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Live Review & Photos: Face To Face, Teenage Bottlerocket, Blacklist Royals, Joshua Black Wilkins @ Asbury Lanes 6/14/13


Mid-way through Face To Face’s incendiary set, lead singer Trevor Keith proclaimed this was the best punk package tour happening this summer. While I arrived late, sadly missing Joshua Black Wilkins, and only catching the later part of Blacklist Royals set, I would still be inclined to agree as this was an evening of punk rock bliss!

What I saw of the Blacklist Royals’ set mad me realize I had made a grave mistake in not arriving at Asbury Lanes earlier (a previous commitment kept me unavoidably detained). They immediately took my weary, jaded, tired after a long work week, mood, and lifted it to where I cracked a smile and let me self loose to shake that funk away.

(click on photo to see full size)

Blacklist Royals


Next up was Teenage Bottlerocket, a band I had heard of, but had never seen for myself. Many of my friends have been mentioning this band for years, but somehow I kept missing when they came through NJ, usually at Asbury Lanes. This mistake I will not make again, as they totally, completely, blew me away with their blistering punk rock set! From the beginning of their set when their own Eddie-like mascot (a guy in a monster mask) came out to get the audience going, to the end when the band said, “Thank you! Good night!”, went by like a blur. It was hard to believe they had played nearly an hour. Great music, incredible stage presence, an absolute blast!

(click on photo to see full size)

Teenage Bottlerocket


How was Face To Face going to top that I thought, they responded with a resounding 90 minute set of many of their most popular songs, much to the enjoyment of the crowd. Trevor was, by his own admission, in comedy mode with his between song banter, which just added to the fun, jovial vibe of the evening. Their set contained a large chunk of songs from their self-titled major label debut (arguably the album that got the most radio play), but was surprisingly light on songs from their amazing new album, “three chords and a half truth”. I don’t think anyone really minded though, as we were all having too much fun.

(click on photo to see full size)

Face To Face


A few side notes:

- With Maxwell’s sadly closing their doors, I really hope Asbury Lanes becomes the destination for bands touring through NJ. It is such a great room to see live music in, and the staff there could not be nicer.

- This evening ran so smoothly it was amazing! To see bands finish their set and immediately start clearing their stuff off the stage so that the next band could be set and ready to go in less than 20 minutes, is something I wish all shows would aspire to.

- To those who were crowd surfing during Face To Face’s set, when you are in a venue without a security pit between the audience and stage, watch where you are surfing! So many time during the set the band had to back out of the way of flying legs and mic stands being kicked over. If you injure the band the show is over for everyone.

- Lazlo


www.asburylanes.com

www.facetofacemusic.com


www.teenagebottlerocket.com


www.blacklistroyals.com


www.joshuablackwilkins.com