Feature Articles

Macrock 2001 (continued)

Court Square Theater, an interesting place for a punk showcase, yet somehow strangely fitting with the punk rockers contained within its red velvet covered walls and gothic architecture. The Fueled by Ramen showcase rocked Harrisonburg and MACRoCk like an old lady on Ritalin.

The Scaries started off in the morning wearing "Emo is Gay" t-shirts and giving their usual brand of emo (ironic?) punk rock to a few early stragglers. The problem quickly became occupancy as over 300 kids turned out to greet Ann Beretta and the Impossibles. Doors were capped at about 250.

Ann Beretta and Jersey rocked-out the old venue complete with lit candles and smashing guitars, Pete Townsend style. The Impossibles stormed in and claimed it as their own for an amazing set of pop punk and ska. This theater hasn't seen this much action since the showing of "The Never Ending Story Part 2".

Clearly victorious the night before was Karla from IDA and Crooked Fingers. Led by Eric Bachman, Crooked Fingers took the hundred or so people through a rowdy banjo set of surprisingly good Prince covers, a Dylan tune, and a large amount of original material. I guess the sound guy looked a little bored, as they decided to switch corners of the theater after every song.

Saturday night - clearly the winner. A line down the block to see Dashboard Confessional had me a little confused. I asked a kid with blue hair if this was where Dillinger Escape Plan was relocated. I don't think I can print his answer.

Luckily, I snuck into the theater a few hours before the show only to see Chris from Dashboard reluctantly signing autographs. He soon disappeared and was followed by a young group called Rockinghorse Winner, led by a quiet, pretty girl who stood shadowed by a large xylophone. But more amazing was the lead guitarist who (if you can picture this) played his guitar riffs with one hand and played xylophone solos with the other without missing a beat.

By far the best set of Court Square (and probably all of MACRoCk to those who were there) was the electrifying performance by Jonah of One Line Drawing. Jonah, equipped only with an electric guitar and an electronic beat-box named R2, amazed the normally talkative audience into silence. Earnestly, sexually, amazingly, profoundly life alterning-ly, he played a handful of originals and a few songs from his ex-Far days. He brought the audience to its first standing ovation at Court Square. After a particularly scorching number he quietly remarked, "Phew, I don't know where that came from. But it was cool." Right back at ya.

Rounding out the night was Dashboard Confessional, who ran though old numbers as well as the new album, out a few weeks ago. Surprisingly dull after Jonah's exceptional set, Chris let the audience sing most of the songs, with his own classically trained guitar doing the rest of the work. Like a diva's costume changes, his crew led out a large closet full of about ten different guitars. He petted them like children and then rocked out, well, more like quickly strummed out, a stellar set for the screaming fans. Meanwhile, a group of grumpy latecomers sat outside the doors of the theater until the employees had pity and let them all in.