an exhibition of these tattoo pictures. So that’s exactly what they did. This is that show.

            A favourite of Takeover Management, First To Three opened up the night. It immediately became apparent that this band was an amorphous blob of music, with no defining characteristics whatsoever. Maybe they’re a punk band, but no one song is a pop song, and look, two other songs are just straightahead rock. They seemed to display no ambition of having any ideas of their own, but maybe that was the point. They weren’t TERRIBLE, but they also weren’t GREAT.

            Pickering pop-punkers In Lights followed, filling half an hour with as much catchiness as they could. This was another band with no new ideas, but that’s expected from pop-punk, a genre that hasn’t had any new ideas in 15 years aside from the addition of emo to its sound. In Lights put on a pretty solid performance, with a sound akin to The Maine, Cute Is What We Aim For, All Time Low and the multitudes of other bands in this genre. That said, In Lights were better than most of the pop-punk bands that have record deals and are selling thousands of records to 13 year old girls nowadays.

            Closing out the night were undoubtedly the best hardcore band in Durham region, Cedardale. Personally, this is the first time I’ve seen the ‘new’ lineup live. Earlier this year, former vocalist Corey Angus left the band, and guitarist Nathan Penney stepped up to lead vocal duties. This left the band with just one guitarist, and that leaves a big gap in their sound live. Nathan also isn’t as dynamic a vocalist as Corey was, seemingly screaming at the same pitch all the time unlike Corey. Nathan still does a good job though, and Cedardale are still a great band. One of the best things about them is that they know how to use synth to accentuate the music, and it’s never the lead instrument, it just lends atmosphere, and that’s something not a lot of bands have figured out. This band could do big things if they decide to pursue it.

            Even though the attendance was disappointing, it was still an enjoyable show, and everyone got to see the multitude of tattoos gracing the skin of Durham College.

-Scott Kendall

LISTEN

First To Three

In Lights

Cedardale