I was on Facebook and saw an update that Nonpoint was performing a FREE show in Tampa. I didn't really think that "FREE" meant no payment required to view, so I checked out the info and found out sure enough it did! I was flabbergasted. I have been listening to Nonpoint since 2003 and Chris and I were severly disappointed that Nonpoint and Mudvayne visited the city where we grew up (I refuse to call it our hometown, because we are from Austin) and not where we currently live. We couldn't swing flying the family to see the grandparents, because it was too expensive, so we had to miss the tour. When I mentioned that we could all go for free if we drove to Tampa, Chris said ok. The kids were way excited because we had told them no concerts before 15. I even bought them some concert gear. I figured we could all play dress-up for the concert.
The concert was part of 98RockFest in Tampa at St. Pete Times Forum. The first four bands were outside in the Plaza and were free to the public. Nonpoint deserved to be inside the forum, but I was glad that they were not. That show went from 6 to midnight and I wouldn't have taken the kids. The plaza was an open area and we told the kids that we would stand as close as was safe based on the crowd. As Chris and I have been to several of these all day events, we know that a small percentage show up to the opening bands so we weren't concerned about the crowds, especially for any bands before Nonpoint. Since we had the kids with So on with the reviews:
The venue, St. Pete Times Forum Plaza:
Not bad for an outdoor show. It was possible to view the show from the parking garage next door (although the views had to be horrible), which would provide shade and some security from the undesireables. Beer was the only alcoholic beverage available, which I thought was a wise choice. It also meant a cheap concert experience for Chris and me, as I refuse to drink beer. No porta-potties. The pool club was open and people were to use the restrooms inside there, so quite nice by concert standards. There were vendors set up and the Marines. I do have a bone to pick with the Marines. They had prizes for pull-ups. Chris can probably do 5; Max, a few; Gabi, one; and me, a big fat 0. Bri, on the other hand, can do 20-25 full up and down, as the Marines wanted. They would not let her do any, as you had to be 14. It would have been really funny to see her show up all those guys. Oh well. The plaza was set up well for an outdoor show, so no complaints. It was hot early on though and no shade to be had. Chris and I survived, but it was tough on the kids. They actually barely survived through Adelitas Way. Max complained his head hurt; Gabi was complaining; Bri was the only trooper. Since our hotel was literally across the street, we walked them back, set them up with a movie, and called between bands to check on them. It actually worked out better for Chris and me, since we got front row for Nonpoint without them. We would have been quite far back if they had stayed.
Grade: A
First band, Adelitas Way:
They got started a little behind schedule and the kids kept asking when would it start. We moved up towards the front, probably 20 feet from the railing when we see the band walk out. They start the music, which sounds good, and then the lead singer starts, by the third note, you can tell this is going to be good. Their songs are all solid and they give a good performance. The lead singer needs to work on his stage presence. He praised Cavo (the third band to take the stage and reviewed below) and I really worry about him now. A piece of advice: Rick, look at 10 years and Chevelle, who you are currently on tour with and learn. DO NOT TAKE ANY TIPS FROM CAVO!! The vocals are solid, the music is excellent, they have a bright future. The album drops in July, so the single should debut soon and I urge everyone to call and request it. This band is definitely worth seeing and can only improve with experience, especially since they are traveling with two highly talented bands that are in the same vein as they are.
Grade: B+ (Work on the stage presence)
Second band, Uncrowned:
This band is more metal than Adelita's Way, but lacks the talent. The music is fair as is the performance. The lead singer has more energy and presence, but less talent. The single that they will release sounds the best of all their songs, but that is really to be expected. The single might encourage you to check them out, but the rest of the music is filler. They are really nothing special. They are not bad, but neither are they good and it boded much worse for them having followed Adelitas Way, which was solid. Overall, I can't recommend that you pay to see them. They aren't horrible and you can sit through them as an opening act, but not as the headliner.
