Review & photos by Rachel Jablonski
“Go on in and join the other seven kids that are in there,” guitarist Josh James joked as some kids approached Gabe’s Oasis, hesitating before going in. It was only 5 o’clock, plenty of time before the show began, but James did not seem confident that there would be a sizeable turnout. However, as I had suspected, he was wrong. By the time Evergreen Terrace took the stage kids excitedly filled the venue from front to back.
The energy was high in the dank, worn room of Gabe’s Oasis. Even before the band came into view the crowd crammed together, seeking the perfect spot close to the stage. The stage, perhaps just 3 feet or so above the ground, was set for a very inviting and personal experience. And wow how the crowd took advantage of the intimacy as Evergreen Terrace played familiar songs.
The band’s set consisted of most of the songs from their new album, Sincerity Is an Easy Disguise in This Business. Showing complete appreciation many of the audience members were singing and chanting right along with every song. One crazy fan, completely focused during the show, even took the liberty of jumping onto stage and screaming the hardcore backup vocals at the appropriate times. Leaping to the mic that Josh would use to complete the vocal parts, the guy was enthused and was oblivious to the band’s reaction to his contribution. Standing on the side of the stage, Josh turned and simply smiled and shrugged at the stage tech guy and me. When it happened a second and a third time he just laughed and gave us a look of like WHAT IS THIS KID DOING? But it was clear that though it disrupted his performance somewhat, he was amused and pleased with the hardcore fan contribution, literally, throughout the crowd.
Stage divers, activists in a small pit, and sing along people were frequent and fluent throughout the show. A definite crowd pleaser was the hardcore style cover of The Smashing Pumpkins “Bullet with Butterfly Wings.” As the set came to a close, the crowd protested and asked for more. So the band complied and played two more songs. The set went over well and by the end the band, the crowd, even I taking pictures off to the side of the stage, was dripping in sweat from energetic movement to the music and the room’s humidity.
“Great job,” I said to vocalist Andrew Carey after the show.
“Thanks,” he replied, “This is the best turnout we’ve ever had here.”