February 5, 2008
On Jan. 25, Central Bucks East held its first Change for Change Band Night.
For $5, anyone could go and enjoy a night of great music as well as help out a variety of good causes.
Each band planned to donate to a different charity if they won. The choices ranged from diabetes research to cancer research to AIDS.
The show started slow, with the four house principals of East doing a country/folk song. Needless to say, it didn’t go over well with the crowd. Everyone in the auditorium clapped merely out of fear of being sent to detention.
After that, Steven and the Not-So-Yannis failed to provide any reasonable reprieve from the principals' terrible opening.
Next up was The Windsors, a classic rock/British invasion band that I happen to like. Their performance at band night, however, was questionable, especially their cover of "When You Were Young" by The Killers.
At that point, I was starting to wonder if the Holicong VH1 Save the Music concert would have been a better place to spend my time and money.
The next act, however, was amazing. The Woodsmen, a hard rock/experimental band, rejuvenated a crowd that was minutes away from falling asleep. They also proved to be one of the funnest acts of the night.
After intermission, perhaps the strangest band, Absolute Destruction, came on. One would normally think a high school show wouldn’t have 20-something dudes with long hair and beards screaming and thrashing to death metal.
But alas, East did.
Actually, I was a huge fan, as I find death metal to be pleasurable, but there were a few people, mostly girls, who were taken aback.
After we were shred to pieces, Kenny Miller played "Ocean" by the John Butler Trio, a terrific improv acoustic piece played to perfection on a six-string guitar, though the song is supposed to be played on a 12 string.
Ending the night was a trio of three great bands, famous around Doylestown for being among the best.
Dance Arcade, in only their third show, played perfectly and even had a few surprises, such as guitarist Jeremiah’s effects board and bassist Johnny’s five-string bass.
Chasing Capulet was next, topping Dance Arcade with ease with their pop-punk shredding and insane vocals.
Rounding out the night was Clearview, a band very famous around town. They were definitely a great way to end the night, singing four of their best songs and allowing everyone to leave cheering.
The first East band night was great fun and definitely worth attending. Though it started slow, the show picked up quickly and ended with a bang.
