Ukiah, California’s AFI are one of them.
On Saturday night, the punk rock icons made their Vancouver return at a sold-out Commodore Ballroom.
Ditching his long hair and eyeliner for a leather jacket and greaser hairdo, Davey Havok evokes memories of a rebellious high school senior more concerned with smoking cigarettes than sitting through math class.
Musically, the band is airtight. Jade Puget’s guitar tone is piercing, and is well complimented by Hunter Borgan’s rumbling basslines. And, while not always pitch-perfect, Davey Havok commands the stage like no other frontman in recent memory.
Though universally lauded as punk rock royalty, the band continues to employ a DIY mentality, with a total absence of ego.
In fact, the band’s unparalleled energy (including Havok walking into the crowd, atop dozens of outstretched hands) reflects four young musicians trying to establish their name, rather than a 22-year-old band, with a devoted fanbase, striving to remain relevant. In that sense, it’s incredibly endearing.
Ultimately, despite their consistent songwriting and aggressive touring, AFI may never again reach the heights of Sing the Sorrow. But for the crowd at the Commodore Ballroom, it didn’t matter.
To them, the music, attitude and excitement of AFI are timeless.
They’re right, too.
Set List:
The Leaving Song Pt. II
Girl’s Not Grey
I Hope You Suffer
File 13
Love Like Winter
Ever and a Day
17 Crimes
The Leaving Song
A Deep Slow Panic
Kill Caustic
Beautiful Thieves
Miss Murder
The Days of the Phoenix
God Called in Sick Today
Just Like Heaven
Dancing Through Sunday
Silver and Cold
The post Review: AFI at Commodore Ballroom – November 2, 2013 appeared first on Men's Magazine | Being a Man, Made Easy | CAVE Magazine.