Grade: C
Third band, Cavo:
This band was awful. The lead singer comes out and he doesn't look rock. He has on a white undershirt with a hole in it and some necklace, shaggy hair. The guitarist has on a white undershirt and black leather jacket with his shaggy hair and sunglasses. I did not even notice the drummer. The bassist has an awesome look and is the only visually redeeming quality of this band. The lead singer was not a bad singer, but the music was disparate. The metal guitar riffs did not belong in the song, with the voice, and were not good. The bassist had a cool look, but was not talented and made funny faces when he was singing back-up vocals. I actually stuffed paper towel wads in my ears to temper the sound, because I was right by the speaker. Their single "Champagne" may sound better on the radio, but the lyrics are trite and ridiculously simplistic. Not to mention, they covered "Come Undone". Yes, the 2005 Duran Duran single when they tried to revive their career and launch into Adult Contemporary. It was not even a good karaoke version and they could not figure out how to work the guitars in properly. It was awful. That they would even think to cover that song shows they belong in the AC genre with Coldplay. I could not believe that Adelitas Way had said these guys rocked. I hope that they were just being courteous and supportive to fellow stage performers. The lead singer was obviously in the wrong music genre. Go try AC, like Coldplay. I felt like the band was Coldplay with a (bad) metal guitar. I was relieved when they got off the stage. My hearing suffered for no good reason, other than I was keeping my front row, by the railing position for Nonpoint. Don't go see this band. You will be disappointed, no matter how low you set expectations. I can think of only one worse band that I have seen (Army of One), but these guys are definitely the second worse band. I would skip them as an opening act even.
Grade: D+ (Only the cool-looking, but talentless, bassist saved them from an F)
Final band, Nonpoint:
I discovered Nonpoint via a Napster pre-set playlist ("Damage") in 2003. Since then,Chris and I have become quite big fans. We were so disappointed that they hit Midland, TX (huh?) but not Jax. We would have found a way to see them here. When I found out that they were in Tampa, over the kids' Spring Break, it was like a gift from God, on Good Friday nonetheless. To top it all off, they are free to see. I don't know how they could sweeten the pot anymore. Chris and I really had no doubt in their ability to perform. Their "Live and Kicking" album is one of the few live albums that I actually enjoy, because there is not excessive crowd noise. I pay to hear them, not the crowd. Crowd singing is cool, if you can attend the concert, but not cool to hear on an album.
The plaza started to get a lot more crowded. Luckily, we got up front after Uncrowned and I stayed put. Chris took a biobreak at some point and did not appear to have too much trouble returning, but that would not be the case once Nonpoint started. Their stage set-up was interesting. The drums were set at a 90-degree angle to the right. So the drummer's side was facing the audience. I have never seen that before. They also set a box covered in blue camo at the front of the stage. They were ready well before their alloted time, but did not take the stage until scheduled time. It's too bad, they could have fit in another song or two.
They take the stage and Zach starts the opening guitar notes for "What a Day". The crowd does not react with appropriate enthusiasm and Elias goes, we're going to try this again. The crowd gets more into it and he launches into the song. Elias has a great stage show. He really elevates it from a performance to a show. He has intros into each song that are obviously rehearsed (and many are heard nearly verbatim on the "Live and Kicking" album), but they add to the show. It makes him appear polished. Some of his moves can also seem over-rehearsed, but they are well-placed and entertaining and really after 9 years, he should have some of these songs down pat. He does and it shows. They definitely rock harder live than on their albums. They hype the crowd well. They also apparently coordinate outfits. Elias was in blue camo, Zach in green camo, B@st@rd in yellow camo, and Robb in black/white camo. Cute. (6)
They played an amazing set with only one song that I didn't recognize immediately. It ranged from "Miracle" to "Broken Bones". They delivered on every song. "In the Air", a cover of Phil Collins' song, was awesome. While the melody remained the same, they kicked up the background music to proper rock levels. He had the whole crowd involved in "The Wreckoning" with our "wrecking balls" (fists) in the air. He dedicated "Victim" to all the ex-boyfriends/girlfriends who would have been here if they stayed in the relationship. That was hilarious. "Your Signs" was amazing. He really worked hard to get the crowd to sing "The Truth". The lyrics are not hard to learn, but he got a fair response, but not for lack of trying. They closed with "Bullet With a Name on It". The crowd was wild.
While probably half the crowd knew the songs, it was obvious when you needed to thrash around because Nonpoint killed it. Elias kept the energy high and B@st@rd was all over the place and had a kind of half-crazed look most of the time. They all worked really hard to deliver and they did not disappoint. There are several songs that Chris and I would have really liked to see ("Rabia", "Past It All", among others) but there was just not enough time. They played hard their whole set. I can definitely recommend seeing this band at whatever price you have to pay, especially if they are headlining in an intimate club setting. They hyped the crowd where at least half the people probably had no clue about their songs. I cannot imagine what the response would be with actual fans that have paid to see them. Go see them at every opportunity, I am.
Grade: A++
Overall, a great concert experience considering we discovered a new band and checked Nonpoint off the list of bands that we want to see live. I only need to remember to apply the sunblock before I head out next time. Despite the sunburn and horrible band before Nonpoint that uselessly wasted my eardrums, Nonpoint was worth it all.
Overall experience: A