Angels & Airwaves
Posted on February 26, 2008
Filed Under Music |
A casual fan at best, I wasn’t expecting much from Tom DeLonge and his space-rock crew at the Angels & Airwaves show this weekend (I was mainly going to hang out with friends, and because the ticket was free). What the sold-out crowd of 3,000 got was one of the best live shows I have ever seen (and my job let’s me see over 100 live bands every year). If, like me, you blew off this post-Blink-182 outfit when they first emerged, here’s five reasons to give them another listen.
5. Authentic. They’re a real band. When Blink broke up, Delonge could have put together an outfit of pop-punkers to churn out power chords to accent lyrics about first dates, broken hearts, and summers spent at Warped Tour. Instead, chose to push his own skills to the next level by bringing in guitarist David Kennedy (Hazen Street, Boxcar Racer), drummer Atom Willard (Rocket from the Crypt, The Offspring), and bassist Matt Watcher (former member of 30 Seconds to Mars, graduate of Berklee School of Music).
4. Encouragement. A&A is a very positive band in a very negative music scene. Tom said the following from stage: “I want you to imagine that you’re going about your life, eating your deep dish pizza and hanging out at Wrigley Field, or whatever it is you do around here, and you see that special someone and fall in love for the very first time. And whether your listening to music or driving in your car, or just chewing gum, you’re overwhelmed with feelings of joy. Now I want you to imagine that you can live every day of your life like that, because every moment we’re alive is a miracle.”
3. On-pitch. Tom can actually sing live. Yeah, I was as surprised as you are.
2. Ambition. From Tom, again: “I can remember being in [Chicago] 15 years ago in the worst snow storm in 80 years, loading my own guitars in through the snow. I had 10 piercings and bleach-blond hair, and punk rock stickers on my guitar. When we started this band three years ago, the easiest thing in te world would have been to put on all black and wear makeup and act like we were sad. But that’s what you do when you’re 20 years old and in a band.
Instead, We decided to put ourselves out there and be who we actually are, and sing about the things that really matter to us. And the hardest part wasn’t deciding what to sing about, but how the music should sound. And the one thing all of us could agree on was that we wanted it to sound like you were flying. We wanted to feel like we were flying.”
1. Hope. One more from the mouth of Tom (just before the band left the stage) “You can be what you want to b. You can feel however you want to feel. And if you really want to, you really can change the world, if you’ll just do something that’s real.”
Sunday night, I became a die-hard A&A fan, not so much because the music moved me (it did) or because the live show was killer (it was), but because I heard their message…and I know it’s true.
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17 Responses to “Angels & Airwaves”
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Wow…you like bad music.
I could not agree with you more on that assessment. True, both AVA albums got less than stellar reviews, but I personally love both of them. I’ve not only been told that they put on a phenomenal live show, but at least 2 different people have told me that the AVA show they’d witnessed was the best live show they’d ever seen. After having seen the likes of Saviour Machine, Mute Math, U2, P.O.D., Over The Rhine, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and a few dozen others perform live, I realize that that’s a pretty freakin’ bold statement to make. But I’ll find out for myself this Thursday, when my wife and I check out their show at The Pageant in St. Louis, MO. Looking forward to it.
Hahaha! So, that was clearly intended as a diss…but even I must admit, it’s pretty funny. And that’s fine. I’d much rather have you digest the content and hate it than read and not be affected at all.
Wow, Jorge, that wasn’t very nice. Don’t listen to that guy. I for one, was a die-hard blink fan since they first came out. I too, blew off both Tom’s and Mark’s new bands because I was just too “hurt” after they split up. But their cd is spectacular and very inspiring. Get it for sure!
this is interesting. I saw AVA in their hometown of San Diego and he was coked out of his mind, not mention drunk. He started getting mad at the fans for being mad at him that he was performing horribly. granted it was entertaining, but this show that was reviewed is an anomaly…
That’s good to hear, tower. I knew the guys from Blink were onto something after Stay Together for the Kids, which is when their music and skill really started to mature. Thank God that some artists are starting to understand that a great live show is what sets you apart in music today.
DJ,
Yeah, Tom was sober, and very on. The most famous drunk-singer incident in Chicago happend with Creed. Scott Stapp showed up bombed out of his mind, and only performed 3 songs before he passed out. The fans sued, and every single person at the show got a refund, plus money for parking.
The moral of the story is…ok, there is no moral. But thank God Stapp isn’t attempting another solo album.
I thought it was just me, but God speaks to me all the time through their music.
I don’t think he’s far from the Kingdom.
Hmm. Very interesting indeed! I saw them a couple of years ago and thought that their performance was pretty good but that Tom was incredibly self involved. Then again, I never liked Blink so that probably has something to do with it. But that sounds like quite a show and it is great to hear him being so positive. Thanks for altering my view of them.
The first time I heard about A&A, I was skeptical, due to the seemingly self-centeredness of Tom DeLonge. But then I heard an interview with him. He did seem a little self-centered, but I could tell he was focused and passionate about what he was doing. I’m not going to say that they are the new U2, but their music does give me the feeling of what I would want to play if I could fly. On that note, turning off my Afroman cd, I’ll bid you good day.
I got to see them at the beginning of the month in Fort Lauderdale, and I have to say, I really enjoyed them also. I’m a big fan of AVA, much more so than I ever was of Blink, so seeing them live was pretty special. Their music really is… inspiring.
Nice article. I just saw Angels and Airwaves play in Detroit, and loved the show. You’re right, Tom Delonge is very genuine — not to mention hilarious.
As a huge blink fan, I really wasn’t surprised with AVA. Tom has become very egotistical so I knew he was going to try to create something “magical.” Now it wasnt music from God or anything, like Tom made it sound like, but they are damn good. Their live show is the shit. He is very inspirational
Yeah . . . I saw the show last night, and I think Tom might have been a little drunk at the beginning of their set. But I was a little surprised at the simplicity of the stage show. Yes, it was effective and impressive as hell, but I counted fewer than 20 intelligent lights in use, which I would have expected more for them. Still, the way they were programmed was very effective (I work as a production director, so I notice these things). The show I went to in St. Louis was also sold out, and you could hear everyone in the room singing along with virtually every song. It was an amazing thing to witness.
Wow! Im glad you enjoyed it! I think a lot of people were skeptical about AVA ar first but seems like some people are starting to realise what AVA is all about! From the start i felt the AVA magic, but hearing Toms words, going on Modlife, only made me comfirm that AVA will probably be the best band of my life. I love them that much I run AVAEMPIRE.com with some friends. Give us a look, and tell everyone how good Angels and Airwaves really are :]
Hey nice writeup and I agree with everything said.
i love AVA. Tom is so full of meaning. After listening to them, I finally realised their message and I know its true. i love them and that will never change. they’re so wonderful, and even though i would give anything to have blink back, i still love tom and his new band. blink was an outward happiness, and AVA is an inward hapiness. i love how the music sounds and definitely how it makes me feel. im excited to see and hear what becomes of tom and his band in the future…<3