By Chyrisse Tabone, Rock At Night Tampa and Vlad, Rock At Night Detroit
Venue: Crowbar, Ybor City, Tampa, Florida-December 14, 2018
Pop-punk and sometime Emo band Bayside released their Acoustic Volume 2 album on September 28th via Hopeless Records, subsequently launching their acoustic tour at the end of November. If anybody has heard the acoustic album, well, it’s a keeper! Most of their classic pop-punk or emo songs translate very well to acoustic, as the collection is still full-bodied and not stripped to the bone.
Bayside rolled into the Crowbar, Ybor City, Tampa, on what was one of the stormiest days Tampa has observed since summertime. Several inches of rain pounded the Tampa Bay area off and on all day, summoning “Severe Thunderstorm Warnings”. This did not discourage the loyal, diehard fans in the slightest, as the Crowbar was full of 20-somethings ready to cavort with their favorite band.
The stage was cramped with Anthony Raneri (vocals/guitar), Jack O’Shea (lead guitar), Nick Ghanbarian (bass), Chris Guglielmo (drums) on wooden stools or standing. Rounding out the group were two musicians (names unknown) who played the fiddle/keys and hand percussion, providing a “folksy” feel to new versions of Bayside’s classic favorites.
The band began the 90-minute set with “Moceanu” which took on almost a gypsy, two-step beat. Next up was “Devotion and Desire” which was still rockin’, despite being acoustic-driven. The break-up song carried even more emotion and melancholy than the original, pop-punk version.
As the evening progressed, I observed a lot of the audience gathered around the stage. This was not the pop-punk, body-surfing crowd but one that intently watched, singing along to every lyric.
There were very few cell phones held overhead, doing vanity-Livestreaming on Facebook. These concert-goers, who grew up listening to Bayside as angst-filled teens, were absorbed in the moment.
A few of the songs were re-interpreted and fleshed out with the fiddle or keyboard accompaniment, creating a new vibe for songs like “Howard” (very Caribbean feel) and “The Looked Like Strong Hands” (tinges of Oasis). The audience shouted out the “ay oh’s” for “Landing Feet First” and “whoa whoa’s” for “It Don’t Exist”, which took on a classic ballad structure.
As I gazed around the rear of the room, many couples were twirling, free-style dancing, and couple-dancing throughout the concert. It was amazing to see the crowd appreciate the retro tone of the songs, which at times took on a Tin Pan Alley, rag-time feel.
Highlights of the concert included the toned-down but still upbeat “Pigsty” and “Don’t Call Me Peanut” with its heart-wrenching lyrics set to haunting melody with minor-chord changes. Bayside nodded to the 90s with Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back On Anger”, which had the whole venue singing along. It is hard to believe that song is 22 years old, likely released before many in the audience were even born.
Toward the end of the concert, Anthony Raneri told the audience the band was not going to have an encore since it was so difficult to leave and return to the small stage. He made the announcement so the audience “would not think they were assholes” after departing.
Looking at all the smiling faces walking out into the torrential downpour after the concert made me believe Bayside’s concert was well-received—and worth getting soaked on a Friday night.
PHOTO GALLERY
Video
Upcoming Tour Dates:
11/24 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
11/25 – Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge
11/17 – Detroit, MI @ Shelter
11/28 – Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck
11/29 – Buffalo, NY @ The Tralf
11/30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater
12/1 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
12/2 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House
12/4 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom
12/5 – Providence, RI @ The Met
12/6 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
12/7 – Brooklyn, NY @ Bell House
12/8 – Asbury Park, NJ @ House of Independents
12/9 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
12/11 – Washington, D.C. @ Sixth & I
12/13 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell)
12/14 – Tampa, FL @ Crowbar
12/15 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Respectable Street
12/16 – Orlando, FL @ The Social
1/11 – Houston, TX @ White Oak
1/12 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey
1/13 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda
1/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
1/15 – San Diego, CA @ The Irenic
1/16 – Pomona, CA @ Glass House
1/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
1/19 – Las Vegas, NV @ Backstage Bar
1/20 – Fresno, CA @ Strummer’s
1/21 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
1/23 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
1/24 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile
1/26 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
1/27 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
1/29 – Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club
1/30 – Iowa City, IA @ Gabe’s
1/31 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada
2/1 – St. Louis, MO @ Old Rock House
2/2 – Nashville, TN @ The Cowan
Acoustic Volume 2 Tracklisting:
- Sick Sick Sick
- Mary
- It Don’t Exist
- Duality
- Landing Feet First
- Howard
- Blame It On Bad Luck
- I Can’t Go On
- Pigsty
- I Think I’ll Be Okay
- Devotion and Desire
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I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
