Home(less) For The Holidays II
Bouncing Souls, Token Entry, Vision, Higher
Giant - Arcade at Convention Hall, Asbury
Park NJ, December 27, 2008
by Brian Yepez
The Bouncing Souls returned to Asbury Park
to kick off a year-long tour of epic proportions
celebrating 20 years of friendship and music.
Although the venue had to be changed, it wasn't
exactly the worst change in the world. The
Stone Pony, with its congestion, noise, and
harsh security, always makes it feel like
home - if you lived in an overcrowded museum
where they owners didn't really want you there.
Due to construction at the Pony, the Grand
Arcade in the limbo of the Convention Hall
wound up housing the three dates of Home For
The Holidays 2009, which was redubbed "Home(less)
For The Holidays" thanks to the last-minute
venue change.
Energy was high as the building started to
get filled by the crowd. Higher Giant played
with confidence and natural experience. Musically
they were upbeat and I could compare their
sound to driving music. Bass drum kicks and
powerful chords. Overall, the vocals were
abrasive and seemed one dimensional at the
time. The change in sound systems and acoustics
in the larger hall may have made a huge difference
but from where I was standing, not much could
be said.
What has 10 legs, 2 guitars, a bass, some
drums, a singer with grey hair, and has been
playing for roughly the past 19 years? Vision
represented what they always represent every
time they step on stage - inciting the masses,
with a sharp sound to go along with great
lyrics. They jokingly took the stage and constantly
referred to their age in comparison to the
crowd. Santa Claus moshed and gained quite
a bit of recognition during "Two Wishes".
The performance was pure ecstasy for the crowd.
Wherever I turned, everyone was singing. There
never was a dull moment during the set. Laughter,
dancing, and crowd surfers kicking everyone
in the head; it was just another show. Vision's
set came to a close when frontman Dave Franklin
jumped into the crowd and 8 years of waiting
definitely paid off for me. Vision put on
an amazing show.
Token Entry has a history to rival that of
Vision. They have changed band members periodically
and their sound is just as raw as ever. Their
performance remains the same from the '86
performances at CBGB's (RIP). They deserve
a lot of praise for sticking to their convictions
over the years. The crowd responded when they
came out with the song "Silly String"
to a thunderous response, fists flying in
the air to the beat of the bass drum. Token
Entry did not disappoint.
The Bouncing Souls took the stage in ugly
red winter sweaters to the tune of "Born
to Run" by Bruce Springsteen. It was
typical to see them come out with the same
energy that I have seen ever since my first
Souls show back in 2005. They seemed almost
more mature than I remember and their set
reflected on their lives. They took a break
in the middle of the set to have Mike play
the spoons and Greg play a Ukulele to sing
about the friendships that have carried them
through the years. Greg even whipped out an
acoustic to cover the Misfit's "Hybrid
Moments." Their set spanned the years
of their long career moving from the "BMX
Song" to "Kate Is Great," all
the way to the hit "Lean On Sheena"
from their most recent album. It was an experience
to last until their next show. The crowd begged
for an encore and was not disappointed when
The Pete's son came on stage to play rhythm
guitar for his dad on "True Believers."
The set came to a close when The Pete rang
out the final note on "For All the Unheard."
The crowd - sweaty, hot, and excited - went
bumbling into the night satisfied to have
survived another evening with the Bouncing
Souls.
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