Going to try something a little bit different for this Mog, a slightly more interactive post from me. Last summer my gf Rachel and I became very excited when we found this flyer advertising a glassJaw and Brand New tour together. Rachel had introduced me to Brand New and I had introduced her to Darryl Palumbo through Head Automatica, so this was a big deal for the 2 of us.

I thought we would try to write a quick dual show report, I would comment on my glassJaw thoughts and Rachel provides her fantastic prose in regards to Brand New's performance.

Both bands have been off the radar or known to play a rare show here and there as of late, playing together in both of their home neighborhoods was just too good to pass up. The flyer above mentions a special guest; it turned out to be Thrice. Okay. The other musicians on the bill happened to be Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra. Rachel has seen Brand New's Jesse Lacey perform acoustic with Kevin Devine before and says it can be a transcendent experience. With context out of the way, it is on to the main event:

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glassJAw : The Gillette Cavalcade of Sports [Worship & Tribute, 2002]

Saturday night glassJaw took the stage at the Nassau Coliseum and blew the roof of the venue. Darryl said at one point that this tour with Brand 'spankin' New has been the most fun of the 18 years he has been making music with guitarist Justin Beck. And it was fun for everyone, bar-none. Furiously motoring through an 8 song set that featured heavily from Worship & Tribute, the band grouped around a nucleus of monitors while Darryl paced and leapt, crawled and shook around the stage. After seeing 2 Head Automatica shows previously, his performance here in GJ is completely different, not just in vocal style, but in every aspect. This is a man that can really reinvent himself. Justin Beck is a stellar guitarist and, I think live, he shows a highly developed style. He can really distort and manipulate a guitar, and for a band that thrives around chaos, he provides a strong groove-orientated ideal. They made a sincere point of thanking the people of Long Island for continuing to be supportive of all they do. I was so happy to finally see this band that I have been listening to for the last decade. Crossed off my list and all expectations met and surpassed.

-Rob

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Brand New : The Archer's Bows Have Broken [The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me, 2006]

Mr. Mog-a-haulic himself has asked me to write a few lines about the Brand New show which we saw this past Saturday night at Nassua Coliseum. Besides being a full blown screamfest of angst and teenage moshing, Brand New always delivers +100% in their performances. Despite being 
apprehensive about their new CD Daisy, which sounds nothing like their title (I mean that its not soft or gentle like a Daisy). I must say after seeing some of their new songs live I was able to appreciate them much more. Jesse Lacey their lead singer seems to effortlessly belt out melodic scream-o ballads. . . There's a reason this band rules the emo-rock charts. They finished up by thanking Long Island for being the reason they are who they are and gave the love back by playing a very old song from Favorite Weapon days.

-Rachel