By Ryan Woodard

I didn’t get a chance to check out opening band Judd Hoos last night, or “Judd House,” as Three Days Grace frontman Adam Gontier called them at the end of the concert. I’m not sure if it was a mispronunciation or just his Canadian accent.

But I did see the whole sets from Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace, the two main bands playing at Rushmore Hall at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center last night. 

Breaking Benjamin did a good job of warming up the crowd for headliner Three Days Grace, playing hits like “Diary of Jane” and “Sooner or Later.” The two groups came together on a couple of occasions during the show, with Gontier joining Breaking Benjamin for a song and Breaking Benjamin’s Ben Burnley appearing as a guest vocalist for Three Days Grace later on.

Breaking Benjamin sounds a little harder live than some of their radio-friendly hits might indicate - I noticed Burnley let out quite a few screams throughout the set. Burnley and the lead guitarist continually thrashed out fast-paced, heavy guitar riffs, which were heavy almost to the point of sounding slightly muddy at times. But the band got the crowd going and played their hits well. They also kept reminding the crowd of what was to come - Three Days Grace.

After a set that probably lasted about 45 minutes or an hour, Three Days Grace came on. The band opened with a hit from their 2006 album “One X,” the song “Animal I Have Become,” and plowed through most of their other hits from both “One X” and their self-titled 2003 debut album throughout the show. The song that probably got the most immediate reaction and recognition was “Pain,” which is the group’s most recent hit.  Apparently the fans around me decided that was the time to inflict some “Pain,” as they started a mini mosh pit in the area while that song was played.

Three Days Grace played several hits from their initial album, including “Wake Up” and ”Just Like You.” The songs sounded good, and the band made a lot of effort to entertain the crowd. Three Days Grace ended the show with ”I Hate Everything About You,” which is one of their first major hits. Gontier slowed it up about midshow, playing a solo acoustic song by The Verve. Three Days Grace also covered “Hey Man Nice Shot” by Filter. Speaking of covers, I should probably mention that Breaking Benjamin pulled out a Depeche Mode cover, which was unexpected but entertaining.

The show was also entertaining as a whole, and I could see why Three Days Grace has earned headliner status. I saw them the first time they came to the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, and it was apparent the band was able to let loose a little bit more as the headliner. The group did a couple of cool improvisations, with drummer Neil Sanderson going off on an extended drum tangent, which guitarist Barry Stock joined in on.

Three Days Grace looked a little more like the typical rock star than Breaking Benjamin. The Breaking Benjamin band members were basically four clean cut guys with short hair, and the only tattoo I spotted was on the bassist. Meanwhile, Three Days Grace’s Stock had a Mohawk and a huge goatee, while Gontier had several tattoos and long hair. It was an interesting contrast. 

Overall the two bands also had a contrasting sound. Breaking Benjamin went for a faster paced, more heavily distorted sound, while Three Days Grace played slower, heavier riffs and more melodies. And the crowd appreciated both styles.

That’s my take on the concert. I would enjoy hearing some others.

 

By Ryan Woodard

Under my previous post about the Three Days Grace concert selling out, Robert and Seth discussed something I thought worthy of its own topic. That is, the Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin band managers’ decision not to move the show to the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena in favor of a cozier atmosphere at the sold-out Rushmore Hall.

Refusing to move the show will probably make it more exciting for those who attend, all the while leaving some fans out in the cold.

What do you think about this? Should the bands have agreed to move the show to the bigger arena to let more fans in after it was apparent it would sell out?

by Ruth Milne

Right on the heels of the Goo Goo Dolls and Three Days Grace selling out, I was confronted by this sign on the Dahl Arts Center doors Saturday night:

The next concert on my calendar is this Thursday, March 1, when Set Your Goals (remember the punk-ish, pirate-ish band that played with Terror at the Venue 8 in November?), Radio in Red, Fireworks, Seth Brian and Just another Pretty Face take the stage at The Retired Enlisted Association, 1981 E. Centre St., across from WDTI. The show starts at 7 p.m., and admission is $6.

Here’s hoping there are no “sold out” signs on that door.

by Ruth Milne

I turned on the TV.

Celine Dion was singing.

I turned off the TV.

That said, what did all of you think of the Oscars and the music last night?

by Ruth Milne

Denim seemed to be the pant of choice this evening as Beautiful Ablaze played to a packed house during their CD release show at “The Body” Builder Christian Book Store in downtown Rapid City. Pictured from the left: Zach “Prozac” Shea, guitar; Zach “Bailey” Bailey, bass; Dan Novak, guitar/vocals; and Brian Fannin, vocals. Drummer Kyler Huber is not visible.

Side note: Wow, that bookstore has blossomed. It has a cybercafe/coffee bar and all kinds of apparel and greeting cards and whatnot. Fun place to hang out.

Dan and Bailey talk amongst themselves. I was actually trying to get a picture of Kyler, at right behind the guitar and mike stand.

The obligatory guitar shot. This instrument belongs to Dan; I especially dig the duct tape at left and the alien at right.

Speaking of digging things, I dig that hat. Prozac is a talented guitarist, one of the best local musicians I’ve seen. When he plays, the notes just soar. He has solid classic rock influences, plus hints of a Geoff Farina thing going on sometimes.

In an unexpected moment, the band played a sweet song, “Meant to Be.” It’s a real love song, romantic love that is, and Brian talked about how it’s controversial for unmarried Christians to sing love songs. He sees it as reclaiming the love song from the secular music world. If reclaiming results in songs like that one, then reclaim away. It made my heart feel all gooshy. Awww.

Kyler was supposed to be second chair in an honors band concert tonight, so he took off after only a few songs. The others tried to fill in for him with varying levels of success.

This picture cracked me up when I downloaded it to my computer and took a look at it. Somehow I got this angle, completely by accident, of their heads directly below the ceiling lights, resulting in those little halos. I couldn’t have posed them so perfectly. Not that I would have asked them to pose like this, because it would be a really tacky photo if done deliberately. But happening by happenstance, it’s hilarious. Maybe just a little tacky still.

The new album, “Melody of Love,” was nearly sold out when I left, but “The Body” Builder should get a new batch in the next few days. I didn’t have enough cash in hand (reason? Goo Goo Dolls ticket) then, but I plan to pick one up for my brother. No, not the Throbbing Gristle brother, the Apologetix one.

This is not your stereotypical Christian band; this is a rock group having a whole lot of fun with Christianity.

Beautiful Ablaze is at the top of their game. But Dan will leave soon to get married (congratulations!) and Prozac’s going to college in the fall. Another complication arises from the fact that they have a hard time finding a venue to play in. They’re a rock band, not a worship band, so they wouldn’t be right for a church service. They’re a little too loud and draw a few too many people to do a good coffeehouse show, although they can play acoustic if needed (for me, their electric stuff is where it’s at).

I was surprised when Brian told me that they would be willing to play in bars if it weren’t for Kyler’s age (14). Upon further reflection, it made sense. This is a band with a message, and they want to play for everybody, not just people who already agree with them. It’s the whole “preaching to the choir” deal.

Beautiful Ablaze will play next at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 2, at Alternative Fuel Coffee Shop on Main Street.