Show Review

On a muggy night in northern Kentucky, I waited in line with what seemed like an endless crowd of people waiting to get into the Mad Hatter club to see one of rock’s rising stars: New York City’s own, Bayside. On the heels of the successful Walking Wounded release in early 2007, this was the first show in a few months for the band because they just got out of the studio recording Shudder, their fourth full length. Now ready to grind out a few more months of touring, the band didn’t seem rusty at all after a few months off and they still know how to energize a crowd.

After a couple local openers, the stage was set, the air was thick and the fans were packed in tighter than a fat kid in girl jeans. The energy was palpable and finally, the guys hit the stage and didn’t say anything until the opening of the 1:14 long epic “Hello Shitty.” Going seamlessly into “They’re Not Horses, They’re Unicorns,” lead vocalist Anthony Raneri and his band were in control the whole night and really showed no signs of being off for a few months. Running all over the stage, Raneri, guitarist Jack O’Shea and bassist Nick Ghanbarian were doing all they could to keep the energy just up to the breaking point but never letting it spill over in a venue that was not really equipped for a crowd of this size and or this excitement.

Mainly focusing on tracks from their self-titled album and The Walking Wounded, Raneri could have saved his voice for the next night. “We encourage people to sing along with us. So when you show up to work or school or whatever the fuck you have to go to tomorrow, you have no voice. You all sound great by the way,” said Raneri.

The band flowed through fan favorites like “Masterpiece” and “Blame it on Bad Luck” before slowing it down with the acoustic ballad, “Don’t call Me Peanut” from Bayside. Raneri slowly serenaded the crowd before the whole band came in on the final chorus, adding a new dimension to a song that had been previously very stripped down.

The band went through a few more songs including the world premiere of a new song from Shudder called “All Because of You.” As the final chords of “Duality” rang out, the band walked through the crowd and out a side door only to emerge a couple minutes later to play one more song. Reporting that the final song they would play was used in a Power Rangers commercial on Cartoon Network, they told the crowd it was used without permission and that they should “do something about that.” The band flew into “Devotion and Desire” and before you knew it, the song and the whole show was over.

Having seen Bayside quite a number of times, this was the most impressive showing I have seen from these guys. They are the strongest they have ever been and the music is sounding amazing. The hair on the back of my neck even stood up a couple of times during the evening.

Bayside is one of those bands that seem to be so close to breaking into the mainstream but just can’t quite make the jump. They seem more ready than ever at this point. But regardless of whether they “make it” or not, they have a loyal region of fans. Bayside is a cult. And soon everyone will know it.

Setlist:
Hello Shitty
They're NOT Horses, they're Unicorns
Blame It On Bad Luck
Walking Wounded
Carry On
Masterpiece
Don't Call Me Peanut
I and I
Montauk
They Looked Like Strong Hands
All Because of You (new song)
Duality
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Devotion and Desire

review by Alex Drumm