Reel Big Fish headlined the Coast to Coast Roast Tour that made a stop at Sound Advice Amphitheatre on Thursday, July 8. Before taking the stage, the Fishes stopped by to meet with their good friends at 103.1 The Buzz for a BBQ cook out. Coinciding with the name of the tour, the afternoon roast was broadcasted by 103.1. This was for the band and contest winners only.
With a full belly, Reel Big Fish was ready to sit back and watch the all-star line up of bands that preceded them on stage. Lucky Boys Confusion, The Get up Kids, RX Bandits and Jersey’s own Catch 22, rounded out the tour’s roster.
Lucky Boys Confusion warmed the crowd up with their melodic, bouncier brand of punk rock. When they played their biggest radio hit to date, “Fred Estaire,” from their “Throwing the Game” CD, the crowd went wild.
Once LBC successfully rocked the crowd, the band’s lead singer, known as Stubhy, made his rounds throughout the crowd chatting with fans and admirers.
By this time, Catch 22 had already taken the stage and was doing their thing. Playing to an already riled up audience, Catch kept the party ball rolling. Hailing from Monmouth County, NJ, Catch 22 took the stage and immediately “Big uped” their hometown state. Aside from myself, there were few people in the crowd who were feeling the NJ love. They were, however, feeling Catch 22.
Catch got the crowd moving and Skanking. Skanking, for those who don’t know, is the punk/ska style of dancing that is somewhat of a mix between moshing, the “Lawnmower” and the Can-Can dance. With their harder brand of ska music, Catch 22 successfully meshes their horn section with heavy guitar riffs and animal-esque drumming.
Catch kept the party going, as the RX Bandits got set to take the stage. The RX Bandits sound was a perfect third course to this four course rock and ska meal. They are slightly mellower than Catch 22, but not as catchy and up-beat as Reel Big Fish. The RX bandits played a limited set, as most of the bands did in order to make time for the show closers: Reel Big Fish.
Reel Big Fish took the stage to an already amped up crowd. They played their hits, they played their oldies, and they played some new songs. By this time, the Skankers who came out to Skank were skankin’ away.
Reel Big Fish came out with the intention of giving this crowd a show they’ll never forget, and I believe they were successful. Playing their hits like “Sell out” was just the tip of the iceberg. They played a song called “In the Mosh Pit” in order to add fuel to the already raging fire of energy in the crowd. Think about it, how often do you get to mosh to Ah-Ha’s “Take on Me”?
All in all, the show was great. There was a terrific energy emanating from the Sound Advice Amphitheatre that night. The Coast to Coast Roast Tour came to town, and left no concertgoer unrocked. Mission accomplished.
