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"When the chorus starts, I want you all to jump up and down, all at the same time. The idea is we want to collapse the floor." -- Andrew Schwab

Tooth & Nail's punk-metal-rockers Project 86 may not be on the "hot list" of all the tweens and teens, but they are one of my top bands, continually evolving and putting out quality art with--*gasp*--thought-provoking lyrics. I've had the pleasure of seeing Project 86 live twice, both times at Edmonton Alberta's now-defunct "Harvest Moon Festival" (two gigs which, to date, remain Project's only Canadian shows ever). Both shows were fantastic, but when Project came within a few hours of me for an honest-to-God club show, I had to check them out in the smaller, intimate environment. Also, I totally stuck it to Ticketmaster by getting my buddy in Seattle to pick up the tickets direct from the venue, saving pretty much twenty dollars in service charges. Twenty dollars! Seriously, Ticketmaster, 50 dollars for two fifteen dollar concert tickets? You suck.

As awesome Rival Factions-inspired banners went up on stage, I was ready. The band took the stage as the lights went out and kicked into the opening chords of one of Project's top five songs, "The Spy Hunter." From the whispered "One Last Disguise" to the end of the set, lead vocalist Andrew Schwab brought a fantastic energy while the band pounded out the tunes. The ten-song set was, as one would expect, geared more towards the most recent material. I was curious as to how the more energetic Rival Factions material would sound live alongside the heavier, more bruising older material. With the exception of "Slaves to Liberty," the transition was seamless. "Illuminate" was a highlight, the crowd shouting along the "Light 'Em Up, Light 'em Up" chorus in roaring unison. Schwab demanded to see some dancing during the new wave-influenced "Molotov." The kids might not have, but the wife and I got our groove on.

As far as older material, the band did two tracks from their cathartic Songs To Burn Your Bridges By and two from the controversial and oft-misunderstood Truthless Heroes Along with "The Spy Hunter," Project brought out what is my personal favorite song, the brooding, forceful, hurricane-like "Safe Haven." I head-banged like it was ten years ago and screamed every word of the double-time chorus. It was a blast to hear "Last Meal" (even sans Mark Salomon's guest vocals) and the METAL of "SMC" live. Project blitzed through the wild "The Forces of Radio Have Dropped A Viper Into The Rhythm Section" (highlighted by insanely awesome percussion), before closing with the lead track from Rival Factions, the driving "Evil." The above-referenced Andrew Schwab quote applies to this song, and let me tell you--the crowd, oh, they shook the ground.

We cried out for a legitimate encore, but we were to be denied, as immediately, the road crew came out to strip Project's gear off stage for the headliners to play. Was there ever a time when a crowd's cries for an encore actually got one from the non-headliner-so-what-they-just-blew-our-minds? Even with that disappointment, however, I was elated by the awesome show Project put on and left more than happy for the 2.5 hour drive back to Vancouver.

Other acts? What other acts...? Oh, right. Also on the bill were Tooth & Nail acts The Becoming and The Classic Crime (the headliners), and an indie act called The Real You. After enjoying some of The Real You's modern rock set (they sound like Third Eye Blind... which made their 3EB cover pretty ironic), and laughing my way through the hilariously cliche and generic set from The Becoming, a band that is trying soooooo hard to look like "rock stars" and failing so miserably I ended up having a good time for all the wrong reasons, it became clear... that Project 86 made No Sense on this show. Project, with their hard sound and "veteran poise," stood out like a sore thumb. We bailed after them, I've heard enough of The Classic Crime to be unable to pick them out from a forest of other generic soundalikes.

What struck me most about Project was something my wife commented on. Schwab is a compelling, theatrical frontman obsessed with getting the crowd into the show. Yet even with those elements, Project 86 as a whole stands out as a confident band that retains humility. Project 86 didn't need to try to impress anybody or "prove anything." They just were. They seemed to love what they were doing onstage, they didn't come across as "rock stars" but DID come across as an awesome band. It ruled.

Also, seriously, The Becoming. Hilarious. Awful. HILARIOUS.

[Ryan Ro / CNXmusic.com]
 
 
 

    SETLIST

    The Spy Hunter
    Put Your Lips To The TV
    Safe Haven
    Slaves To Liberty
    Illuminate
    SMC
    Last Meal
    Molotov
    The Forces of Radio Have Dropped a Viper Into The Rhythm Section
    Evil (A Chorus Of Resistance)