Music Review: After Midnight Project
After Midnight Project (AMP), is towards the harder end of the spectrum as far as my musical tastes go, considerably darker and more rock-y than say, Hellogoodbye, who I’m a big fan of. I first caught an AMP show at Warped 2009 and they left a minor impression. There are a lot of bands I’ve never heard of that play on the Warped Tour (which is one of the best reasons for going!) and sometimes I catch one of them and I think, “Holy cow these guys rock!” and then I run home and download whatever music of theirs is available on the interwebs. Other times I think, “Bleh this is horrible!” and I try to gouge the experience from my memory. After Midnight Project seems to have fallen through the cracks, neither blowing me away, nor causing me to swear a vendetta against them forever. They left just enough of an impression that I recognized their name and acknowledged it as a band I would be interested in checking out again this year.
I had a very faint recollection of the performance I had caught the year before. I remembered that their music was a little harder and I remembered that they were on one of the crappier stages and did not get a big turnout as a result. In my experience Warped can be a great stepping stone for bands to go from obscurity to fairly mainstream, so I was a little sad when I went to catch the AMP show only to discover that they were still on a crappy stage, playing to maybe 50-80 people. It was then that I decided I would use all of my extensive influence and powers to spread their name all over the interwebs and single-handedly turn them into superstars!
To that end I am going to write a little blurb about them and why I like them and think that they deserve a lot more recognition than they seem to be getting.
These guys are talented. There are A LOT of bands that rock Warped Tour, and to be perfectly honest the majority of them are fairly mediocre, just able to churn out a lot of simple super-poppy stuff that really clicks with all the 16-year-old girls that seem to drive the mainstream music industry. After Midnight Project actually pump out some serious rock complete with crazy guitar riffs, angry vocals (less the horrendous screaming that passes as “music” in some circles these days) and a pretty impressive stage presence. The lead singer was rocking this crazy, black jumpsuit with duct tape all over and he was rocking it despite the unholy heat and humidity… rockstar all the way. They had the crowd, as small as it may have been, on their feet and totally pumped throughout their whole set, which was an impressive feat given the heat and time of day. That’s definitely more than I can say for most of the other acts I saw that day. In fact, me and my friend were in agreement that the AMP set was one of the best sets we had seen all day. We probably saw between 10 and 15 shows that day and this was easily in the top 3. I even had the luxury of catching a little acoustic set they put on later in the day and they still rocked pretty hard with bongos and acoustic guitars! They may have only left a minor impression last year but this time they’ve made a much bigger mark. My friend even went so far as to throw down some cash money on their CD… CRAZY!
I’m not going to suggest you go and do anything that crazy, but I am going to say, at the very least, you should check them out. If you’re into anything like Three Days Grace or Breaking Benjamin then I’m betting you would dig After Midnight Project, and even if you aren’t into that kind of stuff you should STILL check them out, because come on, aren’t you curious? Just go onto their MySpace page and listen to a couple of their tracks. What do you have to lose!?!? I’d say check out the track Scream For You as it is one of their best and definitely had the crowd going (even during the acoustic set) so check it out!
What Not to Do in Vans Warped Tour
If you are coming to the world famous concert for the first time, here are some handy don’ts
1. Make fun
Make sure you understand that your taste in music is not universal. There are people who prefer other bands as well. If you do not like the performance of a particular band, do not make fun of the people who are listening to that music. Everyone has a different musical preference, and some people might think your favorite band is not so cool either.
2. Be upset
Though it is advised not to make fun of people listening to other bands, some people may not be considerate enough, and might make fun of you, because of your music preference. Do not be upset at that. Be cool, and let it be. You know your band is the best, and that is what’s important.
3. Spend all your energy
Do not spend all your energy early during the day. Keep it safe, as there is lot of running to be done all day long. If you get tired early on, you are sure to miss out a lot of fun later.
4. Forget sunscreen
Apply sunscreen when you leave home, and keep applying it after some time- especially on your tattoos. The skin at your tattoos is sensitive, and thus reacts to heat faster than skin at other parts of the body. Make sure you keep the sunscreen supply high.
5. Dehydrate
You got the water bottle, right? If you feel thirsty, take a quick gulp. Do not ignore any dehydration signs. If you do not keep yourself hydrated, you might end up tired and broken, and in the medical camp.
6. Complain
This is one very important point. Hopefully you know what you are going to face at the Vans Warped Tour. It’s all in the open. It is going to be hot in the sun, and wet in the rain. If you are going to complain about the situation, it is not going to help. Expect a lot of roughness at the concert.
7. Consume alcohol
You have just one bottle of water, and whole day to pull. The stalls are packed, and if you want another bottle of water, you will have to wait in lines. So make sure you do not dehydrate yourself further by consuming alcohol. All alcoholic beverages will make you feel thirstier. Also, don’t do drugs. Illegal things can get you arrested. You can even get arrested for just holding a packet of those illegal things!
8. Avoid food
You need to fill up if you want to run around. Sure the food might be expensive, or the lines might be long. But if you really want to enjoy, you need to be energized. Going empty stomach would make you feel hungry, and you wouldn’t enjoy the concert to the full, and get tired faster. Remember, the Vans Warped Tour happens just once a year.
9. Get mixed up in the crowd
If you are coming with your group, you can easily get lost in the crowd. Do not abandon anyone from your group, and make sure you decide on a common meeting point. Else there will be a lot of extra running around, which you might not be able to do, as you would be tired at the end of the day.
In the end, don’t forget to have fun! Rules are good, and should be followed, but the number one rule of Vans Warped Tour is to have fun.
Coming up next year
Expect a whole lot of fun at Vans Warped Tour 2011. The headlining band at 2011 would be the winning band of 2010 contest. For those who don’t know, bands have the chance to participate at the Battle of Bands at the 2010 tour. Top 100 contestants will be chose from all the venues, and from them, the best 4 of each venue will play at Battle of the Bands. The band that wins will be given the headlining position in 2011 Van Warped Tour.
There is going to be lots of stunts, and new bands at the tour. The venues and bands are not planned yet, but it is going to be a blend of old and new bands. Whatever the list is, you can surely expect what you always get from Vans Warped tours- 200% fun.
What to Expect at the Vans Warped Tour
Expect a lot of music, and mind blowing stunts! Along with a lot of heat, and lots of people- it’s fun, but it’s not easy. It is a complete entertainment package for days, but only if you are truly prepared for it. It has a cheerful environment, with loads of tents that sell music and other merchandise. The stages are planned carefully, so that music from your stage does not mix with the music from other stages.
Expect a big mix of British, American, and other bands, including Christian rock, metal core, hardcore, post hardcore, emo, rock, alternative rock, electronica, street punk, pop punk, skate punk, and much more.
When you enter the tour, you will see a huge board that will display the timetable for the day- which band is playing where, and when. Make sure you take a note of it.
Expect a lot of running around, and dehydration (if you are not careful). If you are going to scream sing for the entire day, make sure a bottle of water is handy. Also, expect a lot of noise, as there will be people standing really close to you, and singing with the band.
Also expect a lot of ‘green’ stuff. The buses run with biodiesel, and stages are set up using solar power. Dishes are washable, and made of biodegradable plastic.
The Vans Warped Tour is basically a blend of stunts and music, so expect a LOT of thrill!
It is not just any concert- it is the concert of a lifetime.