I am Your Sunshine

20070729 Projekt Revolution @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Julien-K, Placebo, HIM, Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park

(above is the main stage lineup. I didn’t go to Revolution stage cos I decided to dedicate my afternoon to A’s.)

We got to Shoreline around 1pm (parked and all) and found out (too late) that Main Stage wouldn’t start until 4. We circled the place, had lunch and the most interesting booths among all were the ones provided by MLB. There was a pitching cage and a hitting cage, and a video game van. I was half-hearted toward to bands playing in the afternoon. The only one I was interested in was Madina Lake, which, unfortunately, by the time we got there, they were already done. I should have stayed at home, got enough sleep and come in late afternoon. But it turned out alright. The sun was bearable and I’d definitely be gutted if I had to leave home during the middle of the game when the A’s seemed to be playing something dramatic, something memorable (which later proved not the case.)

After Casilla blew the lead and Street allowed the Mariners to turn the game around, I got myself garlic fries and Sprite, went in to main stage.

Julien-K set up the stage and rocked. I guess I’d like anything as long as the melody sounds right to me. However, with the risk that I’ll offend a lot of people, I do think that metal sometimes delivers a sense of kiddishness, rebellion for the sake of rebelling, which is one of the obvious traits of a non-grownup (among self-centeredness and unthoughtfulness), isn’t it?

Placebo was a wonderful surprise.
I was here for HIM, Taking Back Sunday and My Chemical Romance. If it weren’t for HIM, I wouldn’t even come. HIM is Finnish and I thought it might be a once in a lifetime chance to have them in my city. As for MCR and TBS, I’m sure they’ll come often enough. (In fact, MCR was just here in May.) Therefore, I didn’t even know Placebo was going to be in the lineup.

They were the second band of main stage which was bizarre to me, cos I thought their “status” should be way higher than the rest of the bands. Even though I’m not familiar with their songs (except for Every Me and Every You,) I fully enjoyed their performance.

HIM was the reason I went.
I’m never a fan of LP and I don’t like outdoor venue as much as indoor tiny ones and I prefer one headliner band accompanied by one or two opening bands over music festival. But because I didn’t want to miss HIM. I bought the ticket. I came across HIM by chance last year and was instantly drawn to their hopelessly romantic metal. Even though this 2005 album Dark Light was considered by some a soft and unworthy work of theirs, it was undeniably the reason I fell in love with them. However, I think if it were in the Fillmore or Great America Music Hall, the experience would be so much better.

Taking Back Sunday was great, but not as melodic as I remembered.
I took loads of picture of them because I was trying capture Lazzara’s mic spinning moment. But darn, it’s hard. While not singing, Lazzara would dance around Mark O’Connell’s drummer stand which was so…. cute.

My Chemical Romance was a blast.
They have the most stage effects and finally, some people stood up.

The reason why I hate this kinda festival is because 1) the price would be expensive and 2) you’ll have loads of people who think they like Linkin Park around you. Those people eat and drink and talk and walk around… doing everything except appreciating the bands on stage, let along showing some passion you’re supposed to find in a rock concert. I heart small venue with hardcore fans!