A sold out show full of high school kids was not what I expected to see Friday night at the State Theater for Say Anything. It’s what I got, so I went with it. With barely any room to walk around, I decided to just walk around to the back of the theater and work my way through the loading dock. While everyone else was crammed shoulder to shoulder, I was standing comfortably on the side stage without anyone bothering me.
Now keep in mind I have been a fan of the band for some time now since their first album dropped, and to be honest, that’s all I wanted to hear. I’ve seen SA a few times in the past couple of years and have enjoyed their set along with their stage presence, and with Friday’s show, they still lived up to it.
The one thing I was concerned about was their choice in attire. All six band members were dressed the same. Dress shirt, dress slacks, and yachting shoes. I’ve never been a fan of bands that all dress the same, don’t ask me why, I just haven’t. Judgments aside I decided not to leave after seeing what they were wearing, so I laughed it off and sang along to all my favorite songs. While shooting the show I kept finding myself bobbing to the songs I grew up with while still trying to maintain a steady frame in the camera. Let me give all you photographers a word of advice, don’t do it. It did not work well.
After getting my dose of old songs I decided to keep shooting and try not to piss the band off with my flash going off every few seconds. The only guy I managed to piss off was their guitar tech. I guess I kept getting in his way, I mean, I didn’t notice anything wrong with where I was. He was acting like he had a job to do and get guitars to the band members, maybe he did, but I had a job to do as well. So I think he just got over it once he realized I wasn’t going anywhere.
With all the girls screaming for lead singer Max Bemis I knew that mommy and daddies money was worth all the chores around the house for a week. 19 songs and an hour and a half set was unexpected, and my only complaint is the songs from the “Genre” album. I don’t like that album, and I’m not going to hold it against any of their fans that love it. Ok, maybe I a little.
Here’s a rundown of the set list for all the fans that couldn’t make it. Now you can make your own mix to make it seem like you were there with the underage middle school kids. As you can see from the set there was a great selection of songs from the earlier albums, which is great in my book. For the new fans of Say Anything, they were most likely just as pleased.
Fed To Death
Wow I Can Get Sexual Too
Alive With The Glory Of Love
It’s A Metaphor, Fool
Shiksa
Hate Everyone
Yellow Cat (Slash) Red Cat
Have At Thee
Cemetary
XTC
Eloise
Woe
Baby Girl
Mara & Me
Every Man Has A Molly
— ENCORE TIME—
Crushed
Spores
Admit It
