The theme for Sunday night’s concerts should have been "people who should not have quit their original bands," as the line up consisted of mostly solo acts. Ace Enders and a Million Other People (formerly of The Early November) kicked off the show playing songs that weren’t too different – or better – than The Early November’s Drive Thru records material.
The Color Fred was up next, featuring the newly formed solo project of Fred Mascherino, who previously played in Taking Back Sunday. The Color Fred’s music was fun but simple, and Mascherino deserves nothing but the best, but he should have stayed in Taking Back Sunday.
Dual femme-fronted act Meg ‘ Dia were next, and were a crowd favorite, playing decent pop-rock. After the novelty of a "girl band" wore off, so did the crowd’s interest.
The headliners, Angels and Airwaves, played a subdued set to a lackluster crowd. Guitarist Dave Kennedy was ailing and vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge was also under the weather. The energy from drummer Atom Willard saved the performance, as he recklessly pounded away at his kit.
The crowd was comprised mostly of people wanting to see "the guy from Blink-182’s new band," which is a shame because Angels and Airwaves deserve more respect. It doesn’t help, though, that DeLonge played a solo-version of the Blink-182 song "Not Now," and a Boxcar Racer cover of "My First Punk Song," that no one in the crowd seemed to know. Acknowledging the past is one thing, but DeLonge shouldn’t pander to the "Blink crowd;" Angels and Airwaves should stand on its own.
The band opened with the first track off its latest album, I-Empire, "Call to Arms." DeLonge and company proceeded with crowd favorites "It Hurts," "Distraction," "The Adventure" and newer tracks such as "Love Like Rockets," and the next single, "Secret Crowds." After a short break, Angels and Airwaves encored with the epic "True Love" and closed the show with "The War."
Verdict: It’s all about Angels and Airwaves – other bands just don’t compare.
