Hoobastank’s Sunset Strip Homecoming, after the break…
The Whisky A Go-Go, West Hollywood — Day 2 of the 2013 Sunset Strip Music Festival.
Can I tell you a secret? I use to sit up in my room writing grandiose fantasies with Hoobastank’s self-titled 2001 major studio release acting as the soundtrack, like I am now. “Remember Me” was the anthem for my hero & villainous brother final battle. Seriously. That’s how I saw that track — brother vs. brother. Blood vs. Blood. Far from what it’s really about. Didn’t stop me from believing and building meaning in that amazing cut. Get chills just thinking about the times I use to listen to that track / album on repeat to keep in the writing zone. Probably because it’s laced with my awkward high school introverted phase. Anyway…
It’s fitting that 12 years later I would be writing my review of Hoobastank’s near sold out SSMF showcase in this exact place: studio bedroom on my ragged sheets. Just exchange the three ring binder for a HP laptop, age me a bit, throw on a beard, or this would be a mirror image of how I use to do business back in 2001. Quite humorous. However, I wasn’t a music hoarder nor concert goer back in 2000s. The option of even seeing Hoobastank in their mainstream heyday didn’t exist on the table. This show was like, to me, seeing The Doors (or one of the iconic acts the Whisky has featured) in their prime.
Friday night, in front of a full house, Hoobastank put on one of the most amazingly nostalgic shows I have ever been apart of. The set list is provided below, if you haven’t skipped ahead to the pictures by now, and had all…yes, all…of their hits & two classic tracks that they use to play back in the 90s at the Whisky during their start. You can watch the very ska, funkadelic “Can I Buy You A Drink” from their second album — ‘They Sure Don’t Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To’ below. Please note that they were known as “Hoobustank” in that age. Notice the sax.
Would really dig it if they made another funk record.
This kick-off show for the 2013 Sunset Strip Music Festival was the first time Hoobastank had performed at the Whisky A Go Go in over 12 years! Doug, Dan, Chris and Jesse fed off the remaining energy from the crazed & exhausted crowd that had to endue a gauntlet of 6 (!!!) up & coming hard rock / heavy metal bands. Here’s the list of the fresh acts:
- The Vapes
- Slant
- Drop 8
- Hierosonic
- While She Waits
- Drug The Kids
Got pictures of all them, so visit our flickr to see the bountiful album. Most of us survived the face melting. I did. Thanks to the metal beam in the middle of the Whisky’s dance floor…it was the only thing keeping me up by the time 11 PM rolled around. Then all my adrenaline sent me into Mr. Rager mode — a level of concert goer that cares not about standing room pain. With hits like “Crawling in the Dark”, “Pieces”, “Running Away” it was only a matter of time till my body beat to the drum & ears started weeping blood.
Two crazy sights I saw was the giant mosh pit that formed during “Out of Control” & the drunk guy who walked on stage. He just wanted to hang with the guys.
It was my first time at the legendary Whisky A Go Go. Really loved the vintage vibe. The elevated stage gives everyone in the house a great view of the bands. Most of the Sunset Strip Venues (Whisky, Viper, Roxy, HoB, etc.) are known for large music cards, so prepare to stand longer than you should. The best spot was the seated area on the balcony. Didn’t realize it until halfway through the showcase. Spent most of my time leaning against the beam on the dance floor. Everyone kept giving me the dirty eye because I got their first. (Ain’t my first rodeo! Survived Austin after all) If you are feeling week, head to one of the fine bars or restaurants on Sunset BLVD in between the 30 minute turn around time. They have plenty seats and cheaper drinks than you can get at the bar. All the bands got up quick and left quicker, regardless if they had a huge band or just four guys with guitars & drums.
Such a fantastic show. Still geeking out about it. That 16-year-old dreamer was draw out and now I’m slowly starting to push it back into his cage. Big thanks for Hoobastank picking this moment to come back & rock the Whisky like they use to back in the day. It was precise, fan friendly, full of energy, great stories, and most importantly classic music. Here is the two final tracks — The Reason / Out of Control — shot by The Whisky A Go Go.
Sorry for typos. Be back soon with more late night stories…
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Set List:
- Pieces
- This Is Gonna Hurt
- Same Direction
- Remember Me
- You Before Me
- If I Were You
- Running Away
- The First of Me
- Earthsick
- Can I Buy You a Drink?
- Fight or Flight
- Inside of You
- Can You Save Me?
- Incomplete
- Slow Down
- Crawling in the Dark
- The Reason
- Out of Control
Pictures Selects:
Shot with my tiny, outdated, Canon S100. My goal was to get crowd shots. Picked up a few gems.
