December 6th, 2003

* SPECIAL EDITION TOUR JOURNAL WRITTEN BY MATT DEPREZ *

      As opposed to Sean Q. Higgins' journal entry for this tour diary, I encountered a different aspect of this trip... (probably because I didn't travel with the band). Rather than being worried about getting through the border, I was sitting in my dorm room waiting for a band to show up. Because of the band's luck with the border, and also probably because the band is always late, and probably because of "Canada Blizzard 2003" (which was soon to come), objectives had mounted up and I had a tiny premonition that the band wouldn't show. Well, after an afternoon of waiting for phone calls and looking out my window, the band did show, and almost on time! Quite a relief, and a surprise!
      After a short talk and greetings, we headed out to the venue. Purposely going around the annual "Christmas Lights Parade" in Sussex, we made it there - but not without losing the other vehicle first. About 20 minutes later the other car showed up. I met the new guys, and things seemed like they were going Smoothly with a capital "S"... They got all their stuff in the venue, (not like there was a lot anyway), and we just sat around and talked while others bared the freezing cold to take a walk to Subway.

*One Hour Later*

      So it's show time. First up were The Wiggly Tysons. Um, it was eclectic. I'm not necessarily sure that I liked the Stevie Ray Vaughn/Pantera /Living End/Pennywise mix, but in their defense, the crowd really liked it. They got a good response and played a 45 minute set (which equaled out to about a 40 song set list).
      Next, Softer took the stage. This was an exciting show for me, because it was the first time I would see the band since I left last December. It was also the first time I'd ever seen Gabe's face singing (which, I might add, is a little weird - if you don't mind me saying Gabe, you roll your eyes back into your head when you sing... ). ok, moving on.
      Alright (and I mean this), Softer's set was amazing (For comparison's sake, I saw Alexisonfire two days after this show, and Softer played a MUCH, MUCH better set than them). The band has really progressed, and I really liked the sound and the way the new guys are being incorporated... keyboardless and all. TNT was most definitely the highlight, and I know the rest of the crowd loved it. I had waited a year to see the band and they didn't disappoint me one bit. If you're wondering at all about Gabe's vocals, wow... they sounded unbelievable live (even Brent Ingersoll [from old Lowfive's frequent show partners, Segue] was impressed). All in all, a great set!
      After Softer, Maine band Strength For Today took the stage. These guys sounded really good (even if it is hardcore), and I'm sure the Christmas music medley was a big part in the good crowd response. The set was full of lots of "dancing" and gang vocals. These guys are going to be really good in the future, and if you get a chance to see them, go do it. it'll be worth your time.
      Once the show was over, the band crashed at the promoter Tim Shaw's house, and I know the band really appreciated that (I gave up a warm bed for a tiny freaking love seat which I definitely could NOT fit on!). It was a free, warm, fun place to stay, and after a late night, we went to bed. The band woke up the next morning bright and early and embarked in their trek through "Canada Blizzard 2003," thus ending the trip.

/deprez out.

read Sean Higgins' thoughts on the show...


SETLIST
Confessions of an Ardent Heart
1913
Stopping Sound (Impossibles Cover)
I Would Walk Five Hundred Miles (The Proclaimers, not finished)
Calico
One Week (Bare Naked Ladies, not finished)
Still Photography
Of Tourniquets and Treachery